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Governor Baker Decreases MEFAP Funding to Pre-COVID Level

Published on February 2, 2021

Last Wednesday, Governor Charlie Baker released his FY22 budget proposal, marking the kick-off to the state budget process that goes from now through July.

The Governor’s budget funded the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) at $20 million. As you may remember, the final FY21 budget included a historic $30 million for MEFAP after months of advocacy demonstrating the current incredible need in the food bank network due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the Governor made it clear that the additional $10 million in MEFAP funding was a one-time occurrence.

COVID-19 is still here. The economy is still hurting. And food banks are still experiencing heightened demand.

Not only does the $30 million in funding help The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) continue to provide healthy meals to families struggling to put food on the table, but it also helps us expand our partnerships with local vendors and farmers, which is a significant economic boost for businesses that have been hurting over the past 11 months.

Our advocacy begins now – our communities can’t wait. We need you to contact your legislator today and ask them to maintain MEFAP’s funding level at $30 million. We cannot meet the increased demand through fundraising and donated food alone.

Call to Action

  • Call your State Representative and ask them to support $30 million in the FY22 budget for MEFAP. Find your legislator here.

Share the Word on Social Media!

Suggested posts:

  • We are in the middle of #COVID19, and @MassGovernor is under-funding food assistance! I’m asking [insert tag for state representative] and [insert tag for state senator] to support $30 million in funding for MEFAP. Our hungry families need it. #MApoli
  • #COVID19 has heightened the hunger crisis in MA. 1 in 7 MA residents are struggling to eat. 1 in 5 children are hungry. I’m asking [insert tag for state representative] and [insert tag for state senator] to support $30 million in funding for MEFAP. #MApoli

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Government Relations Team (Catherine Drennan Lynn and Molly Kepner) at govrelations@gbfb.org.Thank you for your commitment to helping our neighbors in need here in the Commonwealth. Together, we will end hunger here.

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