Application Available: April 6, 2026

Completed Application Due by May 15th, 2026, 4:00 PM – Late submissions will not be accepted.

The Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) was established in 1984 due to public health concerns about nutrition-related illnesses among persons needing food assistance. HPNAP, in partnership with organizations that serve people facing hunger, is dedicated to reducing long-term chronic disease risk and improving the health and nutritional status of people in need of food assistance by:

·Providing funding and other support to enhance the accessibility and availability of safe, nutritious food and food-related resources.

·Developing and providing comprehensive nutrition education programs.

·Monitoring and assessing neighbor's needs and hunger-related issues to strengthen the program’s effectiveness.

·Empowering people to decrease their dependence on emergency food assistance programs.

Submission Instructions

Applications may be submitted electronically via this form. If submitted electronically, you will receive a confirmation email at the email you provided on this application. Paper applications will also be accepted at the Food Bank's main office, 7066 Interstate Island Road, Syracuse, NY 13209. All applications are due in the office by May 15, 2026, at 4:00 PM. Late submissions will not be accepted. Note: Please do not mail a copy of your printed submission to the Food Bank if you have submitted it online. Electronic submissions will receive an automatically generated confirmation & copy of the application as submitted. If multiple copies are submitted, the most recent submission will be scored when the grant application closes.

General Instructions

Please answer each question about the activities and practices in which your food program participates. Failure to completely answer a question or section will affect the overall application score and available funding opportunities. If you are not currently a Food Bank of Central New York partner agency, please be prepared to provide additional not-for-profit documentation. The questions in this application are based on best practices and aligned with the goals of the New York State Department of Health, HPNAP.

If your location, site, or organization has more than one operational food program, you will need to submit one application for each program type that is applying. Applications are evaluated based on program function and cannot be combined.

Available Awards

Awards will be made by scoring the responses in this application and applying a formula to determine a food line of credit, which can be used for eligible orders placed with the Food Bank.

Although this is a combined application, the Food Lines of Credit (LOC) and the Operation Support & Equipment award amounts are determined separately and do not impact the availability of funds for the other. Applicant organizations must specify whether they are applying for Food LOC, Operational Support, or both.

Scoring

Each application’s score will be based on the answers provided, with a maximum application score of 100 points for the application. The maximum number of possible points for each question is posted next to the question.

A minimum of 50 out of 100 points total score is required to receive a Food LOC Award application.

A minimum of 75 out of 100 points total score is required to fund an Operation Support Award application.

Please answer all questions that apply to your food program and request type. Blank, partial, or incomplete responses will not receive points.

 

Disclaimer

Misrepresentation of activities or any false claims made in this application may result in the revocation of any award or LOC of OSE proportionate to the misrepresentation and compel an exclusion from future award opportunities. Claims made in this award will be verified at the next annual site visit.

Scope of This Application

Food Lines of Credit Award: The Food Lines of Credit Award provide grantees with a line of credit at the Food Bank that can be used to supplement the agencies other food funding to obtain nutritious food items from the Food Bank.

Operation Support: The Operation Support Application provides applicants an opportunity to apply for funds to supplement specific categories of expenses: utilities, staffing, transportation, disposables, capital equipment, and rent.

An applicant agency can indicate within the application if they want to apply for one or more categories.

Award Limitations

Food Line of Credit funding requests are not guaranteed to be approved. Agencies should not consider HPNAP Support funding as part of their annual budget.

Grant Cycle

All food and operations support expenditures (activities and payments) must take place during the funding period from July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027.

General Questions 

(This section is not scored)

Not for Profit Information

Please complete the following information if you are not a Food Bank partner. Incomplete applications or failure to document nonprofit eligibility status under section 501(C)(3) will result in a denied application.

Organizations are eligible to apply if they meet both of the following conditions:

• They are an emergency Food Programs (EFPs) that has been operating for a minimum of 6 continuous months; and,

• They maintain a designated nonprofit status under section 501(C)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Additional information may be required to demonstrate the applicant organization's eligibility for an award. If the application is awarded, a Food Bank representative will contact you to ensure that any necessary information is recorded. 

Religious Organization Information

Certain characteristics are generally attributed to churches.  These attributes of a church in this section have been developed by the IRS and by court decisions. These attributes are used to demonestrate eligibility to receive tax-deductible donations.

