April 25, 2026 • 18 mins
Prices at the supermarket, gas pump, and on your energy bill are only going up by the day, and a lot of people around New England are starting to feel the pinch. Food insecurity in Massachusetts is reaching levels we haven't seen in a long time, if ever. To get a better idea of just how much assistance is needed, the Greater Boston Food Bank teamed up with Mass General Brigham to put together a comprehensive report, complete with suggestions on what needs to be done to turn this trend around. Catherine D'Amato, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank, returns to the show to break down the report's findings with Nichole.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
We're each and every week right here. We come together
we talk about all the topics important to you and
the place where you live. Thanks for tuning in again
this week. I'm Nicole Davis. More and more people here
in Massachusetts are finding themselves struggling to put food on
the table, and the programs in place are simply not enough. Furthermore,
(00:28):
it's a trend that's only getting worse by the year,
and it's impacting people who make more money than you
might think. Those are just some of the findings in
a new report from the Greater Boston Food Bank and
mass General Brigham. This report takes a closer look at
how many people here in Massachusetts are having trouble feeding
themselves and the major factors behind the issue. Catherine Dematto
is the president and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank,
(00:50):
and Catherine, it's so good to have you back with
us now. You're certainly busy helping Bostonians, but over the
Food Bank you serve far more people than just those
in the city.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
The Greater Boston Food Bank serves all of eastern Massachusetts.
That's one hundred and ninety cities and towns across that area,
and in such six hundred different organizations receive free food
from us on a regular basis. And if you put
into perspective, six hundred thousand people eat something each and
(01:19):
every month from the Greater Boston Food Bank across eastern Massachusetts,
that is.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Not a small number, and it's a number that, frankly,
is growing. And that's why a major reason why you
did this great report with mass General Brigha, I'm really
shining a light on just how significant the food insecurity
problem is here in Massachusetts. And I had somebody ask
me recently. They said, isn't Massachusetts one of the highest
cost of living states? Don't we have a lot of
money here? What do you say to people who think
(01:46):
that food and security wouldn't be an issue around here.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well, Massachusetts is a very high cost of living state,
but it's also one of the top usually three to
five food cost states across the United States. Food moved
from the West coast to the East coast, which makes
it very expensive and is going to grow due to
the issue of transportation. The cost of fuel and diesel
(02:10):
to bring those products across is going to we're already
seeing you know, those inflationary numbers increase and that they'll
be considerably higher. So when you think about Massachusetts being
a very affluent state, why do we have hunger? So
this study, which is the sixth year in a row,
has been showing in the last few years one in three.
(02:33):
What changed this year is we saw it go to
forty percent. So I mean forty percent of the households
and the Commonwealth are struggling with food insecurity and this
is a very disturbing number. What it does say to
us is that our residents have had a very difficult
year in the Commonwealth to be able to help themselves
(02:56):
and their families and to ensure that they have access
to food.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I'd love to hear more about what the report had
to say about where this problem is most intensive here
in the Bay State.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Sure, well, the study outlines the entire state and it
looks at counties. So we have fourteen counties in Massachusetts.
So we broke it down based on that where you
could see pluses or minuses, and we had to put
Barnstable County, Dukes and Martha's Vineyard together because the population
(03:26):
is so small. So that's where you see a lot
of growth in terms of need, but you have that
bifurcation in that economy on the cape where people who
live there as second homes or people who work there
to support that economy. So you're seeing quite a bit
there in other parts of the state where you have
less access to financial resources or to jobs than in
(03:51):
the cost of housing, you will see more people leaving
the major cities to go to those outlying areas, and
that's where you're also seeing some growth is not just
in the cities but in the suburbs. So the study
looks very deeply into categories, demographics, and then of course
the geography across our state. We have a very unique
(04:13):
population across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for the most part,
people are doing okay. But what the study does say
due to this increase is that they're maximizing the federal
and state resources, and they're also maximizing the not for
profit or charitable distribution system. The base is it's not enough,
(04:36):
and that's where that real challenge around economics is showing
its ugly face.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Well, and you mentioned federal programs. We've had issues with
SNAP over the past six months. I mean back in
what was in November, I believe October. You know that
snap just went away for a while and people were
really leaning on the food bank and food pantries to
try to get by. And I'm sure that that really
just exacerbated. You mentioned so many people are just getting by, right,
They're okay, they can feed themselves, okay, But a situation
(05:06):
like that, it just goes to show how sensitive the
situation is and how very little it takes to kind
of throw a lot of people over the edge.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, it's very little that separates which side of the
table you're sitting on right now. Yeah, And are you
on the side that has the resources or the side
that's really struggling to maintain or you're losing resources. This
is a significant period of time in the last you know,
this administration specifically, where you have seen enormous changes in
(05:37):
requirements in regulations, either by the stroke of a pen
or within the big beautiful bill. And there's more to come.
