Forty Years of Food

In 2021, The Greater Boston Food Bank commemorates our 40th anniversary. Learn more about our roots:

Kip Tiernan created the Boston Food Pantry in 1979, modeling operations after the Chicago Food Depository. A couple of years later, we were legally incorporated as the Boston Food Bank in 1981.

In the 80’s….

• We distributed 5 million pounds of food every year.
• We grew from serving 60 agencies to 300 agencies out of a 23,000 square foot warehouse at 70 Armory St.
• Our first transportation system was established with the purchase of a van and a semi-tractor trailer, and the donation of two refrigerated tractor-trailers.
• The Food Bank staff included 11 people: an executive director, an agency relations manager, a food solicitor, a volunteer coordinator, an administrative assistant, a coordinator, two truck drivers, two warehouse workers, and an associate for finance.

Now, in 2021, we are The Greater Boston Food Bank.

• We distribute 100 million pounds of healthy food, including high-nutrient produce and protein, to more than 600 partner agencies and direct distribution sites every year.
• We operate out of our 117,000-square-foot Yawkey Distribution Center at 70 South Bay Avenue, in the same South Boston neighborhood.
• GBFB’s transportation system consists of over 10 tractor-trailers, 4 refrigerated trucks, and a fleet of miscellaneous donated vehicles thanks to partners across the state.
• Team GBFB has over 120 hard-working individuals who secure, store, transport, receive, distribute, sort, pack, talk about, and care about food.

It’s because of you that we have been able to grow and continue to meet the need across our Eastern Massachusetts community. Thank you!