b'Stories of HopeKeith is among the many recipients of food at the Greater Lowell Family YMCA Mobile Market. He also volunteers at the market to distribute food to members of his hometown community in Lowell.Helping Families Through a CrisisLike thousands of other Massachusetts residents, KeithThe Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) provides food lost his job at the start of the COVID-19 crisis. A self- to more than 500 partner agencies across Eastern employed single dad in the construction business, heMassachusetts. When the pandemic caused a suddenly had to worry how he was going to pay his billssudden increase in food insecurity, we helped even and put food on the table for himself and his 7-year-old son.more organizations set up new Mobile Markets to get food to people in their community, like the Greater With COVID, not a lot of people want you working in theirLowell Family YMCA. house, so the jobs stopped. And it took a while for me to get unemployment because Im self-employed, Keith said. We would probably end up eating less if it wasnt for this, Keith said. My son loves all the fruits and veggies, so its nice to know hes getting a healthy meal.My son loves all the fruits and veggies, Keith volunteered at the weekly market, helping unload so its nice to know hes gettingpallets of food, sort them into boxes and bags, and a healthy meal. place them into peoples cars for a safe, contactless food distribution. - KeithI keep volunteering for the people. Knowing that youre Driving by the YMCA one day in his hometown of Lowell,able to help is the biggest thing, Keith said. Without Keith saw a line of cars wrapped around the building ofvolunteers there is no pantry.people waiting to get food. Keith asked the Y if he could get food and offered to help hand it out too. Keith said he hopes to get back on his feet and back to work soon, but with unemployment still at historic This food saves me so much money at the grocery storelevels, many in Eastern Massachusetts are still and it helps pay bills, Keith said. The bills dont stop, sostruggling. With your help, we can continue getting this little bit helps. A couple meals go a long way. food to our neighbors in need.3'