Through the compassion and commitment of our supporters, staff, partners, and volunteers, The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) takes a bold, innovative, and multi-pronged approach to achieve our mission of Ending Hunger Here.
GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. Last year, we distributed 117 million pounds of nutritious food to people who struggle to have enough to eat. We are committed to increasing our food distribution to provide three meals a day to every person in need in Eastern Massachusetts while supporting healthy lives and healthy communities.
During the Great Depression, Kip Tiernan’s grandmother opened her kitchen to feed people in need. Kip saw firsthand how simple acts of kindness could help people through dark times.
In 1974, Kip started to distribute food from her very own station wagon and later founded The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). From these humble beginnings, we have grown into the leading hunger-relief agency in New England and one of the largest food banks in the country.
We depend on generous food industry product donations and both individual and private financial support to purchase nutritious food to help feed our neighbors. Last year alone, GBFB distributed 90 million meals to more than 600 partner agencies – feeding 600,000 people each month in 190 cities and towns across Eastern Massachusetts.
Did you know GBFB purchases 76% of the food we distribute to help feed our community? Partner agencies, like your local food pantry, rely on GBFB for 80% of the food they distribute, and they’re telling us they need more!
The pandemic cast a bright light on the problem of hunger, yet we continue to see historic levels of need – due to the worst inflation in over 40 years. While we may not realize it, each of us knows someone who is hungry. These are our neighbors, our coworkers — people we interact with every day. And yet, we may not realize they are quietly struggling to put food on the table.
The sobering reality is 1 in 3 adults in Massachusetts experienced food insecurity in 2022.
The epidemic of hunger affects everyone, from a single mother working two jobs to feed her kids, to a senior on a fixed income struggling to balance rent, medicine, and food costs.
By running the Boston Marathon on behalf of The Greater Boston Food Bank and raising $10,000 – you will help us to provide 20,000 healthy meals.
Everyone plays a role in ending hunger – thank you for taking steps to help us feed our neighbors.