Alamance Nonprofit Wins Grant, Installs Freezer to Expand Food Access

SAFE, a local food and family support nonprofit serving Alamance County, announced on Nov. 10, 2025 that it received a Progress and Enhancement grant from Impact Alamance to purchase and install an industrial freezer. The organization said the freezer will increase its cold storage capacity, reduce costs currently spent on off site storage, and enable SAFE to serve more families in need across its three pantry sites in Graham and Snow Camp. The Burlington Times News covered the grant, and SAFE posted details on its website.

The new equipment arrives as an important step in addressing food insecurity and its health consequences in the county. Expanded freezer capacity allows nonprofits to accept and safely store more perishable items, including meat, dairy, and prepared foods, which can improve diet quality for families who rely on pantry distributions. Larger on site storage reduces the need to move food between locations, which lowers logistic costs and the risk of temperature breaks that can lead to food spoilage and foodborne illness.

For local residents who use SAFE services the change should mean more reliable access to nutritious refrigerated and frozen foods. SAFE continues to operate ongoing distribution schedules and volunteer opportunities at its three pantry sites in Graham and Snow Camp, and the organization noted that it will be closed Nov. 21 through Nov. 30 for Thanksgiving. SAFE said it will conduct extra distributions for families who would normally have appointments during that break, aiming to prevent gaps in service around a key holiday when household food needs often increase.

The grant highlights the role of local philanthropic organizations in building community health infrastructure. Investment in storage and logistics is a less visible but critical element of the food assistance system, and it directly affects how well agencies can meet demand during economic strain, severe weather, or other emergencies. By freeing up funds previously used for off site storage, SAFE can reallocate resources toward outreach, fresh food procurement, and program support that promote long term food security.

The announcement also underscores broader policy issues. Food insecurity is a social determinant of health that intersects with chronic disease, mental health, and healthcare costs. Community nonprofits often fill gaps left by public programs, and their capacity depends on a mix of grant funding, donations, and volunteer labor. Strengthening cold storage at the community level reduces waste and can improve nutritional outcomes, but sustainable impact will require ongoing funding and coordinated policy support from local government and funders to address systemic inequities that drive need.

As SAFE integrates the new freezer into its operations, residents can find updated schedules, volunteer information, and details about holiday distributions on the organization website. The equipment upgrade is a practical improvement with measurable benefits for public health and for families across Alamance County who depend on emergency and supplemental food services.