SPANISH FORT, Ala.—In an effort to support families still struggling from the 2010 oil spill, Prodisee Pantry has received $250,000 from the Community Foundation of South Alabama.

Executive Director Deann Servos said the Spanish Fort-based pantry’s annual operating budget has increased "substantially" since the oil spill took aim on Alabama’s Gulf Coast, wreaking havoc on the local economy and its residents.

"This grant will help us offset that increase in families (served) in addition to having some left over to put toward general operating expenses," she said.

The emergency food and assistance program serves residents across Baldwin County and has helped more than 1,900 new families since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank off the coast of Louisiana on April 20, 2010, sending more than 200 gallons of oil barreling for Alabama’s Gulf Coast.

The pantry’s grant is actually one of three totaling $536,000 the Community Foundation is awarding to local agencies, made possible by a $4 million contribution from the Fund for Gulf Communities, a program of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Lights of Empowerment in south Mobile County will receive $100,400 and Grand Bay’s Lighthouse Academy of Excellence and Achievement will receive $185,641 through the program.

Servos said a large percentage of the nonprofit’s newest clients lost jobs and income from the oil spill either directly or indirectly as the local economy suffered a substantial blow to its tourism and service sectors.

For the complete story, see the July 1 edition of The Bulletin and Fairhope Courier.