So we're still going to see those regulations go into
place because they were done over period of time. And
if you take note of the new budget conversations, there's
(05:57):
now a huge attack being looked at for Wick, which
is the Women Infant Children program. So there's no way
that philanthropy can make up all of the losses that
are occurring across federal reductions. It is just a huge
attack on poor people. And it doesn't matter which issue
(06:19):
you want to fight for, bely, it could be food
in security, housing security, it could be economic security, education, daycare, medication,
your healthcare, the water, the air, the ground, picket. It's
all under attack, which is where it becomes very difficult
to be able to support families in all of their needs.
(06:41):
The state cannot make it up, philanthropy can't make it up.
But together we believe we can do a lot to
move some things forward to at least maintain this very
difficult situation and not have it continue to become worse.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
What would you say to somebody who would say to that, well,
why don't people just go and get jobs? Why don't
people just go work more? Why don't people just put
themselves out there more? And I would like to add
that from every conversation you and I have had, you've
brought up a great point that a lot of people
who are food and secure are working.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
They are working. Yeah, the study shows that there's a
high number of folks who work, as well as a
high number of folks already utilizing, as I noted earlier,
those federal nutrition programs like SNAP and WICK. Maybe it
might be headstart or elder feeding or these other ways
in which we can help our neighbors access programs. So
(07:33):
it isn't just hey, I'm going to go get a job.
I mean, part of it is the economics are changing,
the skills needed, the infusion of AI coming. There are
lots of changes. I mean, even in my own business
where we really are logistics, we're handling, storing, distributing, transporting
a lot of food, you know, driverless vehicles, driver less
(07:57):
tractor trailers. And again I shared shared with you the
cost increases that are happening. It might surprise you that
about thirty three percent of all the fertilizer coming through
the straight up femos comes to the United States.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
So it's going to isn't just the oil, it's a
number of other things that are impacting people's ability. But
people are working, they're doing what they can, and in
some cases, because of the cost of living here, they're
working two jobs or three jobs, or they have their
day job and then they bartend at either they wait
(08:33):
tables or they drive uber or that's a gig economy,
or they're delivering meals, or they're doing anything that they
can to stay ahead. Most of the people that we
see are filled with a great deal of pride and dignity,
and they come to the emergency feeding system out of need,
not out of well, I'm going to try to take
(08:53):
advantage of a system.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I think of the kids, I think of seniors. You know,
these these populations where they may not be able to
get there, get out there and get a job, they
may not be able to find other ways to bring
money in, but they need to eat as well, especially
kids in school.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah, well that's part of the sort of senselessness around
the regulation the work requirement for SNAP. They have to
do twenty hours of work in order to be eligible
for where most of the individuals on SNAP or children,
they're not going to go get a job. Now, it
becomes a very narrow, narrow, narrow, narrow piece, but it
(09:32):
scares people when they hear requirements are changing or it
may not be eligible or you know, we're one of
the pieces, two pieces out of the study that we're
fighting for in policy one is related to SNAP and
one is related to a state commodity program. On the
SNAP side, we're asking for more workers at the Department
of Transitional Assistance in the state because over seventy percent
(09:55):
of the calls coming in are dropped. They're not even
being able to be in gauged or to determine if
you are eligibler I even talk to a caseworker, so
we know that the push is coming in, but the
options or the opportunities are just completely following shorts, so
people give up. The other piece that we're fighting for
(10:16):
in policy is our state commodity program called me FAT,
and this is money to buy food for all of
the three hundred and fifty one towns and cities across
the Commonwealth, and in such, it puts money back into
the hands of farmers and growers, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and
(10:37):
it's a really great program. Where you have state allocation
to purchase food, you're supporting the economy and then the
workers in that economy, and oh you also are feeding
our hungry neighbors. So it's a great program. We're seeking
additional dollars in that program as well as more workers
(10:58):
to be able to receive call and help families that
are indeed eligible and fit the requirements.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Outside of policy, what else are you recommending as part
of this report? You see all this data, you see
the need, You see what we have to do. What
do we need to do to move forward here?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Well, it's a great question. So those are the two policy,
the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program and war workers to
be able to receive calls at SNAP. Now there are
other things we want to be able to continue to maintain.
