Hunger Action Month 2026: Turning Awareness into Action

The end of September marks the end of Hunger Action Month 2026. We are grateful for the many supporters, food pantry partners, lawmakers, advocates, volunteers, and donors who helped us raise awareness about food insecurity. 

Here are some highlights from the month:  

• Across Eastern Massachusetts, iconic landmarks helped raise awareness by lighting up orange, the national color of hunger awareness. This year, the Prudential Center, Boston City Hall, Tall Ships off the coast of Gloucester, and the Boston Harbor Hotel all went orange, sparking important conversations about hunger and the need for action. 

• We celebrated $1.3 million in GBFB Community Investment Grants this year, awarded to 88 of our food pantries, through regional media events in Hopkinton, New Bedford, Weymouth, and Lowell. The grants are given by GBFB to support our food pantry partners and their ability to distribution food. The grants will improve transportation, refrigeration and storage, technology, and other infrastructure needs to strengthen food access.  

• On social media, we served up a range of educational and action-oriented posts: voter registration reminders, virtual advocacy trainings, behind-the-scenes looks at our telethon, and the history behind why orange is the color of Hunger Action Month 

This year’s Hunger Action Month came at a particularly critical time. Due to federal policy changes and state staffing challenges, 167,000 Massachusetts residents lost SNAP benefits between November 2025 and July 2026, including more than 60,000 children. Massachusetts experienced the fourth-steepest decline in child SNAP enrollment in the nation. At the same time, food insecurity remains alarmingly high. Last year, 40% of Massachusetts households experienced food insecurity at some point, and GBFB’s network of 600 community food providers continues to see growing demand.  

These challenges underscore why Hunger Action Month matters. Raising awareness is only the first step. Lasting progress requires sustained advocacy, investment, and community support. 

We are deeply thankful to everyone who participated in Hunger Action Month 2026. Whether you wore orange, volunteered, donated, advocated, or raised your voice online, you helped advance the movement to end hunger.