Chelsea was one of the hardest hit communities in the Commonwealth from the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic and is home to GreenRoots, an environmental justice organization with a 20+ year history of community organizing for an improved urban environment and public health. GreenRoots partnered with Revival Church and the Salvation Army, both which operate food pantries, to apply for FSIG funding. One proposal was for shelving and a freezer, the other for refrigeration. They were awarded $20,000 of their $47,000 request.
The food pantries are still in need of large walk-in coolers that will meet the increased need. To have that infrastructure would be a huge benefit for the community, the pantries would be able to keep the food safe, and they wouldn’t have to worry about getting it out quickly or spoilage.
GreenRoots’ urban farms received funding for sanitation and wash stations in two of their garden spaces. One is a youth gardening space and the other is an urban farm, the food they produce is going to a food pantry. GreenRoots wants to be able to provide quality, safe food for their community, and the FSIG grant is helping them do so.
