The Food Bank receives $25,000 grant award from Citizens Bank

As part of the Fighting Hunger campaign to support the distribution of healthy emergency food throughout the region, The Food Bank recently received a $25,000 grant from Citizens Bank.

The grant will allow our organization to distribute even more nutritious food to our 171 member agencies (comprised of food pantries, meal programs, community centers and shelters) in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties. It will also help us assist individuals facing hunger through our direct-to-client feeding programs, including the Mobile Food Bank, and Brown Bag: Food for Elders.

“We are thrilled to receive this generous contribution from Citizens Bank,” says The Food Bank’s Executive Director Andrew Morehouse. “It is through these strong partnerships that we can continue to provide access to healthy food to households in our community who are at risk of hunger.”

Last year, The Food Bank distributed more than 11.6 million pounds of food — the equivalent of 9.6 million meals. Of that food, 51% was perishable foods, including fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy. Currently, more than 225,000 people throughout western Massachusetts rely on the services of The Food Bank and its member agencies (28% are kids under the age of 18, and 16% are seniors over the age of 65).