General Accessibility & Impact Questionnaire 

Note: HPNAP required funded agencies to maintain up-to-date food safety training. Not being current with Food Safety Training may delay awards. 

Food Pantry Questionnaire
For programs applying as a “food pantry,” please complete this section. Missing or incomplete information will reduce the score of this application.

FP 1. Please indicate the open hours on the chart below by placing a checkmark in the appropriate columns. A client(s) may enter your agency to receive emergency food assistance during open hours. If your food program is by appointment only, please indicate which days and hours staff and volunteers are willing to accept appointment times. Please do not include "Emergency Hours." (Max points:21)

-NOTICE- 

To remain eligible for HPNAP funding, food pantries must participate in a level of client choice and must provide a food package that meets the minimum of 9 total meals per person in the household. 

Service Areas
Food bank-partnered food pantries in partnership before January 2025 can designate their own (geographical) service areas based on the resources of the partner agency's food program. Each partnered food pantry must notify the Food Bank of their service area. That information is kept on file and used to make referrals to neighbors in the community. Food pantries should not adjust their service areas without consulting the Food Bank.
Please select the geographical or physical boundaries that determine your food pantry's service area. Additional questions will help us obtain the information for each chosen description. Knowing the food pantry's service area will assist the Food Bank with allocating available resources.

Soup Kitchen & Meal Site Questionnaire

Instructions
Soup kitchens or meal sites must answer this section entirely. Blank responses will not receive any points and will reduce the score of this application. A copy of the current meal service permit and a recent menu must also be attached. Programs designated as Shelters or Food Pantries should NOT complete this section.

 

Days & Meal Types Provided

Please indicate the days and meal types that are provided.

Questionnaire for Emergency Shelters

Instructions
Applications for funding from emergency shelters must be completed in this section. Please answer each question thoroughly. Blank responses will not be scored, reducing this application's score. To be eligible for funding, shelter sites must do one of the following:
• Have a space for neighbors to prepare food provided by the shelter; or,
• provide meals prepared by volunteers or staff for those neighbors in the shelter.

Note: shelter programs that provide grocery packages for neighbors to prepare off-site do not fit the HPNAP definition of a shelter and will not be funded as a shelter through this application.

Application for Operation Support Funding 

Introduction
The Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP), a program of the NYS Department of Health (DOH), was established in 1984 because of public health concerns about nutrition-related illnesses among persons in need of food assistance. HPNAP, in partnership with organizations that serve the hungry, is dedicated to reducing long term chronic disease risk and improve the health and nutritional status of people in need of food assistance by:

• Providing funding and other support to enhance the accessibility and  availability of safe and nutritious food and food related resources.
• Developing and providing comprehensive nutrition education programs.
• Monitoring and assessing customer needs and hunger-related issues to strengthen the Program’s effectiveness.
• Empowering people to decrease their dependence on emergency food assistance programs.

Operations Support (OS) grants are a part of HPNAP funding which provide non-food support to eligible emergency food programs (EFPs), for such things as staff, utilities, space, disposables and food service (Capital) equipment. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. The amount of an OS grant award is limited and is variable, based on annual State budget appropriations.

Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for HPNAP OS funds, an Emergency Food Program (EFP) must have been providing emergency food service for at least six (6) months at the time of application. An EFP must comply with the following eligibility criteria and be able to provide documentation of:

• nonprofit status under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
• possession of a Federal Tax Identification Number documented through a copy of US Department ofTreasury, Internal Revenue Service correspondence indicating the organization's Federal TaxIdentification Number.
• current tax exemption status; and
• proper food service permit, if offering ready-to-eat meals.

The Operations Support application contained in these documents identifies Food Pantries, Soup Kitchens, Bag Meal Programs, Shelters, and Youth Service programs as examples of potentially eligible service operations.

Some other items of note: 

• Incorporation is not required to receive HPNAP OS funds.
• EFPs with existing direct New York State Department of Health HPNAP contracts are ineligible.
• Membership with the Food Bank of Central New York is not required to submit an OS application.

