Barnstable County has won a $248,084 state grant to help Cape Cod food pantries and other groups collect, store and move donated food before it spoils, county officials announced Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. The same day, a separate federal grant was announced to expand opioid treatment in primary care across ten Outer and Lower Cape towns, from Yarmouth to Provincetown.
Cape Cod food rescue grant: what it pays for
The grant comes from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection’s Sustainable Materials Recovery Program. The project, titled “Cape Cod Regional Organics Capacity and Infrastructure Expansion,” will be led by the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension, a Barnstable County department, working with community partners.
According to the county, the money will buy:
- a refrigerated van to pick up donated food while it is still safe to eat;
- freezers and other storage equipment for partner organizations;
- tools and technology to track donations and coordinate where food goes, including scales so groups can measure and report how much they collect;
- outreach and training to help food donors and recipient organizations work together.
The county said the goal is to close gaps that make it hard for groups to accept donations. When a business has surplus food, a community organization needs somewhere to store it and a way to pick it up quickly. Without refrigeration or reliable transportation, even a welcome donation can go to waste.
“There are people working every day to get food to their neighbors, and businesses willing to donate it,” said Andrea Scarpellini, food access coordinator for Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. “Having a reliable vehicle, enough freezer space, and a way to coordinate donations can make a real difference in what those partnerships can accomplish.”
Announced at the Cape Cod Hunger Summit
Mark Forest, chair of the Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners, announced the award at the Cape Cod Hunger Summit on Oct. 26. The working session brought together food assistance groups, health care providers, government agencies, schools, farmers and other community organizations to review regional data, find gaps in food access and look for practical fixes, the county said.
“Food insecurity is a serious challenge on Cape Cod, and addressing it requires more than good intentions,” Forest said. “This investment will help build the infrastructure needed to get more food where it belongs, into the hands of people who need it.”
The county said the project builds on its ongoing work with community organizations to improve food access on the Cape while cutting food waste. Food rescue programs also keep usable food out of the waste stream, one of the aims of the state program that funds the grant.
Opioid treatment expansion for ten Cape towns
Separately, Outer Cape Health Services has secured $677,000 in first-year federal funding for a five-year program to make addiction medication part of routine primary care, Newsradio 95 WXTK reported on Oct. 26. The program covers the ten Cape communities from Yarmouth to Provincetown.
Outer Cape Health Services expects to receive about $3.5 million over five years through the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), according to WXTK. Health experts quoted in the report said the Cape is underserved for opioid treatment, especially in rural areas, where some people travel up to 45 miles for care.
Offering medication for opioid use disorder through a regular doctor’s office, rather than only at specialty clinics, is intended to make treatment easier to reach in places where clinics are far apart.
Where to find help on Cape Cod
Residents looking for food assistance can contact local pantries or the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension’s food access program through the Barnstable County website. Anyone seeking help for substance use can call the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline or SAMHSA’s national helpline.
For more coverage of the Cape and Islands, see our Cape Cod local news and regional guide and the Local Towns hub. For other Massachusetts health news, see our Boston News hub.
Sources
- Barnstable County, “Barnstable County Awarded $248,084 to Strengthen Food Rescue and Food Access on Cape Cod,” Oct. 26, 2026
- Newsradio 95 WXTK, “Opioid Treatment Expansion For Ten Cape Towns,” Oct. 26, 2026
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Additional sources
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