71% of the people we serve live in poverty. Nearly half of them have had to choose between buying food and paying for utilities, rent, mortgage or medical care.
Food Distribution
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is the umbrella organization for the emergency food network in our region, bringing nutritious food to hundreds of local front-line food assistance providers that serve people in need. We distribute nearly 7 million pounds of food each year – enough for about 5 million meals that help nourish families, children, elders, and adults who are experiencing severe hunger or chronic food insecurity.
Our Food Distribution & Delivery services bring healthy food both to Food Bank member agencies like meal sites, shelters, and food pantries, and to low-income elders through our Brown Bag sites.These programs help thousands of people in western Massachusetts who are going through hard times, giving them access to the most basic human need: food. Our work includes:
- • food distribution to nearly 300 local food assistance programs, such as meal sites, food pantries, shelters, childcare and senior centers, rehabilitation facilities, camps, and residential and transitional programs;
- • free monthly Brown Bags for about 6,500 low-income elders in 46 communities across western Massachusetts; and
- • direct door-to-door food delivery service to 125 emergency assistance agencies that can’t afford to come to The Food Bank warehouse.
While we are constantly seeking innovative, long-term ways to address hunger and food insecurity, we also recognize that the foundation of The Food Bank’s work is to alleviate immediate need for food among our most vulnerable neighbors. With the economy forcing more and more people to seek assistance, we are working to make sure that Food Distribution services – the essential programs that bring food to those in need – are strong.
