Looking Back at 2024:
GBFB Reflects on Another
Year of Successful Advocacy

Published on December 31, 2024

From historic investments in the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) to the launch of the Make Hunger History coalition, The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) and our advocacy partners achieved critical wins in 2024. Nonetheless, as the cost of living across the Commonwealth continues to rise, the demand across our network of community food assistance partners in Eastern Massachusetts has only grown. Today, 1 in 3 of our neighbors faces food insecurity and our team is working hard to advance federal, state, and local public policies that address the immediate needs of food-insecure neighbors and the underlying causes of hunger and poverty.

Here’s a recap of what we achieved in 2024:

January

February

  • Submitted a formal comment to inform the Biden-Harris administration’s National Strategy to Reduce U.S. Food Loss and Waste.
  • Hosted GBFB agency partners for an advocacy training.

March

April

May 

June

  • Met with MA members of Congress and advocated for federal food security programs at the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) national advocacy conference in Washington, D.C.  
  • Kate Adams, GBFB Senior Public Policy Manager, testified before the Massachusetts Poverty Commission on policy solutions to advance food security.

     

     

     

     

     

    July 

    • Endorsed Senator Markey’s bill to further food is medicine and food prescription programs within the Older Americans Act
    • Urged U.S. Senator Warren and U.S. Senator Markey to vote yes on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act to Expand the Child Tax Credit

    August

    • Joined 45 MA organizations to provide an official comment to USDA on Summer EBT
    • Celebrated the historic investment in the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) and other hunger-relief initiatives in the Healey-Driscoll FY25 budget.
    • Published 13 responses from candidates running for state office in Eastern Massachusetts in our 2024 Food Insecurity Candidate Questionnaires.

    September

    • Celebrated Hunger Action Month with official proclamations from MA Governor Healey and Boston Mayor Wu.
    • Welcomed James Ziegeweid, who joined our Government Relations team through the Congressional Hunger Center’s Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship.

      October 

      • Visited GBFB partner St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Taunton with U.S Representative Auchincloss’ (MA-04) staff.

      November 

      • Held our 19th annual Chain of Giving, welcoming Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Treasurer Goldberg, Mayor Wu, and government officials from across the state.
      • The MA Hunger Free Campus Coalition, led by GBFB, met with Department of Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega and legislators to advocate for the Hunger Free Campus Initiative.

      December 

      • Published our first GBFB policy brief on the impact of farm bill policies in Massachusetts.
      • Presented GBFB’s policy priorities to 12 new members of the legislature

      As we head into 2025, we will build upon our successes in 2024 and continue to lead on advocacy for the Hunger Free Campus Initiative and the MA Emergency Food Assistance Program, and advance additional public policies that advance our mission. We are thankful for the continued support from advocates and legislators across Eastern Massachusetts as we work to End Hunger Here.

      Learn more about GBFB’s advocacy strategy and sign up for our advocacy communications here! 

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