Helping the Hungry by Giving Thanks When Shane McColgan was an infant, his great-grandmother told everyone that Shane would “change the world one day.” But even she couldn’t have guessed it would happen so soon. Shane, 11, of Carver, has been run- ning his own food pantry, Shane Gives Thanks, since December 2016. According to Shane’s mother, Krystle, it all started four years ago when the family saw a commercial on TV about hunger awareness. Shane asked his mother if there were hungry people in Carver. When she said yes, he replied, “How can I change that?” Shane, then 7, began working with local churches to deliver boxes of food to people in need for Thanksgiving. His ambition to help even more people grew. When the local pantry closed in the fall of 2016, Shane and his family applied to the Carver Board of Selectmen to replace it. “We opened in December 2016, and there were about 50 people who came that month. [In October 2017] we served 372 people,” Krystle said. With that rapid growth in clients, Shane and his family realized they couldn’t 5 Shane, his mom Krystle and sister Peyton serve hundreds of their neighbors in need every month from their food pantry in Carver. A GBFB Valentine The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) brought Tiffany and J.B. Dowd together 20 years ago, and they have remained together ever since. “GBFB is part of our story and a part of who we are,” said J.B. Dowd recently. Now married 13 years, Tiffany and J.B. met when he volun- teered on the event committee for the Second Helping Gala, a former GBFB fundraiser sponsored by the Boston Col- lege (BC) Alumni Association. “I remember thinking what a great guy he was being so involved in his university and this wonderful organization,” Tiffany said. The Dowds went on to be- come original members of GBFB’s Kitchen Cabinet—a group of young professionals passionate about our mission. The Dowds remain steadfast supporters of the organization and we thank them! provide for them on only donations and grocery store purchases alone. They needed a partner who could meet the community’s growing needs. That’s where The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) came in. “It makes me happy to help people in town.” Shane McColgan, 11, founder of Shane Gives Thanks pantry “We noticed our numbers were growing fast, so we needed to buy more in bulk,” Krystle said. “We also couldn’t get the fresh fruits and vegetables we wanted because they were so expensive.” Shane Gives Thanks has received a total of 18,047 pounds of food—the equivalent of 15,000 meals—from GBFB in the first three months of our partnership. Shane said he looks forward to doing even more for his community in the future. “I was excited when we opened,” he said. “It makes me happy to help people in town.” “To help our patients, instead of just telling them to go buy healthy food they can’t afford we actually give it to them.” According to recent research, about half of all college students struggle with food insecurity. “Our wallets are empty,” said Grant, a student at North- ern Essex where GBFB operates a produce Mobile Market. “It’s tough to work. We don’t have the option to buy all these foods. I took home carrots, onions, man- goes… I haven’t seen a mango in years.” Your contributions help us keep our Mobile Markets stocked with fresh produce. High-impact Produce Mobile Markets At the April 2016 launch of The Greater Boston Food Bank's first free, produce Mobile Market, 300 food-insecure patients of the Charles River Community Health Center (Charles River) participated. Less than two years later, the program has grown to eight locations at health centers and community colleges throughout GBFB's service area, and now Solivert Saintil (right), a patient and volunteer at the Charles River Community Health Center, is one of thousands who receive food from GBFB's Mobile Markets. serves an average of 7,000 food-insecure individuals every month. Medical research shows that adults struggling with food insecurity are more likely to report poor physical and mental health, and have higher risks for chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and depression. About 70 percent of those GBFB serves rely on the hunger-relief system on a regular basis. Therefore, the food GBFB provides can have a lasting impact on their long- term health. “A lot of our patients suffer from high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure, and a lot of that, among other things, is due to poor nutrition,” said Francisca Guevara, director of the free produce Mobile Market at Charles River in Brighton. Hannaford Helps Make Hunger Relief Healthy Hannaford Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre (third from right) presents Team Members from GBFB and the Worcester County Food Bank with donations through its Hannaford Helps program. Healthy choices in the super- market translate to healthy food for those struggling with hunger, thanks to Hannaford Supermar- kets and The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). For every healthy private-brand food item purchased at a Han- naford Supermarket last June, Hannaford donated to a local hunger-relief organization as part of its Hannaford Helps pro- gram. GBFB received a total of $25,000 and used the donation to buy fresh vegetables this fall from Szawlowski Potato Farm in Hatfield, Massachusetts and Green Thumb Farms in Frye- burg, Maine. “Hannaford is committed to helping provide more local food to people who are struggling financially," said Julie Libby, vice president, fresh category management, merchandising and pricing for Hannaford Supermarkets. "Farms produce fresh, nutritious food, exactly what hungry people need, and help keep the local economy strong." Last June, Hannaford customers triggered a hunger-relief donation every time they purchased a private-brand item that earned at least one star from the "Guiding Stars" nutrition-navigation system displayed throughout Han- naford stores. “We are grateful for this generous gift and to have a partner like Hannaford that understands the positive impact nutritious food has on those we serve,” said Catherine D’Amato, GBFB president and CEO. GBFB.org/get-involved LEARN MORE AT Everyone has a role in ending hunger in our community.® 4 Hannaford Supermarkets is a GBFB Partner for Impact, one of the 150 businesses and organizations that pro- vide more than just financial support to GBFB. Through volunteerism, event sponsor- ship, in-kind donations and more, these organizations play a key role in helping GBFB achieve its mission.