Creating a hunger-free Eastern Massachusetts will require more than just food. It will take systemic change and support from the medical community in addressing the connection between hunger and health. This past October, for the third consecutive year, The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) hosted a two-week clerkship for second-year UMass medical students (pictured above). The clerkship allows students to learn about food insecurity and the enormous impact doctors and healthcare providers can have on hunger relief. “Before this experience, I was not aware of the role I could have as a future healthcare provider in identifying and addressing food insecurity among my patients,” said UMass medical student Susan Jacob. “I’m glad to now be armed with this awareness, which I can share with my peers, so we can together provide more holistic and problem-focused patient care.” During the clerkship, students attended lectures at GBFB on nutrition, public food assistance benefits, and the health-related effects of hunger. The students also made site visits to GBFB partner food pantries and a GBFB health center Mobile Market—where they conducted interviews with food-insecure patients receiving bags of fresh fruits and vegetables. “When I recall handing out produce at the American Red Cross food pantry, I thought of how many of these people rely on food pantries for healthy produce,” said UMass medical student Ethan Burke. “Given how inexpensive unhealthy, processed foods are, GBFB plays an important role for these people to have access to fresh healthy food.” 5 Super Hunger Heroes to the Rescue! Educating Future Doctors About Hunger Congratulations to our inaugural class of Super Hunger Heroes! In April 2018, The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) launched our Families for Impact program, allowing parents with young children to involve the entire family in community service and learn about hunger in Eastern Massachusetts. This unique volunteer experience is the first time that GBFB has allowed children as young as 5 years old to participate in food sorting projects. Community service and giving back is an important message to teach our youngest generation and a memory that will last for years. The children who participated in October’s volunteer shift became GBFB’s first class of “Super Hunger Hero” inductees, for their efforts to help us end hunger in Eastern Massachusetts. Recipients of this achievement received an official ‘Hunger Hero’ certificate and cape.