Your support helps two struggling students focus on success Nineteen-year-old Carla (photo-right) balances a full course load at Northern Essex Community College (NECC) and a part-time, on-campus job to support her and her mother who has stage 4 breast cancer. Alba, 21, (photo-left) grad- uated from NECC in May with an associate degree in business and is pursuing her BA at Worcester State University this fall. Both of Alba’s parents work, but they struggle to provide enough for Alba and her three brothers. After the bills are paid, there’s sometimes not enough for the week’s groceries. The Greater Boston Food Bank launched its newest community college free Mobile Market at NECC in April (see article on page 2), which helped both students and their families through the end of the school year. “I’m the only one who works at home, so the free Mobile Market at my community college helps me have food at home and concentrate better on my studies,” Carla said. “The food I got lasted us several weeks.” Carla does all the grocery shopping and cooking Stories of Hope for her and her mother, Yocasta. The pair receives Supplemental Nutrition As- sistance Program (SNAP) assistance, but because Carla works part time, they “You can’t see who’s struggling just by looking at them,” Alba said. “You don’t know who’s hungry.” Alba, 21, recent graduate Northern Essex Community College only receive about $20 a month in benefits. For Alba, too, the food from the Mobile Market has helped her family stretch its tight food budget. “We were planning on go- ing grocery shopping the week of the first distribu- tion,” Alba said. “Because we got the food from here, it eliminated a lot of stuff from our list and helped us get other things we needed.” Both graduates of Law- rence High School, Alba and Carla became friends while working together at the NECC bookstore. Both students testify to the need for a free Mobile Market among NECC students and their families. “I know a lot of students definitely need it,” Carla said. “You can’t see who’s struggling just by looking at them,” Alba said. “You don’t know who’s hungry.” 3 Catherine's Message Dear Friends, We all know what an empty stomach feels like, and how hard it is to function when we’re hungry. For the one in 10 people in Eastern Massachusetts who is food insecure, that feeling can be constant more days than not. At The Greater Boston Food Bank, we don’t believe anyone should ever go hungry. September is Hunger Action Month, and we’re asking your help to spread awareness about hunger. Established by Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 food banks, Hunger Action Month is designed to inspire people to take action in their communities. In Boston, local land- marks like the Prudential Center and the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge will be lit orange on Sept. 14, Hunger Action Day. We hope you’ll participate by filling the plate you’ll find on the back page, cutting it out, and posting a selfie of you with your personalized plate on social media. Every dollar you donate can provide three healthy meals for people in need like the two community college students you’ll meet inside. You’ll also learn about people like you who help us help others—our dedicat- ed donor, law firm Cooley LLP, and our tireless volunteer, Kathi Maio. Thank you for your steadfast support. Together, we can end hunger here. Sincerely, Catherine D’Amato President and CEO GBFB.org/our-programs LEARN MORE AT Community College Free Mobile Markets for Students in Need The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) launched its fourth commu- nity college free Mobile Market in April at Northern Essex Com- munity College (NECC), which serves the school’s Haverhill and Lawrence campuses. Roughly one in 10 people in these cities is food insecure. The NECC free Mobile Mar- ket’s first distribution served 284 households, potentially reaching 972 people. Each Mobile Market participant, like NECC students Carla and Alba featured on page 3, took home 25- 30 pounds of free, fresh fruits and vegetables. “When I started in September 2016, I observed there was a fair amount of social service needs at our college,” said Karen Hruska, director of counseling and psychological services at NECC, and Mobile Market coordinator. GBFB offers free Mobile Markets at three other community col- leges: Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown (photo-top), Mass Bay Community College in Wellesley (photo-inset), and Bristol Community College in Fall River. The Bunker Hill and Bristol Community College Mobile Markets operate year round; NECC and Mass Bay only during the school year. The three sites combined serve an average of 1,300 people in need every month. Both NECC and Mass Bay offer produce-only distributions. “When we eat healthier, we’re more focused and can study better,” Karen said. “The healthiest food is often the most expensive, so it’s great we can provide the really healthy stuff for free.” 2