Community Seafood Program
Our Community Seafood Pilot Program started in April 2020 with an initial grant from the Fink Family Foundation.
This program was created due to issues within the wholesale seafood distribution chain created by the COVID-19 global health crisis. With many restaurants only open for take-out options, there has been a precipitous decrease in the wholesale demand for seafood.
The Community Seafood Program's goal is to link fishermen's harvests to community food support organizations creating an outlet for surplus local seafood while filling the community’s need for food.
Volunteers distributing sea scallops and other grocery items at the Island Food Pantry
Through the spring and summer of 2020 we received additional grants from the Permanent Endowment for Martha's Vineyard and Catch Together, enabling the donation of more than 2,000 pounds of sea scallops and 40,000 pounds of black sea bass, and 2,500 pounds of scup to six local food security organizations: the Island Food Pantry, the Good Shepherd Parish, the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, Island Grown Initiative, the Emergency Food Program and the MV Charter School.
We're working to create a seafood stew with the black sea bass and scup to be to donated locally, through the same organizations. Stay tuned!
Please Donate!
Every donation counts! If you would like to take part in this program, please use the button below and select Community Seafood Pilot Program in the options menu.