Governor Kay Ivey’s office on Monday announced that the governor has allocated a total of $3,606,104 to reimburse several Alabama food banks for expenses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Alabama received approximately $1.9 billion total of federal CARES Act funding to respond to and mitigate the pandemic. Alabama Act 2020-199 initially designated up to $300 million of that total “to be used to support citizens, businesses, and non-profit and faith-based organizations of the state directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.”
Monday’s announcement comes as part of that designation. The funds will go to the Alabama Feeding Initiative, a program of the Alabama Food Bank Association.
The beneficiaries of the reimbursed funds will be Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, Feeding the Gulf Coast, Food Bank of East Alabama, Food Bank of North Alabama, Montgomery Area Food Bank, Selma Area Food Bank, West Alabama Food Bank and Wiregrass Area Food Bank.
Reimbursed expenses fall into one of the following categories:
- the purchase of food, packaging and related supplies to meet increased demand;
- operational expenses, including fuel and maintenance, incurred due to handling a higher amount for food, as well as open-air distribution events;
- rental costs of storage space and vehicles to handle increased volumes of food; and
- to purchase PPE, screening equipment and decontamination services to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
You can view an exact breakdown of the reimbursements being paid for here.
Ivey said in a statement, “Alabama is a state where neighbors help neighbors, even in the most difficult times.”
“The Coronavirus pandemic presented significant challenges around the world, as well as here at home in our own state,” she continued. “Food banks in communities across Alabama have been a lifeline for those in need, and I am proud to be able to put these funds toward the Alabama Feeding Initiative. I have told Alabamians that I remain committed to getting these CARES Act funds into the hands of those who need it.”
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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