Feeding the Gulf Coast has received a $225,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation and Feeding America as part of a multiyear partnership to strengthen food banks and agency partners in rural and underserved communities affected by food insecurity. Feeding the Gulf Coast was one of 20 Feeding America partner food banks nationwide to receive the Retail Agency Capacity Building Grant. This funding will help enhance the food bank’s retail rescue program in which fresh, frozen and shelf-stable foods are donated by local grocers like Walmart for pickup by the food bank and its agency partners. With the grant, the nonprofit will enhance its food pickup capabilities through the acquisition of new equipment, such as refrigerated vans, freezers and forklifts. This upgrade will enable the food bank to serve rural partners better by providing infrastructure to store and distribute a wider variety of healthy perishable foods, including dairy and produce. Feeding the Gulf Coast tackles hunger through various programs and distributes more than 32 million meals annually via its network of more than 800 community partners.