Business partners
The Greater Boston Food Bank is one of New England’s largest hunger-relief organizations. With a network of nearly 600 partner agencies, the GBFB provides almost 100 million meals every year to people in need. Its mission is to eliminate hunger in Eastern Massachusetts. By collecting donations from individuals, companies, and organizations, the GBFB feeds the hungry in nearly 200 communities.
By supporting GBFB’s work, corporate partners increase their brand awareness and raise the organization’s profile in the region. This helps the food bank increase visibility and attract new donors and corporate partners. This growth has allowed the food bank to diversify its funding sources and increase staff expertise in specific food industry segments.
A donation of any amount can help the Boston Food Bank meet its mission of feeding the city’s hungry. Donations to the Boston Food Bank are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Business partners may also consider partnering with the Boston Food Pantry to help feed homeless individuals and their families.
Parishes
The Boston food bank has been distributing food to local parishes since 1908. A few years ago, the Good Shepherd Parish picked up 4,000 to 6,000 pounds of food each week. Now, that number has dropped to about 500 pounds. The pantry needs 3,000 pounds per week. Last week, an informal coalition of social service agencies and volunteers met at the Agricultural Hall to discuss how they can help.
Catholic Social Services, the outreach distributor for the food bank, has been supporting this effort for the past 35 years. They also have been supplying weekly meals to the parish center’s food pantry. They also support the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club’s Healthy Happy Kids after-school program, which provides nutritious food to children after school.
Schools
The Greater Boston Food Bank has partnered with local schools and the state Department of Education to provide food for underprivileged students in the Boston area. Donations from the public can help these schools purchase food at discounted prices. Each dollar donated to the food bank can provide three meals for a child. In addition, the donated funds support farmers and help cut down on food waste.
The Food Bank delivers highly nutritious foods to schools in Eastern Massachusetts. The organization also works with community partners to distribute food at School-based Pantries. Food is distributed monthly to participating families and students. The pantry is free and open to everyone, regardless of income, and the entire school community is encouraged to participate.
One example of a school receiving Boston food bank donations is Brandeis University. The university has a large international student population. GBFB staff member Steve Weglinski began a food pantry on the Brandeis campus to help needy students. Weglinski estimates that more than half of the graduate students at the university arrive with sufficient funds to pay for tuition and housing but without enough money to purchase food and other necessities.
GBFB’s School-Based Pantry program was launched four years ago and now serves eight Massachusetts schools. The GBFB’s Community Initiatives Team runs the program. The GBFB distributes fresh, nutritious foods to families in these schools through the program. Teachers run the pantries, and the food distribution program serves over 10,000 children. Its primary corporate partner is Our Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Stop & Shop.
Individuals
The Greater Boston Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that works to provide food and other supplies to the hungry in Eastern Massachusetts and New England. The organization has a network of 600 food distribution partners throughout Eastern Massachusetts and is a member of Feeding America. Its mission is to provide every resident in need of food with three nutritious meals each day.
To continue its work, the food bank relies on the generous donations of individuals. Most of these donations come in the form of food and other supplies, but there are also opportunities for individuals to donate money. For example, an individual may be able to make a one-time or annual contribution. The Greater Boston Food Bank also accepts donations from corporations.
Churches
A church can donate to the Boston food bank in various ways. One way is to hold a fundraising event. For example, a church could host a fundraiser to raise funds for the Friday Night Supper Program. This program helps feed people in need by providing three-course meals.
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) holds a Hunger-Free Holidays campaign every December. Through this campaign, churches, temples, and schools in the Boston area can donate non-perishable food. The food bank matches donations up to $650,000. It also partners with several local distribution centers to help those in need.
Another way to donate to the Boston food bank is through volunteering. Volunteers are needed to stock shelves and staff the pantry. Volunteers can drop donations at the Food Pantry on Thursdays between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. You can ring a bell to be directed to the Food Pantry during this time. Alternatively, you can bring donations on Sundays and drop them off in the back of the Sanctuary. However, note that the sound from the food pantries will carry into the Sanctuary.
Nonprofits
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest in New England, distributing 2.5 million pounds of food weekly. While it no longer accepts walk-in food donations, monetary donations are accepted online. These funds support the GBFB’s grocery delivery programs and partnerships with local agencies. Those interested in donating should use their online partnership agency locator to locate an agency that works with the GBFB.
Bank of America recently donated $525,000 to the Greater Boston Food Bank and several other organizations. This money will be used to purchase food for local families in need. Bank of America has been a longtime partner of the organization, contributing more than $2 million over the years. Another great partner of the Greater Boston Food Bank is Lovin’ Spoonfuls, a food rescue organization based in Boston that rescues healthy food at markets and distributes it to nonprofits throughout Massachusetts. Since 2014, this organization has donated nearly $500,000 to the food bank.
Donations to the Boston food bank are vital to addressing the growing food crisis in our region. With rising food prices and a lack of access to affordable staples, nonprofits feeding hundreds of Islanders are facing unprecedented challenges. Funding cuts at the Greater Boston Food Bank have reduced the amount of free produce and low-cost staples available to the needy.
