GBFB Applauds Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll,
and the MA State Legislature for Prioritizing
Hunger-Relief Investments in FY25 Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

GBFB Applauds Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll, and the MA State Legislature for Prioritizing Hunger-Relief Investments in FY25 Budget 

BOSTON (August 1, 2024) On Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2025 state budget for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which included historic hunger-relief investments. The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) joins hunger-relief allies across the state in applauding the legislature and Governor for delivering a budget that prioritizes food security for the residents of Massachusetts. 

Some FY25 State Budget hunger-relief investments include: 

• $170M for School Meals for All
  
• $41.5M for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP)
• $500,000 for the Hunger Free Campus Initiative
• $15M for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)
• A 10% increase in cash assistance for low-income families with children, seniors, and persons with disabilities, effective April 2025 
• $15M for Food Security Infrastructure Grants
• Additional funding for local anti-hunger initiatives across the state 

GBFB is immensely grateful for the legislative leaders Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland), Speaker Ron Mariano (D-Quincy), Chairman Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chairman Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston), Vice Chairwoman Cindy Friedman (D-Arlington), Vice Chairwoman Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester), Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth), and Representative Todd Smola (R-Warren). We share our deepest appreciation for hunger-relief champions Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) and Leader Alice Peisch (D-Wellesley) for advancing MEFAP, a critical program that allows the four MA food banks to purchase healthy food, and to Senator Joan Lovely (D-Salem) and Representative James Arena-DeRosa (D-Holliston) for securing funding for the Hunger Free Campus Initiative. Since 2019, GBFB has led the statewide Hunger Free Campus Coalition, along with the Food Bank of Western MA and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, to secure resources to public and community college students facing food insecurity.   

Hunger is a big problem. Far too many people continue to grapple with unprecedented levels of demand for food assistance due to the high cost of housing and food. Fully funding these hunger-relief programs is critical to supporting the work that GBFB and our partner community food providers do to ensure that the 1 in 3 people facing food insecurity in Massachusetts are empowered to live more productive and healthy lives. 

About The Greater Boston Food Bank:   

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and one of the largest food banks in the country. For nearly half a century, GBFB has fueled Eastern Massachusetts’ hunger-relief system, putting nearly 90 million healthy meals on tables across the region each year. Over 600 community-based pantries and other local partners in 190 cities and towns depend on GBFB to provide access to healthy food for 600,000 people every month. GBFB is committed to the belief that access to healthy food is a human right regardless of an individual’s circumstances. Through policy, partnerships, and providing free, nutritious, and culturally responsive food, GBFB is committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity while promoting racial, gender and economic equity in food access. Together, we have the power to end hunger here. For more information and to help us help others, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at 617.427.5200. 

CONTACT:

Gary Roy
groy@gbfb.org

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