Cape Cod Healthcare Donates $15,000 To Falmouth Food Pantry

FALMOUTH, MA — The Falmouth Service Center was awarded a $15,000 grant from Cape Cod Healthcare to support its food pantry.

The grant was part of a $55,000 effort to support those facing food insecurity on Cape Cod. The Falmouth Service Center was one of three nonprofit groups to receive grant money from Cape Cod Healthcare, which runs Cape Cod Hospital, Falmouth Hospital and other medical centers on Cape Cod.

The Falmouth Service Center provides foods and other necessities to those who live or work in Falmouth, Mashpee and at Joint Base Cape Cod and struggle with food security. Other grants included $25,000 for Barnstable Public Schools meals and service program and $15,000 for the Yarmouth Food Pantry.

"This year, more than ever, we must pay close attention to our community and lead with our hearts," said Michael Lauf, the CEO for Cape Cod Healthcare in a statement. "Cape Cod Healthcare is supporting food pantries and meal distribution programs to assist in this critical need,"

In Barnstable County, about 16,240 were considered food insecure before the pandemic, according to Feeding America's "Map the Meal Gap" interactive study.

Job loss and other economic crises associated with the coronavirus could push the rate of food insecurity in Barnstable County to 13.2 percent by the end of the year.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.