Private Grant Fuels Community-Led Hunger Relief in Milford

Milford Advocacy for the Homeless Receives $6,000 to Expand Harvest Hub Program

Milford, DE — Milford Advocacy for the Homeless, Inc. (MAH) has received a $6,000 grant from the Burke & Herbert Bank Foundation to expand its Harvest Hub: Nutrition for All initiative—a locally driven hunger relief program that’s proving more nimble and effective than traditional government systems.

Unlike federal programs such as SNAP, Harvest Hub delivers immediate food assistance—no applications, no red tape. Individuals and families in crisis receive fresh, balanced meals or emergency food boxes right away. In a community where many lack access to kitchens or stable housing, this flexibility is critical. While SNAP provides grocery funds, it assumes recipients have the means to cook. Harvest Hub meets people where they are—with hot meals, ready to eat.

The program is powered entirely by volunteers, private donations, and local business partnerships—not taxpayer funding. This independence enables the program to adapt quickly, source fresh food locally, and serve the Milford area with precision. In 2023 alone, Harvest Hub served over 24,000 meals. That was followed by 19,000 in 2024, with 8,439 already provided this year.

“The support from Burke & Herbert allows us to keep meeting urgent needs while building toward long-term solutions,” said Cynthia Dawe, Vice President and Steward for MAH’s Daily Bread Kitchen Team. “We want to grow our volunteer team and launch nutrition workshops to teach families how to make healthy choices on a budget—something government programs don’t typically offer.”

The grant will fund the purchase of fresh produce and protein-rich foods, supply dinners and “power pak” meal bags, support nutrition education workshops, and offset transportation and storage costs.

“This is a community-based solution to a community problem,” said MAH President and Founder Martha Gery. “We’re not waiting on Washington—we’re doing what works for Milford.”

The Burke & Herbert Bank Foundation, a long-time supporter of economic development and community wellbeing, presented the grant through Kelly Stevenson, Vice President and Business Development Officer for the Lewes area.

For more information or to support the mission, visit: https://milfordadvocacyforthehomeless.org