THE FOOD BANK OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS INC

FOOD OPERATIONS, DELIVERY, AND BROWN BAG: THE FOOD BANK RECEIVED 18,031,174 POUNDS OF FOOD AND PROVIDED 17,992,441 POUNDS, WHICH IS THE EQUIVALENT OF 14,993,701 MEALS, TO APPROXIMATELY 264 FRONTLINE FOOD PROVIDERS, INCLUDING FOOD PANTRIES, MEAL SITES, SHELTERS AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS. ULTIMATELY, THIS FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK DISTRIBUTED FOOD TO 122,669 INDIVIDUALS MONTHLY WHO EXPERIENCED HUNGER OR WHO WERE AT RISK OF HUNGER IN THE FOUR COUNTIES OF WESTERN MA. OF THE TOTAL FOOD DISTRIBUTED, THE FOOD BANK USED ITS OWN TRUCKS TO DISTRIBUTE 2,710,258 POUNDS OF FOOD (EQUIVALENT TO 2,258,548 MEALS) TO 73 FRONTLINE FOOD PROVIDERS - 1) 24 MOBILE FOOD BANK SITES SERVING 26,087 INDIVIDUALS; 30% CHILDREN AND 23% SENIORS, AND 2) 51 BROWN BAG: FOOD FOR ELDER SITES AND 43 SATELLITES - THE FOOD BANK'S "PANTRY ON WHEELS" PROGRAM SERVING 5,272 ELDERS.

SUPPORT FOR LOCAL FOOD PROVIDERS: THE FOOD BANK OFFERED TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS ON FUNDRAISING, VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, AND TRAININGS IN FOOD SAFETY TO MEMBER FOOD PROVIDERS. IT ALSO PROVIDED CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES FOR MEMBERS WITH THE GOAL OF HELPING THEM INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND THE AMOUNT OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED. TO CARRY OUT THIS PROGRAM, THE FOLLOWING SERVICES/TRAININGS WERE PROVIDED:(1) INSTITUTE TRAININGS FOR MEMBERS IN AREAS SUCH AS, FUNDRAISING, VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT, ADVOCACY, DISASTER PLANNING, AND BEST PRACTICES.(2) NETWORK COALITION MEETINGS THAT STRENGTHENED THE FOOD ASSISTANCE NETWORK IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS BY PERIODICALLY BRINGING MEMBERS TOGETHER TO RECEIVE UPDATES FROM BOTH THE FOOD BANK AND FEEDING AMERICA, AND ALLOWING THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO NETWORK WITH EACH OTHER, AS WELL AS TO LEARN ABOUT BEST PRACTICES.(3) SNAP OUTREACH AND ENROLLMENT EDUCATED COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT SNAP (FORMERLY FOOD STAMPS) AND ASSISTED POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. IN FY25 THE FOOD BANK SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL 809 APPLICATIONS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE WITH A 70% APPROVAL RATE.(4) PROVIDED SMALL CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS TO ASSIST MEMBERS PROVIDE MORE FOOD TO THEIR GUESTS.(5)FOOD ASSISTANCE NAVIGATION PROVIDED FOOD ASSISTANCE TO 497 INDIVIDUALS REFERRED THROUGH MASSHEALTH PROGRAMS AND 493 INDIVIDUALS REFERRED BY OTHER PROVIDERS.