ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- The Berrien Community Foundation (BCF) announced Monday that it has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund to support those around Berrien County in accessing food.

Funds from the $150,000 grant will be distributed across local partners to support BCF in improving access to locally grown, healthy food across the county.

Funds will be going to:

• Some will go to the Nutrition Exchange of Southwest Michigan, a countywide hunger relief network that coordinates other organizations to provide food across hunger relief sites.
• Nutrition education and practical training for pantry staff, senior center teams, Meals on Wheels drivers, and community health workers.
• Improved food ordering and coordination.
• Food transportation and cold storage.
• Expanded access to SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks.
• Using local data to allocate resources to the neighborhoods with the most need.
• Increased purchasing of local produce and proteins.