The City of Brockton’s Hunger Relief Fund to Address Food Insecurity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CATHOLIC CHARITIES SOUTH HOSTS FIRST DELIVERY OF HOLIDAY CHEER, THANKS TO THE CITY OF BROCKTON’S HUNGER RELIEF FUND TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY

Brockton, MA (December 23, 2025) – Catholic Charities South hosted Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan, Eastern Bank Executive Chair Bob Rivers, and The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Schondek as they volunteered and unpacked one of the Brockton Hunger Relief Fund’s first food deliveries – 13,650 pounds of healthy produce on seven pallets. The City of Brockton launched the Brockton Hunger Relief Fund with a $1 million donation from the Eastern Bank Foundation. During this first phase of funding, the Fund is helping more than 15 non-profit organizations already working with the GBFB, including Catholic Charities Brockton, consistently feed more Brockton residents throughout this winter by increasing the amount of food that GBFB will distribute to these hunger-relief organizations.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, over 33% of Brockton’s population uses SNAP benefits – one of the highest proportions in the State. Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan said, “The City of Brockton expresses our profound gratitude and thanks to the Eastern Bank Foundation for their generosity to provide healthy, sustainable food to our residents. Today is the initial distribution and we look forward to continuing the success of this mission.”

The Eastern Bank Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Eastern Bank, which has a long-standing presence in Brockton strengthened by its 2025 merger with HarborOne Bank in addition to a long history of forging public-private partnerships that advance economic growth and mobility in Brockton and other Gateway Cities. Bob Rivers, Executive Chair of Eastern Bank, said, “Food insecurity in Brockton is a critical challenge. The goal of this first effort of the Brockton Hunger Relief Fund is delivering greater amounts of healthy food quickly, efficiently and at scale this winter to residents in Brockton. We thank the Mayor, The Greater Boston Food Bank, and the hunger-relief organizations in The Greater Boston Food Bank’s Brockton-network for their collaboration around making an immediate impact at a time when the need has grown. This is not a one-time effort—our commitment to thriving communities is long-standing, and this Fund will continue to advance sustainable solutions for food security.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Eastern Bank Foundation for this game-changing investment that will help ensure the residents of Brockton have access to healthy food during the winter months,” said Cheryl Schondek, COO at The Greater Boston Food Bank. “The Greater Boston Food Bank is proud to work with all our food pantry and meal program partners in Brockton to make this a food-secure community by doing what we do best: acquiring and distributing healthy food to empower our neighbors. With great partners like the Eastern Bank Foundation, we have the power to end hunger here and throughout Eastern Massachusetts.”

Kelley Tuthill, President and CEO of Catholic Charities Boston, added, “We are deeply grateful to the Eastern Bank Foundation for standing with us to ensure that no one in our Brockton community goes hungry. This generosity arrives at a critical time when so many of our neighbors are facing difficult choices between paying bills and feeding their families. Catholic Charities has proudly served the City of Brockton for over a century, and it is through collaborative partnerships with organizations like The Greater Boston Food Bank and the Eastern Bank Foundation that we can truly care for one another when it matters most.”

For operating hours of the agencies offering hunger-relief in Brockton through The Greater Boston Food Bank’s network and other food assistance information, please visit the GBFB’s website.

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.

Contact
The Greater Boston Food Bank
Gary Roy
617-209-9147
groy@gbfb.org

Catholic Charities
Jessica Heslam
617-799-0487
jessica@dotjoyceconsulting.com

City of Brockton
Synde Marrow
508-580-7123
smarrow@cobma.us

Eastern Bank Foundation
Andrea Goodman
781-598-7847
a.goodman@easternbank.com