That's the school Meals program, which has proven to be
quite significant in the severe hunger category because we measure
(11:34):
hunger and those who are severely hunger, and we've seen
that the school meals program has made a huge difference.
But the two things that we must continue to do
is we must continue to invest in government programs that
work and to ensure that our neighbors have access to
both state and federal programs. And we must continue to
(11:55):
invest in work with philanthropy and our donors to be
able to understand this is now a sort of almost
human condition in our country, that food and security has
risen to such a significant heightened level, and we need both.
You need the best of state and federal policies, and
(12:15):
you also need the best of philanthropy. They can't abandon
each other and they can't go it alone without each other.
That's what does make Massachusetts, I think one of the
most significant pieces. We have very good policy and we
have very good philanthropy, but we're going to need to
call on both more and to make sure that we
(12:35):
don't lose sight. This bifurcation of you either have resources
or you don't is so severe and it's a frightening
time for those who are seeking food.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Yeah, somebody said to me the other day, it's like
the chasm between the haves and have nots is just
continuing to grow. And I'm sure it's the case when
it comes to food and security, it is.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
The middle is gone, right, So it's not like it's
going away or it's disappearing. Feels very much gone, and
that people that there's this incredible compression that's occurred. And
you and I we can go to the grocery store.
We can take care of our families. We have friends,
we have people we can rely on if we need something,
(13:17):
or we can help others too. We are in the
position of doing that but there are so many people
who cannot and that will grow. And as we started
our conversation, it isn't much that separates us from which
side of the table are we sitting behind. And it's
far easier to fall into the less resource than it
(13:40):
is to convert to greater resources. If you think of
someone earning, you know, we'll say thirty dollars an hour,
that's about sixty five thousand dollars a year. Sounds thirty
dollars an hours sounds like a really good way, But
sixty five thousand dollars doesn't go very far. It's very
difficult to get to seventy five to eighty or to
(14:03):
eighty five. And because it doesn't move in that kind
of chunks, but costs do. And again that's the difficulty
that our neighbors are facing. There's far too much demand
for the increase on their dollar. You need about a
dollar twenty today than you did just a few years
(14:23):
ago for that same dollar. When you think of overall
costs that a family has to bear, and it becomes
very difficult. So we want to continue to invest in
state and federal programs, continue to invest in philanthropy, and
to not forget that this has been a very difficult
year for our neighbors and we need to be there
to help them.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
What is the best way we can help our neighbors.
Obviously helping you because you've got those systems in place, right,
You've got the logistics as you mentioned, and you are
helping so many different food banks. So what is the
best way for somebody in a position to help to
do that?
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Sure? Sure, we really want want to start with yourself
and your community and determine how you can be involved.
You can always give money, whether it's to your local
food pantry or with the Greater Boston Food Bank, or
to a national system and the things that you care about.
So that is one, and it doesn't matter whether it's
a dollar or one hundred or a thousand, you know,
(15:18):
it matters that you're giving. The second is that you
can get involved and volunteer, especially if you may not
have the financial resources, but you have some time and talent.
