Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

Over the past week, SNAP benefits have returned for millions of Americans, after leaving households and food providers in a precarious situation amid the government shutdown.Massachusetts was no different, where a million residents and hundreds of food pantries waited with bated breath for two weeks. Various food banks and other organizations would step up amid the SNAP cutoff, and on Monday, Governor Maura Healey journeyed to western Massachusetts to commend those who did.

Nearly half of all residents in Springfield, Mass. utilize SNAP benefits in some way. With federal funding for the food assistance in flux, city officials have announced a series of efforts and partnerships to help stave off hunger in their community.

As studies show students with food insecurity suffer in the classroom, colleges across the country have been stepping up to fight hunger on their own campuses. The largest public university in Massachusetts is among them, and recently opened a new facility for students and staff alike.

For decades, a regional food bank in Massachusetts has been working to fight hunger, providing millions of pounds of food annually throughout western Mass. With demand not letting up and federal cuts already being stomached, leaders at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts say cuts elsewhere have them bracing for impact.

Food supplied by the federal government is down 50 percent

Emergency food providers in western Massachusetts preparing for higher demand

Food Bank of Western Mass. sees more demand as food costs soar

Benefits such as child tax credit kept people from going hungry in 2021

Fundraising is underway to build a new hub for emergency food assistance in western Massachusetts. Assisted by large donations from two of the region’s…