Community Through Hospitality Campaign Launches Fundraiser Celebrating Black History Month

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Martha Sullivan
Martha@SullivanCommunications.com
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Community Through Hospitality Campaign Launches Fundraiser Celebrating Black History Month

Partners with the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts to Support The Greater Boston Food Bank to Feed Our Neighbors in Need

BOSTON (February 5, 2021)- In celebration of Black History Month, The Community Through Hospitality campaign is proud to announce that throughout the month of February, The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA), in partnership with MIDA Boston, will join other local businesses in an initiative to raise funds for The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) and its nearly 600 partners to meet the historic need for food assistance.

“Community Through Hospitality is a campaign which aims to shine light on small businesses and unite us through a mission for social justice,” said Douglass Williams, Chef and Owner of MIDA.

“When we opened MIDA, Douglass and I were determined to make a difference by sharing our hospitality principles of love and generosity within this community. I am proud to lead this effort and partner with BECMA and GBFB to address these key issues affecting our neighborhood, now more than ever,” said Seth Gerber, business partner, MIDA.

The campaign is open to local businesses that wish get involved and encourages members of the community to support restaurants through takeout, delivery and socially distanced dining. Supporters can also choose to donate online to GBFB at gbfb.org/community

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic crisis have resulted in record numbers of Massachusetts citizens facing food insecurity. The service, hospitality, and retail industries have been hit particularly hard, affecting the food security of so many, especially Black families.

“Black History Month is a time to celebrate members of our community who have shown innovation and resiliency through this challenging time,” said Segun Idowu, Executive Director of BECMA. “We look forward to amplifying these stories and coming together in an effort to raise funds to provide nutritious meals for families struggling with food access.”

Proceeds will go directly towards GBFB’s work combatting food insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts, where food insecurity has risen 66% during the COVID-19 crisis. 2020 U.S. census polls have shown that 40% of Black and Latino families nationally are now struggling to put food on the table, which is three times more likely than white families.

“As anti-hunger advocates, we are all too familiar with how systematic racism has led to unacceptable disparities in access to the nutritious food families and individuals need to thrive,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of GBFB. “We are grateful for the community partnerships like this one that will play a critical role in helping us meet this historic demand for food assistance.”

About BECMA
The mission of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Inc. (BECMA) is to advance the economic well-being of Black businesses, organizations that serve the Black community and Black residents of Massachusetts. With a growing membership of businesses, students, and individuals, it has a mandate to connect Black businesses to lucrative opportunities and to advocate on the policy and community level for Black business interests. Learn more at www.becma.org

About MIDA Boston
When Chef Douglass Williams and business partner Seth Gerber opened MIDA they could see opportunity on this street corner of Tremont and Mass. Ave. at the intersection of the Boston’s South End and Roxbury neighborhoods.  The community embraced MIDA, which means ‘he/she gives me’ in Italian.  This warm and welcoming Italian trattoria has earned accolades near and far, such as “Food & Wine, Best New Chef, 2020,” “James Beard Best Chef Northeast, Semi-finalist” and “Best Pasta” and “Top Restaurants of Boston” by Boston Magazine. Douglass, Seth and their MIDA team believe that the world can come together over a beautiful bowl of pasta. https://www.midaboston.com/  IG @midaboston

About The Greater Boston Food Bank
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. In response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, GBFB distributed the equivalent of nearly 82 million meals in 2020 through its network of 600 dedicated food distribution partners and programs in the 190 cities and towns across Eastern Massachusetts. A member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, GBFB’s mission is to end hunger here and it is committed to providing at least three healthy meals a day to everyone in need. For more information, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at 617.427.5200.