Live Well Foundation of South Lake awards $1.5M to local food assistance

Food assistance programs serving South Lake County will receive more than $1.5 million in grants to purchase groceries, improve transportation and expand services.The Live Well Foundation of South Lake announced eight awards Monday, including a three-year, $1,149,000 grant to Second Harvest Food Bank.That grant will pay entirely for food purchases benefiting a network of more than 20 South Lake County community partners, according to the foundation.Food purchases and expanded servicesThe Second Harvest initiative, Together for South Lake: Feeding Neighbors Facing Hunger, is intended to help participating organizations save on groceries and redirect resources toward strengthening their services.The initiative also requires a plan to sustain services after the grant period ends.“These grants address the practical needs behind food access, from purchasing groceries to maintaining reliable transportation and kitchen equipment,” foundation Vice Chair Linda Smith said.Where the remaining gra