GBFB Grants are Transformational

First established in 1947, Quincy-based Interfaith Social Services today serves 2,000 households a month; last year it distributed more than 900,000 meals to families across 10 South Shore towns. Their children’s initiatives serve thousands each year, through school‑supply backpacks, Halloween costumes and holiday gifts. And the need continues to grow. Inflation and SNAP benefit decreases are increasing food insecurity far beyond that seen during the pandemic. “If we hadn’t had this support, there is absolutely no way we could have kept up with the demand,” says executive director Rick Doane, referring to the eight Community Investment grants GBFB has made to them since 2014.

Those grants have allowed Interfaith Social Services to invest in a larger truck, add a lift-gate to it, add a pallet jack, widen doors to accommodate pallets, add more freezers… “Transformational,” is how Doane describes the GBFB investments.

“If we hadn’t had this support, there is absolutely no way we could have kept up with the demand.”

The upgrades now allow them to source and deliver another 5,000 to 7,000 pounds of food per day than before. Critically, it’s also helped Interfaith retain volunteers. “We can’t get food out to clients without 120 volunteers a week,” Doane explains. Burn-out from moving ever greater food volumes was a real risk. “It allows us to show our volunteers, ‘We see what we are asking of you. We’re trying to make it easier. We appreciate what you’re doing.’”

Recently GBFB announced an additional round of Community Investment Grants and Interfaith Social Services received funding to help them purchase a freezer. This investment will help them to further expand their capacity to provide additional healthy, nutritious food to meet the need in the community.