Scope of This Application
Operation Support (OS) funding is to supplement an organization’s current operating funds. Funds may not be used as start-up costs for new activities or new staff positions. OS grants are awarded for one or a combination of the following six (6) expenditure categories:

Staff Costs: Only direct service workers may be funded. This includes persons actually engaged in the serving or storing of food such as cooks, kitchen help, pantry volunteers, and food service or storage area cleanup persons. Administrative personnel such as bookkeepers and directors, or non-food workers such as maintenance workers are not fundable.

Utilities: Food service work or storage area utility costs such as heat, water, and electricity may be funded. Trash and recycling removal, and sewer charges as well as telephone costs and costs associated with other than food service or storage areas are not fundable.

Space Costs: Costs for currently occupied space for direct emergency food service or storage areas may be funded. Space shared with other programs is to be prorated, with the portion used for emergency food service prorated. Costs for administrative offices are not fundable. OS may fund rent or user fees but may not be used to pay mortgage payments or any payment more than actual charges to the EFP.

Food Service Disposables: Disposable supplies necessary to the provision of emergency food may be funded. This includes, but is not limited to paper/plastic bags, disposable plates, cups and dinnerware, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, cardboard boxes, and food containers. Some durable non-disposable items may also be funded. Items must be necessary for the provision, safe handling, and safe transport of emergency food. Requests for non-durable items must include a written specific justification for the need of such items. Supplies that are not necessary to the provision of food, such as office supplies, toilet paper and cleaning materials are not fundable.

Supplies needed for the distribution of take-out meals will continue to be eligible for funding during the 26-27 HPNAP Period 4 Award year.

PLEASE NOTE: Disposable food safety and sanitation supplies such as aprons, gloves, and hand soap are periodically available for free from Food Bank at no cost and will not be eligible to claim under the Disposables Award.

Transportation: Costs for the transportation of food from source to EFP site may be funded. This may include payments to rent or lease vans, (rent/lease option) or mileage reimbursement up to 72.5 cents per mile for the mileage option. Costs for delivering food from EFP site to pantry recipients may be permitted due to COVID impacts. Costs for picking up food at the Food Bank are not fundable.

A. If the vehicle rent/lease option is used, all records documenting the payment of funds to the renting agency are to be retained. Vehicles must be cargo-type vans or trucks; payments to EFP staff or volunteers for the use of personally owned vehicles are not allowable.

B. If the mileage option is used, EFP staff or volunteer may be reimbursed for actual mileage, incurred on personally owned vehicles. A log showing dates, destination, and odometer readings is to be turned into the Food Bank/United Way.

Regardless of the method used, the EFP must retain records (receipts, invoices, bills of lading, etc.) sufficient to prove that the transportation charged to HPNAP was required to move food from source to the EFP site. Incomplete documentation will result in the loss of state funds.

Operation Support Application for Utility Expenses
Utility Expenses: Food service work or storage area utility costs such as heat, water, and electricity may be funded. Trash and recycling removal and sewer charges, as well as telephone costs and costs associated with other than food service or storage areas, are not fundable. (Note: Water may only be funded for meal sites/soup kitchens.)

Utility expense funds may not be applied to budget billing.

To document the utility award, copies of utility bills supported by copies of canceled checks verifying payment of the bills and explaining the percentage of utility bills charged to the OS grant. Prorated (e.g., “prepay” or “balanced”) billing payment options are not acceptable. Utility funds must be used for actual expenses incurred.

Additional expenditure verification may be requested if supportive documentation submitted is inadequate or lacks clarity.

Utility Calculation: Actual utility eligibility will be calculated using a formula that considers the complete size of the building (or metered space) and the amount of space within the building that is being used to store and/or distribute food. Spaces used for administrative offices or other programs are not fundable.

Food Service Equipment Grants

If the grant includes Food Service (Capital) Equipment, the award notification will specify the type and grant amount for the specific equipment item to be purchased. Upon accepting the Grant Agreement, the grantee must verify the purchase price of the equipment. The grantee organization should purchase the equipment as soon as possible. Within three (3) months after the receipt of the award, the grantee should submit a copy of the invoice and payment receipt (or other proof of payment) for the equipment to the Food Bank of Central New York. Within one year after the purchase of the equipment, a representative from Food Bank of Central New York will make a site visit to the agency to verify the purchase and location of each piece of equipment. Grantees must adhere to all stipulations Grant Agreement. Grantees will be responsible for covering the costs of installing, operating, maintaining, and securing the requested equipment. If the grantee stops providing emergency food assistance during the useful life of the equipment (usually up to 10 years), the grantee must notify Food Bank of Central New York, and the equipment may be transferred to another EFP.

