The Greater Boston Food Bank applauds the
Healey Driscoll Administration for Strong
Hunger Relief Investments in FY25 State Budget Recommendations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Greater Boston Food Bank applauds the Healey Driscoll Administration for Strong Hunger Relief Investments in FY25 State Budget Recommendations
Boston, MA (January 25, 2024) – On Wednesday, the Healey-Driscoll administration released its House 2 FY25 state budget recommendations. The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) shares our deep appreciation to the administration for significant investments in hunger relief and affordability for the 1 in 3 people facing food insecurity in Massachusetts.
Among these recommended investments include $37.1 million for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), an increase of $1.1 million from the FY24 final state budget for food to support the more than 850 community organizations feeding people across the state. A critical resource to the rising number of people relying on the charitable food system, MEFAP enables the four MA food banks to purchase healthy food that feeds people in every city and town in the Commonwealth while also supporting local food vendors. This investment signals the importance of the power of our abilities to feed our communities and the recognition that hunger is no longer an emergency, but an unfortunate reality faced by too many of our residents.
Notably, the Administration proposed to establish a new Division of Food Security within the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). GBFB commends the Administration for this historic recommendation to formally create a division to prioritize and provide coordination that will further strengthen our local food supply and invest in food security initiatives. This recommendation aligns with GBFB’s efforts to support a bill filed by Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester), Hannah Kane (R-Shrewbury), and Senator Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) to establish an Executive Office of Food Security.
Additional hunger-relief investments include:
- Food Security Infrastructure Grant program: $25M
- Partial funding for Universal School Meals: $170M (absorbs school breakfast program)
- Nutrition Services Program for elders: $11.1M
- Healthy Incentives Program: $25M
The budget proposal also recommends transformational investments in housing, education, transportation, and health with a focus on equity. Since taking office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has consistently responded to the needs of our neighbors and delivered on policy change to make our Commonwealth more affordable. While the proposal falls short of economic mobility initiatives including cash grant increases to our lowest-income families and adjusting the Child and Family Tax Credit to inflation, and does not fund the Hunger Free Campus Initiative, a statewide campaign co-led by GBFB, we recognize that challenging economic conditions necessitate difficult budget decisions. GBFB looks forward to working with the legislature on all of these initiatives in the coming months to advance hunger and poverty relief for our neighbors in our final FY25 state budget.
Learn more about how GBFB is addressing food insecurity through public policy and advocacy.
About The Greater Boston Food Bank:
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. As the food bank for Eastern Massachusetts, GBFB is feeding people in 190 towns across the region, distributing the equivalent of nearly 90 million meals through a network of 600 dedicated food distribution partners and programs. A member of the national Feeding America network, GBFB’s mission is to end hunger here. The organization remains 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. 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.
Media contact:
Catherine Lynn
617.828.7422
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