BCDI is pleased to announce the recipients of the first round of BCDI COVID-19 Community Response Grants. There were many strong applicants and difficult decisions had to be made. But due to the very generous support of BCDI members Wayne and Lynn Sanford, BCDI has already raised $5,000 toward a second round of COVID-19 Community Response grants. So anyone who missed out on the first round of funding is encouraged to reapply.

Individuals wishing to contribute to this effort can do so from now until Giving Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at: https://www.bcdimaine.org/covid19-grants. BCDI will use 100% of funds donated through that date to offer a second round of COVID-19 Community Response grants in May.

During the first round of the BCDI COVID-19 Community Response Grants, $7,000 was awarded as follows:

Apple Creek Farm: Apple Creek Farm will use the grant funds to accelerate plans to open a farm store given the need to buy food locally. They plan to offer their own products and collaborate with other farms in the community to offer Bowdoinham residents a safe place to get food.

Bowdoinham Food Pantry: The Bowdoinham Food Pantry has already seen a significant increase in demand. The grant will support a temporary increase in hours for the coordinator during the pandemic state of emergency and will help cover increased expenses such as gloves, sanitizer, masks, and other items needed for the safety of all.

East of Eden Flower Farm: East of Eden Flower Farm has had to shift its business strategy in light of the current crisis and is in need of short term assistance as a result. Grant funds will be used toward the farm's delivery van, which will in turn be used to make door-to-door deliveries for the Bowdoinham Public Library Annual Plant Sale.

Left Field Farm: Left Field Farm is working to find alternative ways to get people vegetable and herb seedlings and will use grant funds to create an online system for ordering and to cover costs to manage this safely.

Peary’s Community Garden: Peary's Garden is a community garden in Bowdoinham. Given the increased interest in growing our own food, the grant funds will be used to significantly expand available garden space. Because of this expansion of tillable area, any plots that are available after the Garden’s regular gardeners have signed up and paid their fee, will be available at no cost, to any gardener who is willing to plant and maintain a plot for the benefit of the Bowdoinham Food Pantry.

Six River Farm: Six River Farm has opened a self serve farm stand in response to the current crisis. The grant will support improvements to the farm stand, specifically covering cooler rental and the purchase of tents and signage.

Stonecipher Farm: Stonecipher Farm has generally sold exclusively to restaurants in the Portland area. Given the current state of emergency, they have shifted to selling food directly on their farm. The grant funds will support improvements to the new farm stand. The new farm stand has already created an opportunity to provide free vegetables, bagged as “seconds”, for anyone who needs them. In a short time, Stonecipher Farm has already moved hundreds of pounds of free “seconds” into the Bowdoinham community.

Tender Soles Farm: Tender Soles Farm is seeking support in continuing to provide safe access to food for the community. Grant funds will be used to defray some of the cost of current pandemic best practices including setting up an online ordering system and the cost of gloves, bags, and other materials to handle food safely.