Everyone has the Right to Nutritious Food
For over 40 years, the Food Bank has been partnering with the community to end hunger in our region.
As the Food Bank for the four counties of Western Massachusetts, we source, store, and provide over 17 million pounds of food a year- the equivalent of more than 14 million meals. We also recognize that providing food alone is only a temporary fix; real solutions require addressing the factors that drive hunger in the first place.
Providing Nutritious Food
The Food Bank receives food from a number of different sources, including the state government (MEFAP), the federal government (TEFAP), local farms, our own Food Bank Farms, retail and wholesale food businesses, and community organizations. After being checked for quality and inventoried at the Food Bank warehouse, this food is provided to our member food pantries, shelters, and meal sites or directly to guests at our Mobile Food Bank and Brown Bag sites.
Food Bank Members
Our staff works with our member food pantry and meal sites in the food assistance network to ensure food safety and access, and facilitate capacity building through grants to increase food distribution and best practices workshops.
Public Education and Advocacy
Legislation & Policy
The Food Bank promotes legislation, programs, and investments that strengthen immediate support for the food assistance network and address the drivers of hunger. We believe a broad range of solutions are necessary to eliminate systemic barriers and foster economic opportunity for everyone.
What Drives Hunger?
Hunger effects people in every town and city in Western Massachusetts, and the ways it manifests in people’s lives has long been complicated by misinformation, misconception, and shame. Debunking myths about hunger is important to forge effective solutions.
Community Stories
People who receive food assistance know the web of obstacles they face, from the cost of food to accessing other basic needs like affordable housing, public transportation, childcare, and medicine. Here we feature the voices and stories of our network partners and people living with food insecurity and hunger.
Connecting People to Resources
Food Assistance Navigation
Our Food Assistance Navigation (FAN) team assists people facing food insecurity with access to food resources and other wrap-around social services. We partner with the health care community, other social service agencies, and those seeking assistance to create connections between people and agencies who can help.
SNAP Outreach
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible individuals and families across the country. Our SNAP team helps individuals and families with the application and all the necessary documentation for this federal program.
Nutrition
Our Nutrition Outreach team offers educational programs to our members, including workshops, food sampling events, grocery store tours in both English and Spanish (using Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters at the Store® model), ServSafe certification and safe food handling training.
Connecting People to Agriculture
The Food Bank Farms
Our farms represent our unique approach to food banking- a shift from relying exclusively on donated food from food retailers and commodities from state and federal governments. They are an investment in local farmland to strengthen our local economy while providing a reliable source of healthy organic food for those who need it most.
Hosted on our Second Food Bank Farm, Cultivating for Community provides volunteer and educational opportunities on regenerative farming, nutrition, the local farm economy, and food insecurity.
Our Facility
Learn about our food warehouse, resource, education, and advocacy center in Chicopee.
Mission, Vision, Values
The Food Bank is guided by our mission, vision, values, and equity statement.
Leadership & Board
The Food Bank Board of Directors and Leadership Team by name and position.
Financials & Strategic Plan
Where the Food Bank has been, and where it is headed.
Not finding the answers you need on our website? If you have a general question or are not sure who to speak to, please use the Contact Us form or call our front desk.