Issue: Summer 2024
Dear Friends,
Thank you for standing with us to strengthen our community by providing healthy, nutritious food. For many of us, the summer months beckon warmer weather, outdoor activities, cookouts, and building memories with family and friends. And yet, some of our neighbors will continue to struggle to put food on their tables while their children are on school break – like our neighbor DeeAnn and her daughter Nevaeh share. Our recent statewide report affirms that 1 in 3 people continue to face food insecurity in MA due to the high cost of living and food.
It will take our collective efforts to feed our community not just this summer, but throughout the year. That is why we’re thankful for volunteers like Merrill Forman. She understands the importance of providing our children with the fuel they need to learn, grow, and thrive. We’re grateful for long-standing partners like BJ’s, whose commitment to eradicating food insecurity spans more than a decade, and for community partners like Damien’s Place, who are stepping up to better serve their community and support the GBFB mission, thanks to the support and donations from people like you. They all share our commitment to building stronger communities – by nourishing our children and families.
Each of us has the power to end hunger here, and that’s why BJ’s invites you to join them in supporting our Growing Healthy Futures campaign this summer.
Thank you for continuing to do your part.
Gratefully,
DeeAnn and her daughter Nevaeh find strength and compassion in The Salvation Army, knowing that they are not alone in their struggle. Their story illustrates the resilience of the human spirit amidst hardship.
GBFB’s fourth annual statewide survey on food insecurity in MA found that food insecurity persists at incredibly high levels (35%) due to rising cost of groceries, the end of many COVID policies, and the inflated cost of living.
Merrill Forman, a weekly volunteer at GBFB, has found purpose, community, and fulfillment in giving back, sharing that she believes it is important to help uplift others in any way that she can.
Damien’s Place Food Pantry in Wareham, a recipient of one of GBFB’s Community Investment Transformation Grants, is a GBFB partner agency that is making big moves to help end hunger on the South Coast of MA.
Headquartered in Marlborough, MA for more than 40 years, BJ’s has been committed to making a positive impact in communities where its team members live and work, helping families meet their essential needs.
Fuel growing minds with healthy food and donate to GBFB’s Growing Healthy Futures campaign dedicated to distributing nutritious food all summer long, so kids and families continue to grow, learn, and thrive.
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