Grant Cycle 

All operations support expenditures must take place during the July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027, funding period. The grantee is responsible for paying any amount greater than the awarded amount for any line item of an OS award. If actual expenditures are less than the awarded amount, the grantee organization will have until 05/31/27 to return all unexpended funds to (insert name of food bank/contractor).

Site Visits

The Food Bank is required by the New York State Department of Health (DOH) to conduct site visits at all Food Bank partnered sites. Claims made in this application will be verified at the annual site visit.

Documentation

Each grantee organization must submit documentation of how OS funds were spent. The grantee must establish through written records that expenditures took place during the award period, in accordance with the OS Budget. Written documentation must establish that expenditures are reasonable, traceable, and appropriate. Electronic records are also acceptable. Additional documentation may be requested if supportive documentation submitted is inadequate or lacks clarity. The grantee must maintain these records for seven (7) years after the end of the grant period and these records are to be accessible to authorized Food Bank or Department of Health staff upon request.

The documentation required for each of the expenditure categories is specified below. Canceled checks showing payment are required for all categories and expenditures. Bank or credit card statements are required for all transactions made on credit card or through ACH payment where a cancelled check may not be available.

Staff Costs
Timecards, supported by copies of canceled payroll check, or copies of the payroll register, or copies of 1099 or W-2 forms.

Utilities
Copies of utilities bills supported by copies of canceled checks verifying payment of the bills and an explanation of the percentage of utilities bills charged to the OS grant. Prorated (e.g. “prepay” or “balanced”) billing payment options are not acceptable. Utilities funds must be used for actual expenses incurred.

Space Costs
Copies of current rental/lease agreements supported by copies of canceled checks are required. Additional documentation such as floor plans, percentage of space costs/use, and an explanation of the use of OS funds may also be requested.

Food Service Disposables and Other Supplies
Vendor invoices or register receipts identifying the items purchased are required. Items may be handwritten on register tapes. Requests for durable items must be accompanied by written justification for items requested. Canceled checks supporting these purchases may also be required.

Transportation
A log showing dates, destinations, odometer readings and mileage traveled must be maintained. This log must be signed by the individual submitting the cost (i.e., the driver) and endorsed by the agency supervisor or coordinator authorizing the expenditures.

Food Service (Capital) Equipment
A copy of vendor invoice and payment receipt, and proof of payments must be submitted. 

The Food Bank and NYS will request additional expenditure verification if supportive documentation submitted is inadequate or lacks clarity.

The grantee must maintain these records for seven (7) years after the end of the grant period and these records are to be accessible to authorized Food Bank of Central New York or Department of Health staff upon request. The grantee is to submit records before the required deadlines, using the Food Bank’s online submission portal.

An important note about “Proof of Payment:”
Proof of Payment is documentation showing that the grantee organization is the entity that paid the expense. This is done by bank statement showing the transaction from the grantee’s bank account, cancelled check (front and back), or credit card statement. In each case, the documentation must clearly show the grantee organization as the issuer of the payment.

Food Bank of Central New York and the NYS Department of Health reserve the right to reject incomplete or illegible records or request additional documentation as necessary to satisfy documentation requirements.

Deadline for Submission of the Application
The application must be submitted online OR be delivered to the Food Bank no later than May 15th, 2026. Applicants should submit online, but can mail applications to: Food Bank of Central New York, 7066 Interstate Island Rd. Syracuse, NY 13209.

NOTE: An incomplete application form will result in a lower score and may disqualify the agency's request. For additional information and technical assistance in completing the Operations Support application, contact the Food Bank’s Agency Relations team at agencyinfo@foodbankcny.org

The New York State Department of Health and Food Bank of Central New York reserve the right to reject applications or lower funding allocations based on requests submitted in response to this application.

To be considered for an Operation Support Award, all questions and fields in the corresponding OS application section, and requested supporting documentation must be complete. Incomplete applications for Operation Support will not be considered.

