Harvest Newsletter

Issue: Winter 2026

Dear Friends,

Recently, I announced my retirement after 30 years at The Greater Boston Food Bank. It has been the honor of my professional life to work alongside the GBFB team, our Eastern Massachusetts community, and supporters like you.

We’ve taken on historic challenges—from the COVID-19 pandemic to the longest government shutdown last fall—and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together.

Recently, GBFB shared the news of our landmark investment in The Salem Food Pantry to expand regional food access on the North Shore. This partnership establishes a new GBFB regional distribution center—one of our strategically located food hubs throughout Eastern Massachusetts. These hubs reduce the number of miles that small, local food pantries must drive to receive food from GBFB, enhancing our work to improve food access and meet sustainability goals. We are exploring a similar investment in Bristol County, which has the highest rate of food insecurity in our service area at 46 percent. With the addition of Salem and hopefully, Bristol County, GBFB will have 12 locations serving our neighbors across Eastern Massachusetts.

On January 12, we celebrated Founders Day, GBFB’s 45th anniversary. A lot has changed in nearly half a century of operations, but the guiding principle behind all we do remains the same: Food is a human right.

If you’re feeling inspired, you can make an impact through our Spring for Meals campaign in March. When money is tight, fresh fruits and vegetables are often the first ingredients people go without, but together, we can help everyone put nutritious meals on the table. The work to end food insecurity continues, and I am confident in GBFB’s ability to build on the progress we’ve made for many years to come, until hunger no longer exists.

Gratefully,
Catherine D’Amato
President and CEO

Gina, a Food Pantry Client, Gives Back in WalthamGina says it feels “really, really good” to volunteer. “I feel at home because everybody helps each other,” she says.

GBFB Donor Leaves a Legacy of CompassionRob was a writer who donated to many charitable causes, including GBFB. When he passed away, he left a portion of his estate to the food bank.

Community Spotlight: A Place to Turn in NatickA Place to Turn offers as much fresh food as possible, and clients shop and choose the foods they prefer.

GBFB’s Leadership During the Government ShutdownMany people turned to GBFB’s hunger-relief network for help, and the unprecedented delay in SNAP benefits triggered a surge in need.

A Landmark Investment in The Salem PantryGBFB has awarded a $2 million grant to The Salem Pantry to strategically expand food access on the North Shore.