The Greater Boston Food Bank Awards Transformational Grants to Expand Regional Food Access
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Greater Boston Food Bank Awards Transformational Grants to Expand Regional Food Access
$1 Million from Gerstner Philanthropies will support innovative food distribution models in Weymouth and Boston during a time of immense need for assistance
BOSTON (September 9, 2025) – The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, has awarded two Transformational Grants to two community partners: the South Shore Food Bank/Weymouth Food Pantry and the YMCA of Greater Boston. The multi-year funding, made possible by Gerstner Philanthropies, will drive bold, community-rooted projects that improve food access across the region and advance GBFB’s mission to end hunger across Eastern Massachusetts.
Each organization will receive a $350,000 grant over three years to implement high-impact food access initiatives in underserved communities along with additional funding for GBFB to purchase more food. GBFB’s Transformational Grants, one component of its broader Community Investment Grant program, are multi-year financial commitments designed to fund solutions that expand high-impact agencies’ organizational capacity, and empower the communities they serve with long-term, equitable access to nutritious food.
The funds will enable the South Shore Food Bank to double the capacity of its warehouse and launch a food rescue initiative, while the YMCA of Greater Boston will leverage the grant to establish a choice-based, grocery-style shopping experience to promote access to nutritious meals.
“Our most recent research confirms what we continue to see across Eastern Massachusetts, that hunger is driven by deep-rooted socioeconomic inequities and places immense strain on families, communities, and our food distribution network,” said Catherine D’Amato, President and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. “Thanks to the generosity of Gerstner Philanthropies we are able to make this strategic investment in the long-term capacity of two of our most high-impact partners, enabling them to expand operations, pilot new models, and deliver healthy, nutritious meals to more neighbors during a time of growing need.”
“The Greater Boston Food Bank plays an indispensable role throughout Eastern Massachusetts, providing fresh, nutritious food to our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Dr. Elizabeth Gerstner, Vice Chair of Gerstner Philanthropies. “We are proud to support these important projects both on the South Shore and in Boston to enhance the ability of these GBFB agency partners to better support families and individuals in both these areas to live better, healthier, and more productive lives.”
The grants will support capacity-building upgrades during a time of widespread food insecurity, a soaring cost of living, and tremendous strain on the charitable food system. As confirmed in GBFB’s Fifth Annual Statewide Food Access Report: The Cost of Hunger in Massachusetts, conducted in collaboration with Mass General Brigham, approximately 2 million adults in Massachusetts—1 in 3 individuals—faced food insecurity in 2024, and 24% faced very low food security. This is further exacerbated by recent federal cuts to important hunger-relief programs like SNAP, which will put approximately 175,000 Massachusetts residents at risk of losing benefits.
2025 Transformational Grantees
South Shore Food Bank / Weymouth Food Pantry
Funding will support the expansion of the South Shore Food Bank’s warehouse infrastructure, with the goal of doubling its existing capacity to better serve 28 communities across the South Shore. In addition to bolstering food logistics and distribution, the investment will help strengthen community ties through collaborative leadership and the adoption of best practices. The grant will also support the launch of the first regional food rescue operation on the South Shore, enabling the collection, sorting, and storage of surplus fresh food that would otherwise go to waste. This shared resource will allow the South Shore Food Bank to reclaim and redistribute more healthy produce, dairy, and proteins to other GBFB agency partners, many of which are volunteer-run and currently operate with limited cold storage and floor space. By creating a more resilient and coordinated food network, this project will position all 28 communities to meet rising food needs and advance long-term food security across the region.
YMCA of Greater Boston
Building on its expansive food access network and infrastructure at the Greater Boston Collaborative Food Access Hub in Roxbury, the YMCA aims to build upon their traditional grocery bag giveaways to developing a choice-based, grocery-style shopping experience in a high need Boston neighborhood. The new site will prioritize access to fresh, culturally relevant foods, including purchased, donated, and recovered items and offer more frequent, convenient hours that meet the needs of working families. It will also work to provide integrated access to social services in partnership with local organizations. This project is part of a broader strategy to promote food dignity, reduce waste, and increase healthy food access in underserved neighborhoods. Initial planning and location scouting are already underway, with the goal of ensuring the site is accessible to residents of all abilities.
Since 2013, the Community Investment Grant program has awarded nearly $8 million in financial assistance to partner agencies that serve all 190 towns and cities in Eastern Massachusetts. The funds empower GBFB’s partners to expand their services, staff, capacity, and food supply to deliver more nutritious meals to those facing food insecurity.
To learn more about GBFB’s Community Investment Grant Program and previous and current Transformational Grant recipients, visit https://www.gbfb.org/our-impact/community-investment-grants/.
About The Greater Boston Food Bank
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and one of the largest food banks in the country. For nearly half a century, GBFB has fueled Eastern Massachusetts’ hunger-relief system, putting nearly 90 million healthy meals on tables across the region each year. Over 600 community-based pantries and other local partners in 190 cities and towns depend on GBFB to provide access to healthy food for 600,000 people every month. GBFB is committed to the belief that access to healthy food is a human right regardless of an individual’s circumstances. Through policy, partnerships, and providing free, nutritious, and culturally responsive food, GBFB is committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity while promoting racial, gender, and economic equity in food access. Together, we have the power to end hunger here. For more information and to help us help others, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at 617.427.5200.
About Gerstner Philanthropies
Gerstner Philanthropies was founded by Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. and includes the Gerstner Family Foundation, established in 1989, along with other philanthropic initiatives led by Mr. Gerstner and his family. The organization focuses on supporting biomedical research, educational opportunities, environmental sustainability, emergency food programs, and emergency aid programs that stabilize for individuals facing a short-term, unforeseen crisis. Most grants are awarded in metropolitan New York, Boston, and Palm Beach County—communities where the Gerstner family lives and works. For more information on our programs and the organizations we work with, please visit gerstner.org
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