Priority of Need for Expenditure Categories
THIS SECTION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL OPERATION SUPPORT APPLICANTS

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Submission of an application does not guarantee receipt of an award. Each applicant may apply for multiple categories. Failure to complete this portion of the application will disqualify the application for funding.

Please prioritize your funding category requests as instructed below, and (if applicable) your Food Service Equipment requests on the following page. Funds for the six (6) expenditure categories are limited. Therefore, if you are applying for funding in more than one (1) funding category, please prioritize your funding needs. Prioritize your requests from 1-6, with #1 as the greatest need through #6 as the least. Prioritize only for the categories in which funding is requested. If the priorities are not clear, funding will not be awarded.

Operation Support Application for Staffing Costs 

Staffing Costs: 

Only direct service workers may be funded. This includes persons serving or storing food, such as cooks, kitchen helpers, pantry workers and food service or storage area cleanup persons. Administrative personnel such as bookkeepers and dierctors or non-food workers such as maintenance workers are not fundable. 

Funds may not be used for new staff positions or stipends. 

Staff Costs
Timecards, supported by copies of canceled payroll check, or copies of the payroll register, or copies of 1099 or W-2 forms.

Narrative – Operation Support Application for Staffing Costs

Please complete a narrative about the requested Staffing Support funding. Please indicate answers to the following: How will this funding support or improve your program’s ability to provide food assistance to neighbors? Please be specific. List your program’s goals to maintain or improve the quality and/or quantity of food assistance during the 2026-2027 grant year. Also include any additional, program or community specific information that sets your food program apart from the rest.

Operation Support Application for Utility Expenses
Utility Expenses: Food service work or storage area utility costs such as heat, water, and electricity may be funded. Trash and recycling removal and sewer charges, as well as telephone costs and costs associated with other than food service or storage areas, are not fundable. (Note: Water may only be funded for meal sites/soup kitchens.)

Utility expense funds may not be applied to budget billing.

To document the utility award, copies of utility bills supported by copies of canceled checks verifying payment of the bills and explaining the percentage of utility bills charged to the OS grant. Prorated (e.g., “prepay” or “balanced”) billing payment options are not acceptable. Utility funds must be used for actual expenses incurred.

Additional expenditure verification may be requested if supportive documentation submitted is inadequate or lacks clarity.

Utility Calculation: Actual utility eligibility will be calculated using a formula that considers the complete size of the building (or metered space) and the amount of space within the building that is being used to store and/or distribute food. Spaces used for administrative offices or other programs are not fundable.

Narrative – Operation Support Application for Utility Costs

Please complete a narrative about the requested utility funding. Please indicate answers to the following: How will this funding support or improve your program’s ability to provide food assistance to neighbors? Please be specific. List your program’s goals to maintain or improve the quality and/or quantity of food assistance during the 2026-2027 grant year. Also include any additional, program or community specific information that sets your food program apart from the rest.

* Utilities Calculation 

If you rent part of a building, you should consider the "building" to be the space you rent. For example, if you rent a space that is 1,000 square feet, and the utilities are ONLY for that space then you can apply for a percentage of that 1000 square foot space that is dedicated to food storage and distribution. 

Operation Support Application for Food Service Disposables

Food Service Disposables and Other Supplies                                                   

Non-durable/disposable supplies necessary for emergency food provision may be funded. This includes but is not limited to, paper/plastic bags, disposable plates, cups and dinnerware, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, cardboard boxes, and food containers. Some durable, non-disposable items may also be funded. Items must be necessary to provide, safely handle, and safely transport emergency food. If applying for a durable (non-disposable items) justification is required.

Documentation Required for Food Service Disposables

Vendor invoices or register receipts identifying the items purchased are required. Requests for durable items must be accompanied by written justification for items requested. Canceled checks supporting these purchases are required.

Additional expenditure verification may be requested if supportive documentation submitted is inadequate or lacks clarity.

Narrative – Operation Support Application for Disposables Costs

Please complete a narrative about the requested disposables funding. Please indicate answers to the following: How will this funding support or improve your program’s ability to provide food assistance to neighbors? Please be specific. List your program’s goals to maintain or improve the quality and/or quantity of food assistance during the 2026-2027 grant year. Also include any additional, program or community specific information that sets your food program apart from the rest.

