The Greater Boston Food Bank Increases Food Distribution to Low-Income Seniors
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Eric Donovan
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The Greater Boston Food Bank Increases Food Distribution to Low-Income Seniors
GBFB’s Christina Peretti Now Serving on National CSFP Board
BOSTON – May 27, 2021 – The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the sole administrator for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) in Massachusetts. CSFP is a federal program that supports monthly nutritious food access for low-income seniors 60 years or older. Due to recent increases in federal funding, GBFB has announced it has been able to increase its caseload for the program, providing much needed nutritious food to low-income seniors during a time of heightened need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are grateful for our partners in this effort, The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), which manages the CSFP contract with the USDA, as well as senior centers, low-income senior housing sites and our member agencies,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of GBFB. “Together we are getting healthy, nutritious food into the hands of our most vulnerable seniors who need it, and doing so in an even more significant way thanks to this additional caseload.”
In January 2021, GBFB received a caseload increase of 165 cases per month. On April 29, GBFB received an additional caseload increase of 109 cases per month through the American Rescue Plan Act. bringing GBFB’s caseload to where it stands today at 2,700 cases per month.
Christina Peretti, assistant director of programs and community capacity at GBFB, was recently appointed a board member of the National CSFP Association. She has been actively involved in advocating at the Federal level to ensure adequate funding for the program during the FY22 appropriations process. Increased funding and support for federal programs is a key recommendation out of GBFB’s recent “Gaps in Food Access in Massachusetts During COVID-19” report.
“CSFP is a critical resource for seniors in our state,” said Peretti. “We are pleased with the increased support for this program and remain committed to ensuring that nutrious food is available to all of our vulnerable neighbors, especially low income seniors.”
GBFB currently has 38 CSFP sites in Eastern Massachusetts with partners in Acushnet, Arlington, Attleboro, Bedford, Billerica, Boston, Brockton, Brookline, Danvers, Dartmouth, East Boston, Fairhaven, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marblehead, Medford, Milton, New Bedford, Newton, Peabody, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Rochester, Salem, Somerville, Stoughton, Taunton and Waltham.
More information on CSFP eligibily requirements, and how to get food can be found at fns.usda.gov/csfp.
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.