Chain of Giving 2014

On Thursday, November 13, GBFB welcomed over 150 friends at its Yawkey Distribution Center for the 9th Annual Chain of Giving. This yearly event is considered the kick-off to the holiday season and brings the GBFB community together to unload the first of many truckloads of turkeys, passing them down a human “chain” and into the freezer.   During the holiday season 87,000 turkeys will pass through GBFB, and together with our Annual Holiday Meal Drive, GBFB will provide over 500,000 healthy holiday meals including all of the fixings to families in need.   For the first time, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh joined GBFB at the event, and he acknowledged all of Mayor Menino’s work with GBFB and expressed his enthusiasm to continue the hard work to end hunger here.   A number of valued GBFB partners joined us including Channel 5 Meteorologist Mike Wankum and his wife Claire, and some of this year’s Turkey Donors, BJ’s Wholesale Club, C&S Wholesale, Hannaford, PriceRite, Reinhart Foodservice, Roche Brothers, Shaw’s, Stop & Shop, Target, USDA, and Walmart.   Along with GBFB’s friends and partners, a number of government officials participated in the event, including Senate President Therese Murray, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representatives Russell Holmes and Byron Rushing, City Councilor Leo Robinson, Boston Public Health Commissioner Jim Greene, Felix Arroyo, Chief  of Boston Health and Human Services, and Treasurer Elect Deb Goldberg.   Mayor Walsh assisted Catherine D’Amato in announcing this year’s Nally Award winners: Lynn Tech Football Team and SkillsUSA Program. The Nally Award is inspired by Danny and Betsy Nally, siblings from Westwood, MA, who began an annual turkey drive in 1996 when they were only 8 and 9 years old, and it is given out to a student or group of students each year who have contributed to ending hunger in their community. Under the direction of their coach, these two teams have volunteered weekly at the Lynn School-Based Pantry.   “This morning, we experienced the power of working together to respond to a critical need in our community,” said Catherine D’Amato, GBFB President and CEO. “Everyone has a role in ending hunger in our community.”   To get involved in GBFB’s Holiday Meal Drive, visit GBFB.org/holidaymeals