Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

About

Working to end hunger in Western Massachusetts since 1982.
www.foodbankwma.org

A member of the Feeding America network. http://www.feedingamerica.org

Story

We believe that it takes a community to feed our neighbors in need, which is why Community Outreach is paramount. By conducting SNAP assistance, organizing community groups toward sustainable change, and advocating for fair and just food policy, we hope to remove the stigma that comes with seeking food assistance and change the face of food insecurity in Western Massachusetts.

Food Distribution is the backbone of the food banking industry. The Food Bank brings healthy food both to our member agencies like meal sites, shelters, and food pantries, and to low-income elders through our Brown Bag sites.

Hunger Education is a critical part of our work. we work with schools, local organizations and businesses, and individuals to educate our community about local and national hunger and how people can get involved in efforts to reduce hunger in Western Massachusetts.

Our Nutrition program provides educational workshops and materials as well as a nutritional rating system that ranks the healthfulness of each product in our warehouse. We also offer community-based cooking, nutrition, and “smart shopping” classes.

The emergency food network in Western Massachusetts is comprised of The Food Bank and over 300 of our partner agencies. Our Network Capacity Building initiative allows us to provide training and guidance to agencies with limited resources and staffs, or who are largely volunteer-run.

Mission

The mission of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is to feed our neighbors in need and lead the community to end hunger. The Food Bank works behind the scenes of nearly every local charitable organization that provides emergency food to people in need in our region.

Products

GET FOOD ASSISTANCE:

Agency Locator https://www.foodbankwma.org/get-help/locate-a-local-feeding-program/
More than 200 meal sites, emergency food pantries, shelters and other feeding programs throughout Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire County

Brown Bag for Elders Program https://www.foodbankwma.org/get-help/brown-bag-food-for-elders/
The largest direct-to-client hunger relief service in Western Massachusetts, delivering free bags of healthy groceries once a month to seniors.

Mobile Food Bank
https://www.foodbankwma.org/get-help/mobile-food-bank/
Our Mobile Food Bank delivers a truck full of free fresh and non-perishable groceries from our warehouse directly to a community site for immediate distribution to residents. The program reaches underserved populations throughout Western Massachusetts that don’t have access to healthy foods, including families, seniors and children.

SNAP Assistance https://www.foodbankwma.org/get-help/snap-outreach-enrollment/
SNAP enrollment assistance and eligibility screening.