Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA’s (RAFI-USA) Come to the Table program (CTTT) is pleased to once again offer grants to support up to 20 rural United Methodist churches throughout North Carolina. CTTT will fund churches that are engaging in hunger relief with mini-grants of up to $2,000. These grants are funded by support from The Duke Endowment.
In 2020-2021, Come to the Table offered mini-grants to more than 100 churches throughout North Carolina who were responding to increased hunger in their communities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This new round of mini-grants will provide funding to churches to purchase food from a local farmer of color. Because of RAFI-USA’s long standing relationships with farmers, farmers markets, and faith communities throughout North Carolina, Come to the Table is uniquely situated to connect these groups in mutually beneficial relationships.
These mini-grants have had a significant impact on the communities that received them, as one 2021 grantee reported: “This grant energized our membership to increase support of our food ministry. We are beginning to form alliances with farmers in the area for future projects.”
To be eligible to apply for these funds, churches must be United Methodist, rural, located in North Carolina, and eligible to receive funds from The Duke Endowment. Churches must use these funds to purchase food from a designated farmer of color to distribute to food insecure community members.
A review board will make the final funding decisions. The grant application deadline is January 15, 2022, and applicants will be notified of funding decisions by February 15, 2022. Click here for more information and to apply.