It's another great way. And the last is on a
policy piece. You can get involved by making a phone call,
by calling your state rep or your congressional representative to
(15:42):
be able to say these are the things I care
about or I would like you to be aware, I'm
a voter in your constituency and this is what I'm
most proud of or I'm most concerned about. Those three
things do matter, and so you can do all three
of them. The biggest part is don't sit on the sidelines,
you know, don't just watch the get involved because you can.
(16:05):
You can make a difference in a very small but
a very significant ways, where as very large ways. There's
never enough resources that we on the side of the
not for profits and the charitable services have that that
we just sit here and goh my goodness, we're overwhelmed
and we have so much we don't need it anymore.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
I don't think I've ever heard of nonprofit leaders say
that to me, and I'm pretty sure I'm never going.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
To Actually, yeah, no, you're not. Because there's always more
need than there is uh than there than there are
the resources to help meet that need. And this is
the time where it's just winding up. There isn't a
not for profit leader that every day has to rethink, repivot, restrategize,
and you know, and take a course of action during
(16:51):
that day to do something because something will have been
stripped away or some other action will have occurred that
we have to respond to.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Okay, Well, how can people then catch up on what's
happening at the Greater Boston Food Bank If they want
to read the report, if they want to donate or
sign up to volunteer, how can they connect with you?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Sure? So we want to make sure they go to
GBFB dot org. Okay, and they can see a number
of activities there to get involved. That they want to
become an advocate, they can sign up and do that.
If they want to know where organizations are in their communities,
there's a need help section and they can put in
their zip code or a list all the organizations. And
that would be true also for someone seeking food. That's
(17:33):
also a really good place to go to and to
find out where are the locations in your community that
you can go to and you can always give those
financial resource to those pantries as well as to the
Greater Boston Food Bank through that site. If you want
to award that study, you can go to that same
website GBFB dot org and see a lot of details
(17:57):
and you can educate yourself and what the issues are
around food and security and how you can help.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Yeah, for sure. I think that we've covered a lot
of ground here, but there is so much more to
pull out of that report. So again, thank you for
doing the groundwork here and the research and all the
work that you do GBFB dot org. Catherine. It's just
always great to have you on the show to talk
about this stuff. So I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Thank you so much. And I love these warmer days,
so go enjoy them.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yes, absolutely, have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join
us again next week for another edition of the show.
I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.
We're each and every week right here. We come together
we talk about all the topics important to you and
the place where you live. Thanks for tuning in again
this week. I'm Nicole Davis. More and more people here
in Massachusetts are finding themselves struggling to put food on
the table, and the programs in place are simply not enough. Furthermore,
(00:28):
it's a trend that's only getting worse by the year,
and it's impacting people who make more money than you
might think. Those are just some of the findings in
a new report from the Greater Boston Food Bank and
mass General Brigham. This report takes a closer look at
how many people here in Massachusetts are having trouble feeding
themselves and the major factors behind the issue. Catherine Dematto
is the president and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank,
(00:50):
and Catherine, it's so good to have you back with
us now. You're certainly busy helping Bostonians, but over the
Food Bank you serve far more people than just those
in the city.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
The Greater Boston Food Bank serves all of eastern Massachusetts.
That's one hundred and ninety cities and towns across that area,
and in such six hundred different organizations receive free food
from us on a regular basis. And if you put
into perspective, six hundred thousand people eat something each and
(01:19):
every month from the Greater Boston Food Bank across eastern Massachusetts,
that is.
Speaker 1 (01:23):
Not a small number, and it's a number that, frankly,
is growing. And that's why a major reason why you
did this great report with mass General Brigha, I'm really
shining a light on just how significant the food insecurity
problem is here in Massachusetts. And I had somebody ask
me recently. They said, isn't Massachusetts one of the highest
cost of living states? Don't we have a lot of
money here? What do you say to people who think
(01:46):
that food and security wouldn't be an issue around here.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Well, Massachusetts is a very high cost of living state,
but it's also one of the top usually three to
five food cost states across the United States. Food moved
from the West coast to the East coast, which makes
it very expensive and is going to grow due to
the issue of transportation. The cost of fuel and diesel
(02:10):
to bring those products across is going to we're already
seeing you know, those inflationary numbers increase and that they'll
be considerably higher. So when you think about Massachusetts being
a very affluent state, why do we have hunger? So
this study, which is the sixth year in a row,
has been showing in the last few years one in three.
