The Greater Boston Food Bank Encourages Eastern Massachusetts Residents to Choose To End Hunger During Hunger Action Month
The Greater Boston Food Bank Encourages Eastern Massachusetts Residents to Choose To End Hunger During Hunger Action Month
Food Insecurity Rate in Massachusetts Expected to Remain 30 Percent Above Pre-COVID Levels for Remainder of 2021
BOSTON – September 1, 2021 – The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) today announced it will highlight the sustained need for food assistance in Eastern Massachusetts due to the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the month of September in recognition of Hunger Action Month. As the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, GBFB aims to raise awareness and funds by encouraging people to choose to help our neighbors in need during the month-long campaign.
“This marks the fourteenth year of Hunger Action Month–a nationwide effort asking people to choose to end hunger in their communities in whatever way they can,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. “The COVID-19 pandemic created historic need and unprecedented challenges, at levels unseen during my 25 years leading The Greater Boston Food Bank. Despite positive trends in the economy, we remain in a state of great volatility, complexity and uncertainty. This September, we are asking people to make the choice to take action to provide hunger-relief to those in need.”
Hunger existed prior to the COVID-19 crisis but has been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. Feeding America’s projections for Eastern Massachusetts show that food insecurity is expected to remain 30% above pre-COVID levels, with 1 in 10 people projected to experience hunger in 2021. GBFB’s partner food pantries have reported serving 600,000 people per month, more than twice the number of people served before the pandemic.
Both Governor Charlie Baker and Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey are issuing proclamations declaring September as Hunger Action Month in the state of Massachusetts and Friday, September 17 as Hunger Action Day in the City of Boston, respectively. The public is also encouraged to get involved to support GBFB’s mission to end hunger here.
CHOOSE TO END HUNGER DURING HUNGER ACTION MONTH
In partnership with Feeding America®, GBFB will launch a month-long campaign encouraging everyone to choose to end hunger. The public is encouraged to make a difference every day by donating, fundraising, volunteering, learning about hunger in your community, advocating for food assistance, and sharing information about hunger on social media with the following hashtags and tags: #HungerActionMonth, #EndHungerHere, @gr8BosFoodBank, @FeedingAmerica.
BOSTON TURNS ORANGE FOR HUNGER ACTION DAY – SEPTEMBER 17th
- On Hunger Action Day, September 17, local Boston landmarks including Boston City Hall, Rose Kennedy Greenway, Goodwin, South Station, and many more will be lit up the color orange—the symbolic color of hunger.
- Join GBFB by choosing to wear orange on Hunger Action Day and sharing a picture on social media.
BOSTON MEDIA MAKING THE CHOICE TO END HUNGER IN SEPTEMBER
- Boston25 – Feeding Families Drive – Wednesday, September 8th
- Red Sox Strike Out Hunger – Friday, September 17th and Saturday, September 18th supported by NESN and WEEI Sports Radio
- WCVB Channel 5 – Annual Hunger Action Month Day of Awareness – Thursday, September 23th
CHOOSE TO ADVOCATE FOR HUNGER
Sign up for GBFB’s Advocacy Email Alerts and join us in using your voice to influence Congress and our state government to advocate for anti-hunger legislation to help end hunger here in the Commonwealth and across the United States.
“With an influx in funding coming into the state through the America Rescue Plan Act, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity before us to choose to invest billions of federal dollars and make investments that prioritize food access to create a food secure Massachusetts,” said GBFB Sr. Director of Public Affairs Catherine Drennan Lynn. “Hunger Action Month is the perfect time to take action by advocating for these federal investments to ensure a recovery that helps everyone, particularly our most vulnerable residents.”
CHOOSE TO DONATE TO GROWING HEALTHY FUTURES: SPONSORED BY MATHWORKS
Support the Growing Healthy Futures campaign to help nourish communities across Eastern Massachusetts. To learn more and support the Growing Healthy Futures campaign visit www.GBFB.org/GHF.
Hunger Action Month is an annual national awareness campaign by Feeding America and its network of 200 food banks across the country. For more information about Hunger Action Month, participating events, how to advocate for hunger policies and the social media campaign, please visit gbfb.org/hungeractionmonth.
If people are in need of food, they are encouraged to visit GBFB.org/needfood where they can find a list of resources and search for a food program by zip code.
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.