GREENFIELD — More than 50,000 meals will be served to western Massachusetts residents in need this year through a $450,000 grant administered by the Franklin County Community Development Corporation.

The money comes from the Food Insecurity Grant Program for Independent Restaurants, which has provided $900,000 to support restaurants that offer takeout meals to nonprofits working with food-insecure communities across Massachusetts. The Franklin County CDC is overseeing $450,000 to administer the program in western and central Massachusetts.

The CDC has partnered with 13 food access organizations — identified by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Worcester County Food Bank — which then nominated local restaurants to participate.

“So far we’re going to be on track for that,” Franklin County CDC Program Manager Hannah Sobel said. “What the food banks did is they really helped us identify the areas that have a lot of need. … It’s great because a lot of the restaurants had relationships with the meal sites already.”

Food access organizations participating in the program include the Franklin County Community Meals Program, the Amherst Survival Center, the Northampton Survival Center and the Ludlow Department of Veterans’ Services.

Sobel explained the program was originally conceived during the pandemic, when food insecurity was near its peak, and was continued with funding from the Legislature for this pilot program. Sobel said there are two benefits: people are getting fed and restaurants are provided funding for their service.

In Greenfield, Mesa Verde is expected to provide 3,140 hot meals to participants in the Franklin County Community Meals Program over the course of the year. The other Franklin County restaurant included is Hillside Pizza in Bernardston.

Amy McMahan, the owner of Mesa Verde, said joining this program is an extension of the work she has done over the last several years with her restaurant.

“After doing the Haitian pop-ups, I’ve been interested in using Mesa to connect and be of service in this community. I was doing meals for the Days Inn [shelter] until it closed, and I have focused on quality and freshness because food has the power to communicate care, acknowledgment of our humanity and dignity,” McMahan said. “I came in and cooked on Thanksgiving and Christmas to make sure that people got to have a lovingly prepared meal, and it is an honor. Partnering with the CDC and [the Franklin County Community Meals Program] is a continuation of this food ministry, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity.”

While it was announced last week that Mesa Verde will be closing to transform into a food lab, McMahan said she will continue her mission of supporting folks through food.

“We are still a licensed commercial kitchen and have a meal prep service as well,” she added. “As we transition to being a food lab, we will be exploring new and innovative ways of feeding people.”

Valerie Hudson, executive director of the Franklin County Community Meals Program, said the grant and partnership with the CDC will allow the program to serve more than 5,300 meals to the region, all while allowing $15,000 in savings to be diverted to other services.

She added it comes at a critical time as the need for food in the region has continued to grow in recent years.

“Over the past few years, food and economic insecurity in Franklin County has increased, especially in susceptible populations. Many individuals are seeking various forms of direct support close to home due to transportation or mobility restrictions,” Hudson said. “This grant allows us to provide quality neighborhood-centric services while increasing the potential of our community contributions for future direct-service projects.”

In Hampshire County, Northampton Survival Center Director Heidi Nortonsmith said the grant will provide folks with an opportunity to get a complete, well-balanced meal with an appropriate amount of protein and grains from local establishments. The Survival Center is partnering with local restaurants La Veracruzana and Uya Poke Bowl. She added the meals are welcomed by people who come by the center to get groceries.

“We’re able to just offer them to clients who are here at the Survival Center receiving food assistance, although they’re not expecting it,” Nortonsmith said. “We’re finding these moments with a harried single parent who might be in the driveway picking up groceries and trying to figure out what’s for dinner, and suddenly is offered to take home a meal already prepared. It’s so gratefully received.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com. Alexander MacDougall contributed reporting.