(02:33):
What changed this year is we saw it go to
forty percent. So I mean forty percent of the households
and the Commonwealth are struggling with food insecurity and this
is a very disturbing number. What it does say to
us is that our residents have had a very difficult
year in the Commonwealth to be able to help themselves
(02:56):
and their families and to ensure that they have access
to food.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
I'd love to hear more about what the report had
to say about where this problem is most intensive here
in the Bay State.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Sure, well, the study outlines the entire state and it
looks at counties. So we have fourteen counties in Massachusetts.
So we broke it down based on that where you
could see pluses or minuses, and we had to put
Barnstable County, Dukes and Martha's Vineyard together because the population
(03:26):
is so small. So that's where you see a lot
of growth in terms of need, but you have that
bifurcation in that economy on the cape where people who
live there as second homes or people who work there
to support that economy. So you're seeing quite a bit
there in other parts of the state where you have
less access to financial resources or to jobs than in
(03:51):
the cost of housing, you will see more people leaving
the major cities to go to those outlying areas, and
that's where you're also seeing some growth is not just
in the cities but in the suburbs. So the study
looks very deeply into categories, demographics, and then of course
the geography across our state. We have a very unique
(04:13):
population across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for the most part,
people are doing okay. But what the study does say
due to this increase is that they're maximizing the federal
and state resources, and they're also maximizing the not for
profit or charitable distribution system. The base is it's not enough,
(04:36):
and that's where that real challenge around economics is showing
its ugly face.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Well, and you mentioned federal programs. We've had issues with
SNAP over the past six months. I mean back in
what was in November, I believe October. You know that
snap just went away for a while and people were
really leaning on the food bank and food pantries to
try to get by. And I'm sure that that really
just exacerbated. You mentioned so many people are just getting by, right,
They're okay, they can feed themselves, okay, But a situation
(05:06):
like that, it just goes to show how sensitive the
situation is and how very little it takes to kind
of throw a lot of people over the edge.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Yeah, it's very little that separates which side of the
table you're sitting on right now. Yeah, And are you
on the side that has the resources or the side
that's really struggling to maintain or you're losing resources. This
is a significant period of time in the last you know,
this administration specifically, where you have seen enormous changes in
(05:37):
requirements in regulations, either by the stroke of a pen
or within the big beautiful bill. And there's more to come.
So we're still going to see those regulations go into
place because they were done over period of time. And
if you take note of the new budget conversations, there's
(05:57):
now a huge attack being looked at for Wick, which
is the Women Infant Children program. So there's no way
that philanthropy can make up all of the losses that
are occurring across federal reductions. It is just a huge
attack on poor people. And it doesn't matter which issue
(06:19):
you want to fight for, bely, it could be food
in security, housing security, it could be economic security, education, daycare, medication,
your healthcare, the water, the air, the ground, picket. It's
all under attack, which is where it becomes very difficult
to be able to support families in all of their needs.
(06:41):
The state cannot make it up, philanthropy can't make it up.
But together we believe we can do a lot to
move some things forward to at least maintain this very
difficult situation and not have it continue to become worse.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
What would you say to somebody who would say to that, well,
why don't people just go and get jobs? Why don't
people just go work more? Why don't people just put
themselves out there more? And I would like to add
that from every conversation you and I have had, you've
brought up a great point that a lot of people
who are food and secure are working.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
They are working. Yeah, the study shows that there's a
high number of folks who work, as well as a
high number of folks already utilizing, as I noted earlier,
those federal nutrition programs like SNAP and WICK. Maybe it
might be headstart or elder feeding or these other ways
in which we can help our neighbors access programs. So
(07:33):
it isn't just hey, I'm going to go get a job.