Operation Support Application for Space Costs

Space Costs: costs for currently occupied space for direct emergency food service or storage areas may be funded. Space shared with other programs will be prorated to compute the portion used for emergency food service. Costs for administrative offices are not fundable. OS may fund rent or user fees but may not be used to pay mortgage payments or any payment above actual charges to the EFP.

Space Costs Documentation: Copies of current rental/lease agreements supported by copies of canceled checks are required. Additional documentation, such as floor plans, percentages of space costs/use, and an explanation of the use of OS funds, may also be requested.

Important Note: Sponsor organizations or churches are not eligible for space awards if they are the not-forprofit sponsor of the emergency food program.

Narrative – Operation Support Application for Rent/Lease Costs

Please complete a narrative about the requested space funding. Please indicate answers to the following: How will this funding support or improve your program’s ability to provide food assistance to neighbors? Please be specific. List your program’s goals to maintain or improve the quality and/or quantity of food assistance during the 2026-2027 grant year. Also include any additional, program or community specific information that sets your food program apart from the rest.

Operation Support Application for Transportation Expense

Transportation: Costs for transporting food from the source to the EFP site may be funded. Transportation costs may include payments to rent or lease vans (rent/lease option) or mileage reimbursement at up to $0.725 per mile for the mileage option. Due to COVID-19 impacts, costs for delivering food from the EFP site to pantry or meal recipients may be permitted.

If the vehicle rent/lease option is used, all records documenting the payment of funds to the renting agency are to be retained. Vehicles must be cargo-type vans or trucks; payments to EFP staff or volunteers for using personally owned vehicles are not allowable.

If the mileage option is used, EFP staff or volunteers may be reimbursed for actual mileage incurred on personally owned vehicles. A log showing dates, destination, and odometer readings must be submitted to the Food Bank to receive reimbursement.

Regardless of the method used, the EFP must retain records (receipts, invoices, bills of lading,etc.) sufficient to prove that the transportation charged to the state was required to move food from the source to the EFP site. Incomplete documentation will result in the loss of state funds.

Additional expenditure verification may be requested if supportive documentation submitted is inadequate or lacks clarity.

Narrative – Operation Support Application for Transportation Costs

Please complete a narrative about the requested transportation funding. Please indicate answers to the following: How will this funding support or improve your program’s ability to provide food assistance to neighbors? Please be specific. List your program’s goals to maintain or improve the quality and/or quantity of food assistance during the 2026-2027 grant year. Also include any additional, program or community specific information that sets your food program apart from the rest.

Operation Support Application for Food Service (Capital) Equipment
Food Service (Capital) Equipment: An EFP may request funding for new food service equipment items essential to their emergency food operations. The requested equipment must be new, preferably commercial grade, and meet state and local sanitation and fire safety code requirements. Priority will be given to the following items: refrigerators, freezers, stoves and ovens, metal shelves, metal storage
cabinets, 3-compartment sinks, hand washing sinks, or other equipment items which are necessary to maintain the current operation of an emergency feeding site.

The funds may NOT be used to purchase disposable items, used or reconditioned equipment, office equipment, computer hardware, air conditioners, heating units, fans, dehumidifiers, vehicles, wooden or plastic shelving or cabinets, custom-made appliances/equipment, small electrical appliances, or small kitchen utensils.

The OS grant can cover reasonable delivery fees.

Food Service Equipment awardees should ensure that delivery charges will cover the cost of delivering the equipment to the exact location of the equipment, e.g., the freezer is delivered to the inside placement of the EFP, where it will be used to store food.

OS grants will NOT fund building alterations, wiring, plumbing work, or other installation charges. The agency is responsible for paying alteration and
installation costs.

Food Service (Capital) Equipment Documentation: a copy of the vendor invoice, payment receipt, or other proof of payments must be maintained, as well as a cancelled check.

Additional expenditure verification may be requested if supportive documentation submitted is inadequate or lacks clarity.

Narrative – Operation Support Application for Equipment 

Please complete a narrative about the requested equipment funding. Please indicate answers to the following: How will this funding support or improve your program’s ability to provide food assistance to neighbors? Please be specific. List your program’s goals to maintain or improve the quality and/or quantity of food assistance during the 2026-2027 grant year. Also include any additional, program or community specific information that sets your food program apart from the rest.