PITTSBORO — CORA has received a $12,000 donation from the nonprofit Bayer Fund in unrestricted funds, which the organization plans to use to feed vulnerable residents facing food insecurity across Chatham County.
According to CORA’s press release, research shows that access to nutritious food is the key to a healthy community, where children do well in school, families thrive, and seniors don’t face the stress of choosing between food and other necessities.
“Throughout the years, the grants given through Bayer Fund have helped strengthen our communities across the United States,” said Al Mitchell, president of Bayer Fund. “We’re proud to be able to provide support to develop programs that help combat challenges such as food insecurity, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and support services to patients and families managing an illness or disease.”
Bayer Fund, a philanthropic arm of Bayer in the U.S., seeks to strengthen the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, education and community development projects.
CORA serves a diverse community; families, students and the elderly — many of whom thought they would never have to seek food assistance. CORA is committed to addressing hunger and food insecurity at the local level, while establishing new partnerships across Chatham County to ensure that everyone has access to healthy food.
Last year, CORA distributed 1.2 million meals to more than 11,000 individuals.
“Nearly 10% of the residents in Chatham County live in poverty and face food insecurity. Thanks in part to support from Bayer Fund, CORA will continue to provide nutritious food for community members in need,” said CORA’s executive director, Melissa Driver Beard. “CORA is thankful for support and partnership from Bayer Fund as we work together to create a community without hunger.”