I mean, part of it is the economics are changing,
the skills needed, the infusion of AI coming. There are
lots of changes. I mean, even in my own business
where we really are logistics, we're handling, storing, distributing, transporting
a lot of food, you know, driverless vehicles, driver less
(07:57):
tractor trailers. And again I shared shared with you the
cost increases that are happening. It might surprise you that
about thirty three percent of all the fertilizer coming through
the straight up femos comes to the United States.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
So it's going to isn't just the oil, it's a
number of other things that are impacting people's ability. But
people are working, they're doing what they can, and in
some cases, because of the cost of living here, they're
working two jobs or three jobs, or they have their
day job and then they bartend at either they wait
(08:33):
tables or they drive uber or that's a gig economy,
or they're delivering meals, or they're doing anything that they
can to stay ahead. Most of the people that we
see are filled with a great deal of pride and dignity,
and they come to the emergency feeding system out of need,
not out of well, I'm going to try to take
(08:53):
advantage of a system.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
I think of the kids, I think of seniors. You know,
these these populations where they may not be able to
get there, get out there and get a job, they
may not be able to find other ways to bring
money in, but they need to eat as well, especially
kids in school.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Yeah, well that's part of the sort of senselessness around
the regulation the work requirement for SNAP. They have to
do twenty hours of work in order to be eligible
for where most of the individuals on SNAP or children,
they're not going to go get a job. Now, it
becomes a very narrow, narrow, narrow, narrow piece, but it
(09:32):
scares people when they hear requirements are changing or it
may not be eligible or you know, we're one of
the pieces, two pieces out of the study that we're
fighting for in policy one is related to SNAP and
one is related to a state commodity program. On the
SNAP side, we're asking for more workers at the Department
of Transitional Assistance in the state because over seventy percent
(09:55):
of the calls coming in are dropped. They're not even
being able to be in gauged or to determine if
you are eligibler I even talk to a caseworker, so
we know that the push is coming in, but the
options or the opportunities are just completely following shorts, so
people give up. The other piece that we're fighting for
(10:16):
in policy is our state commodity program called me FAT,
and this is money to buy food for all of
the three hundred and fifty one towns and cities across
the Commonwealth, and in such, it puts money back into
the hands of farmers and growers, manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, and
(10:37):
it's a really great program. Where you have state allocation
to purchase food, you're supporting the economy and then the
workers in that economy, and oh you also are feeding
our hungry neighbors. So it's a great program. We're seeking
additional dollars in that program as well as more workers
(10:58):
to be able to receive call and help families that
are indeed eligible and fit the requirements.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Outside of policy, what else are you recommending as part
of this report? You see all this data, you see
the need, You see what we have to do. What
do we need to do to move forward here?
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Well, it's a great question. So those are the two policy,
the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program and war workers to
be able to receive calls at SNAP. Now there are
other things we want to be able to continue to maintain.
That's the school Meals program, which has proven to be
quite significant in the severe hunger category because we measure
(11:34):
hunger and those who are severely hunger, and we've seen
that the school meals program has made a huge difference.
But the two things that we must continue to do
is we must continue to invest in government programs that
work and to ensure that our neighbors have access to
both state and federal programs. And we must continue to
(11:55):
invest in work with philanthropy and our donors to be
able to understand this is now a sort of almost
human condition in our country, that food and security has
risen to such a significant heightened level, and we need both.
You need the best of state and federal policies, and
(12:15):
you also need the best of philanthropy. They can't abandon
each other and they can't go it alone without each other.
That's what does make Massachusetts, I think one of the
most significant pieces. We have very good policy and we
have very good philanthropy, but we're going to need to
call on both more and to make sure that we
(12:35):
don't lose sight. This bifurcation of you either have resources
or you don't is so severe and it's a frightening
time for those who are seeking food.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Yeah, somebody said to me the other day, it's like
the chasm between the haves and have nots is just
continuing to grow. And I'm sure it's the case when
it comes to food and security, it is.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
The middle is gone, right, So it's not like it's
going away or it's disappearing. Feels very much gone, and
that people that there's this incredible compression that's occurred. And
you and I we can go to the grocery store.
