Photo: CENTRE STREET FOOD PANTRY
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — As the government shutdown continues, Project Bread continues to provide resources to help families avoid hunger.
Several federal programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assitance Program and school meal programs are at risk as Nov. 1 quickly approaches. Organizations like Project Bread help Bay Staters locate critical resources like free meals and find emergency food programs like food pantries and community meals with their FoodSource Hotline.
"When indecision in Washington threatens food access and nutrition programs, the impacts are very real for families and communities here in Massachusetts," Erin McAleer, President and CEO of Project Bread said in a statement.
With the mission to connect people and communities across Massachusetts to reliable food sources, the hotline, provides complimentary and confidential aid in accessing available programs to families, students, furloughed workers and immigrants unsure about their next meal.
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Billed as a program dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, McAleer said the organization is committed to ensuring individuals and families have the support they need.
According to Project Bread's website, the organization "is committed to making sure that people in Massachusetts can afford enough to eat because hunger is an injustice. Hundreds of years of racist policies have made getting food more challenging for Black, Brown, immigrant, and Indigenous communities, causing the injustice that these identities experience hunger at higher rates. Project Bread must be proactive in fighting systemic racism and economic discrimination, and actively work to end racism and discrimination within systems and organizations, including laws and policies. We must engage voices of all identities in breaking down barriers to getting food."
Data from the organization shows that in 2024, food insecurity affected more than 1 in 3 households in Massachusetts, impacting nearly 2 million adults. Approximately 1 million households experienced food insecurity, with 650,000 people having a difficult time consistently accessing food. Project bread gave nearly more than 290,000 children access to breakfast during the school year. They have also invested $700,00 in community-led hunger solutions since 2021.