Governor’s FY19 Budget Funds MEFAP at $17.6 Million

Governor Charlie Baker’s $40.9 billion FY19 budget released today proposes funding the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) at $17.6 million. The Greater Boston Food Bank is asking that MEFAP funding be increased to $20 million. This would provide an additional four million healthy meals to our neighbors in need.

MEFAP provides critical funding that enables the four Massachusetts food banks to provide hunger relief for the 1 in 10 people (700,000) in the Commonwealth struggling with food insecurity every day. Nearly 200,000 of those at risk are children.

State legislators are meeting now to determine legislative budget priorities for FY19. We need your help making sure MEFAP is a priority.

ACTION:

• Call your state legislators and urge them to make MEFAP a priority.
  • Find your state Representative and Senator here.
  • When connected with your legislator’s office, state that you are a constituent, give your name and the town you are calling from, and let them know you are calling about MEFAP (line item DAR 2511-0105).
  • Sample Script: Hello Representative/Senator ______, My name is ____ and I am constituent from _____ in your district. I am calling to ask you to make increasing Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) funding to $20 million a priority. Thank you for your time.(Share a personal story about hunger if you feel comfortable.)
  • For more talking points on the benefits of MEFAP, read here.
• Share on Facebook and Twitter why #MEFAPMatters and tag @GR8BosFoodBank
• Sign on to our petition supporting the increase of MEFAP funding in the FY19 budget to $20 million.

Sign our Petition!