We can take care of our families. We have friends,
we have people we can rely on if we need something,
(13:17):
or we can help others too. We are in the
position of doing that but there are so many people
who cannot and that will grow. And as we started
our conversation, it isn't much that separates us from which
side of the table are we sitting behind. And it's
far easier to fall into the less resource than it
(13:40):
is to convert to greater resources. If you think of
someone earning, you know, we'll say thirty dollars an hour,
that's about sixty five thousand dollars a year. Sounds thirty
dollars an hours sounds like a really good way, But
sixty five thousand dollars doesn't go very far. It's very
difficult to get to seventy five to eighty or to
(14:03):
eighty five. And because it doesn't move in that kind
of chunks, but costs do. And again that's the difficulty
that our neighbors are facing. There's far too much demand
for the increase on their dollar. You need about a
dollar twenty today than you did just a few years
(14:23):
ago for that same dollar. When you think of overall
costs that a family has to bear, and it becomes
very difficult. So we want to continue to invest in
state and federal programs, continue to invest in philanthropy, and
to not forget that this has been a very difficult
year for our neighbors and we need to be there
to help them.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
What is the best way we can help our neighbors.
Obviously helping you because you've got those systems in place, right,
You've got the logistics as you mentioned, and you are
helping so many different food banks. So what is the
best way for somebody in a position to help to
do that?
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Sure? Sure, we really want want to start with yourself
and your community and determine how you can be involved.
You can always give money, whether it's to your local
food pantry or with the Greater Boston Food Bank, or
to a national system and the things that you care about.
So that is one, and it doesn't matter whether it's
a dollar or one hundred or a thousand, you know,
(15:18):
it matters that you're giving. The second is that you
can get involved and volunteer, especially if you may not
have the financial resources, but you have some time and talent.
It's another great way. And the last is on a
policy piece. You can get involved by making a phone call,
by calling your state rep or your congressional representative to
(15:42):
be able to say these are the things I care
about or I would like you to be aware, I'm
a voter in your constituency and this is what I'm
most proud of or I'm most concerned about. Those three
things do matter, and so you can do all three
of them. The biggest part is don't sit on the sidelines,
you know, don't just watch the get involved because you can.
(16:05):
You can make a difference in a very small but
a very significant ways, where as very large ways. There's
never enough resources that we on the side of the
not for profits and the charitable services have that that
we just sit here and goh my goodness, we're overwhelmed
and we have so much we don't need it anymore.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
I don't think I've ever heard of nonprofit leaders say
that to me, and I'm pretty sure I'm never going.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
To Actually, yeah, no, you're not. Because there's always more
need than there is uh than there than there are
the resources to help meet that need. And this is
the time where it's just winding up. There isn't a
not for profit leader that every day has to rethink, repivot, restrategize,
and you know, and take a course of action during
(16:51):
that day to do something because something will have been
stripped away or some other action will have occurred that
we have to respond to.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
Okay, Well, how can people then catch up on what's
happening at the Greater Boston Food Bank If they want
to read the report, if they want to donate or
sign up to volunteer, how can they connect with you?
Speaker 2 (17:10):
Sure? So we want to make sure they go to
GBFB dot org. Okay, and they can see a number
of activities there to get involved. That they want to
become an advocate, they can sign up and do that.
If they want to know where organizations are in their communities,
there's a need help section and they can put in
their zip code or a list all the organizations. And
that would be true also for someone seeking food. That's
(17:33):
also a really good place to go to and to
find out where are the locations in your community that
you can go to and you can always give those
financial resource to those pantries as well as to the
Greater Boston Food Bank through that site. If you want
to award that study, you can go to that same
website GBFB dot org and see a lot of details
(17:57):
and you can educate yourself and what the issues are
around food and security and how you can help.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
Yeah, for sure. I think that we've covered a lot
of ground here, but there is so much more to
pull out of that report. So again, thank you for
doing the groundwork here and the research and all the
work that you do GBFB dot org. Catherine. It's just
always great to have you on the show to talk
about this stuff. So I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Thank you so much. And I love these warmer days,
so go enjoy them.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
Yes, absolutely, have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join
us again next week for another edition of the show.
I'm Nicole Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.
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