Posted by Peter Majane on Apr 01, 2019
As “People of Action”, District 7930 Rotary Members are invited to help address the issue of hunger and food insecurity in Suffolk County and Eastern Massachusetts. On May 18, 2019 from 9:30 to 12:00 pm District 7930 will be hosting a food sorting and packing service project at the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) in Boston. 50 volunteer slots are open and are on a first-come-first- serve basis. If enough children (ages 7-15) register, the GBFB will provide a project for them also. Register here.
 
The Greater Boston Food Bank is located at 70 South Bay Avenue, Boston. If you have any questions please contact: Peter Majane at 781-443-5148 or Dave Hart at 781-718-7799.
 
(click "Read More" link for more information on the Greater Boston Food Bank and the need in eastern Massachusetts)

 
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) reports that 1 in 10 residents across Eastern Massachusetts face food insecurity every day. According to a study released in 2018 by Children’s Heath Watch, hunger and food insecurity in MA resulted in and estimated 2.4 billion dollars of increased health related costs for our state in 2016.Adults struggling with hunger have higher risks for developing chronic diseases like depression, hypertension and diabetes. Children living in food insecure households are likely to be sick more often, recover from illness more slowly, and be hospitalized more frequently, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Children’s performance in school is also greatly affected.
As you may know, The GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. Last year, they distributed 61.8 million pounds of nutritious food to people who struggle to have enough to eat. The Greater Boston Food Bank is committed to increasing food distribution to provide at least one meal a day to every person in need in Eastern Massachusetts while supporting healthy lives and healthy communities.
 
The Greater Boston Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. Their statistics are impressive:
• GBFB serves 190 cities and towns in MA
• Distributes enough food to feed 142,000 people monthly
• 79% of the food distributed reaches the highest standards of nutrition
• Over 5.1 million pounds of food sorted and packed by volunteers