Catherine's Message Dear Friends, When we think of the holidays what comes to mind for most of us are images of food and family. I know I Iook forward to sharing Thanksgiving with my loved ones every year. Many people in Eastern Massachusetts, however, are not this fortunate. In our area, one in 10 people struggles day to day to have enough to eat. GBFB’s annual Holiday Meal Drive helps our neighbors in need enjoy a traditional meal they could not afford otherwise. There are many ways you can help, such as starting a Holiday Meal Drive fundraising team with your friends, family or coworkers, or donating today to make an immediate impact. Every $20 you donate provides a healthy holiday meal for a family of five, like Erich’s, who you’ll learn about on page 3. You’ll also meet 13-year-old Bella Mathews who collects food and money for GBFB every holiday season. And we spotlight inside the American Red Cross of Massachusetts, which last year distributed more fresh fruits and vegetables during the holidays than any of our other member agencies. Your donation will help us make this a happier and healthier season for struggling families throughout our community. I thank you for your continued support. Together, we can end hunger here. Sincerely, Catherine D’Amato President and CEO GBFB.org/our-programs LEARN MORE AT Mobile Markets Serve Veterans and Health Centers The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) operates free produce Mobile Markets in partnership with six healthcare centers across Eastern Massachusetts and three veterans Mobile Markets in Newton, Melrose and Revere. GBFB’s healthcare center Mobile Markets distribute 25-30 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables—everything from apples to zucchini—to the centers’ food-insecure patients monthly. GBFB serves more than 5,000 adults, seniors and children a month through its healthcare center Mobile Markets in Brighton, Lawrence, Framingham, Lynn, Fall River and Bedford. The Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford serves 440 people a month, such as Erich and his family, who you’ll read more about on page 3. GBFB’s veterans Mobile Markets serve nearly 1,200 veterans and other community members every month. Your donation enables GBFB to stock its veterans Mobile Markets with fresh, healthy food every month. 2 “[R]ent in Massachusetts is expensive, so when The Greater Boston Food Bank offers this, it's just a little way of acknowledging the service that every one of these people has given to our country.” Anthony, 59, former fixed station technical controller, U.S. Army Feeding Five With Your Help Erich, a retired U.S. Army medic who served in Iraq, works as a physical therapy assistant at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford and is the sole breadwinner for his family of five. “It’s a lot of mouths to feed,” Erich said. Recently, The Greater Boston Food Bank partnered with the hospital to launch a free, monthly produce Mobile Market. The Mobile Market pro- vides about 25 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for Erich’s family, which includes three teenagers—ages 15, 16 and 18—who are all active in competitive sports. [Pictured above are Erich and his daugh- ter Eva and son André.] “The food we get from the veterans hospital Mobile Market goes a long way when you’re feeding five,” he said. “I want my family to eat well, and this enables me to do that.” Erich, 49, served in a war hospital in Iraq from 2006 to 2007, and has witnessed the struggle some veterans have transitioning back to civilian life. “Veterans are just not used to asking for help,” Erich said. “They are so used to being self-suffi- cient.” Many veterans who previously would not have Stories of Hope “Veterans are just not used to asking for help. They are so used to being self- sufficient.” Erich, 49, retired U.S. Army medic, Iraq war veteran 3 asked for help are frequenting the free produce distribution, according to Erich. “I tell as many people as I can about the Mobile Market, and they are always amazed at how much food they bring home and the quality of the food,” Erich said. “Veterans didn't ask for anything in return [for serving]. To have a civilian organization reaching out and helping them—it goes so much farther than they could ever imagine.”