RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina agency is joining a historically black college to help communities hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic address food insecurity needs.

Gov, Roy Cooper’s office said in a news release this week that the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with Livingstone College in Salisbury to execute a community-based program to provide critical resources to vulnerable populations impacted by the pandemic.

The news release said communities will have access to $5 million in grants to help provide the resources.

“This pandemic, although unprecedented, creates a unique opportunity to form unlikely partnerships to address food insecurity in the state of North Carolina,” said Livingstone president Jimmy R. Jenkins in the release.

A U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey shows 48% of North Carolina households reported only somewhat or no confidence they can afford food for the next four weeks.