Centering Community Voices to Strengthen Our Work 

Established in November of 2024, the Community Engagement Team (CET) at the Food Bank is a collective of community members from across all four counties of Western Massachusetts.

Each member brings unique insights into the challenges of accessing food and essential resources in their neighborhoods. CET amplifies the perspective of lived experience—navigating real-life barriers to food access, encountering gaps in services, and striving to build a more equitable, nourishing food system for all. This group plays a critical role in shaping how the Food Bank listens, responds, and shapes its policy priorities. 

CET’s journey has included hands-on learning experiences and policy engagement, including supporting a local Brown Bag: Food for Elders Program, learning about the Food Bank’s state and federal advocacy priorities, and participating first-hand in a Lobby Day at the State House in Boston. There, CET members advocated for increased HIP (Healthy Incentives Program) funding, sharing their personal stories with legislators to underscore the human impact of policy decisions. 

Looking Ahead 

CET continues to deepen its understanding of food insecurity across Western Massachusetts and is actively exploring grant opportunities to support community-driven advocacy. Their mission: to ensure that every person, in every county, has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive. 

The Community Engagement Team is not just part of the Food Bank—they are helping lead the way. Their voices guide our strategies, their stories inform our advocacy, their vision shapes our future, and we’re honored to work alongside them. 

CET is not currently recruiting new members. If you are interested in supporting the Food Bank’s Advocacy work, please visit our Advocacy Page >