Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8agency spotlight ANN's Story (Continued from p. 1) “A year and a half ago, I had major surgery with complications, which put me into a re- habilitation facility. So I had less money for food, and it was harder and harder to make ends meet. I needed help, but I was afraid of being judged. Besides, I never thought I’d qualify for food stamps. Finally, I reached out to my local Council on Aging, and they connected me with The Greater Boston Food Bank’s SNAP coordina- tor. I can’t tell you how different the experi- ence was from what I’d feared. I thought it would feel punitive and judgmental. Instead, I felt completely understood and encouraged. The coordinator was a godsend. She helped me with the complicated paperwork to apply for SNAP benefits. But it wasn’t just what she did, it was how she did it—efficiently, but with kindness. Now, SNAP is extending my food budget so that I can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, which are expensive, and plan for healthier meals. I feel a helping hand has been held out to me, and I’m very grateful.” GBFB’s programs for seniors in- clude monthly Brown Bag grocery distributions at 15 partner sites. We also administer the Commodity Sup- plemental Food Program (CSFP), the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s nu- trition program for low-income se- niors, as well as provide information and support to help eligible seniors access Supplemental Nutrition As- sistance Program (SNAP) benefits. catherine's message FACES OF HUNGER 3 Dear Friends, For our neighbors in need, winter is the cruelest season. Heating bills skyrocket, but their wages or social security checks don’t increase. Seniors in particular are at risk. Too often, they’re forced to choose between being warm and having enough food. They skip meals, or don’t renew medical prescriptions. As the winter progresses, it becomes harder and harder for them to stay healthy and active – and that hurts all of us across Eastern Massachusetts. The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) combats the growing problem of hunger among vulnerable seniors with our monthly Brown Bag grocery distributions at 15 partner sites. In 2016, the program provided about 1.5 million pounds of food, including nearly 275,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, to 7,500 seniors in need. We also administer the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) effort designed to meet the unique nutritional needs of low-income seniors at risk of hunger. Last year, 2,400 older men and women across Eastern Massachusetts received monthly cases of nutritious USDA commodities. Our third program targeting seniors is GBFB’s outreach and education around the Supplemental Nutrition As- sistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps. Many eligible seniors assume they don’t qualify for this critical resource. GBFB’s SNAP coordinator has helped hundreds successfully apply for benefits. It’s just one more way we’re helping seniors extend their grocery budget to avoid facing hunger before the next social security check arrives. GBFB’s programs for seniors are vital strategies to achieve our objective of a hunger-free Eastern Massachusetts. They’re made possible by the generous and dedicated support of indi- viduals, businesses, foundations, and public and private part- ners across Eastern Massachusetts and beyond. Together, we are making a difference this cold season for tens of thou- sands of older members of our community. Together, we are ending hunger here. Sincerely, Catherine D’Amato President and CEO Vulnerable Seniors Must Choose Between Heat and Food GBFB AND Natick Service Council Partner to Provide Healthy Food Last year, the Natick Service Council (NSC) decided it wanted to increase the amount of fresh, healthy foods its pantry could provide to its community’s low-income residents. “We’ve seen demand steadily rising because people can’t keep up with the higher and higher costs of living in Greater Boston,” said NSC’s Executive Director Greg Tutuny. “The people being squeezed out are our most vulnerable neighbors: seniors, the disabled, and struggling working families.” So, NSC turned to The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) for help. As one of GBFB’s 530 member agencies, the NSC was eligible to apply for a GBFB capacity grant and received $1,700 toward the purchase of a brand-new, two-door commercial re- frigerator. The refrigerator is helping to support its “Heart Healthy” initia- tive, designed to significantly increase access to high-fiber, low- fat and low-sodium foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, the refrigerator enabled NSC to launch its new “Take Me” food rescue program. In conjunction with local restaurants, farms, grocery stores, and most recently with GBFB partner Lovin’ Spoonfuls, NSC now offers rescued prepared foods to supplement the food available at NSC’s pantry. “Healthy, perishable foods are, at times, out of reach financially for many of the 700 families we serve,” Tutuny said. “Thanks to the new refrigerator, we’re now able to keep perishable foods fresher for a longer period of time, and we’re able to handle much larger quantities. Our clients have expressed gratitude for the opportunity to eat healthier foods.” GBFB.org/our-programs LEARN MORE AT Photo by Jay Ball, courtesy of Natick Service Council.