b"Catherine's MessageDear Friends,Your Gift Lifts Fall RiverFood-insecure families often struggle to put enough food on the table, and protein, produce and dairy items are usually too expensive to buy in the grocery store. In fact, in 2019, Massachusetts was the most expensive state in America to buy food, making it even harder for the nearly 500,000 food-insecure people in Eastern Massachusetts to afford a healthy diet. Thats why GBFB is committed to dis-tributing high-quality, nutritious foodhelping the people we serve stay healthy. You can help us by supporting our Spring for Meals campaign thisVolunteers at the Mobile Market at Bristol Community College sort nutritious food March. Visit our website to learn howprovided by The Greater Boston Food Bank, which feeds about 275 people every you can help us reach our goal ofmonth.raising $1 million to purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables. One of the highest-need areas we serve is Fall River, where 16 percent of the citys population is food-insecurenearly double This fresh food helps people succeed,the percentage for all of Eastern Massachusetts.like Shiv, whos story youll find inside this issue.The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) works with 19 partner agencies in the city, serving over 10,000 people per month. In Youll also read about some of ourthe past year, GBFB distributed 1.9 million pounds of foodthe exemplary partner agencies in everyequivalent of 1.6 million healthy mealsto these pantries and corner of Eastern Massachusetts andprograms in Fall River, including places like senior centers, health how were bringing healthy food tocenters and colleges. hungry people at community colleges, senior centers, healthcare providersThe beautiful thing about this program is that were able to and more. provide our students with nutritious food options that gives them the fuel and the energy they need to succeed, said Maurice Cyr, Your donations help us provide healthysite coordinator for GBFBs Mobile Market at Bristol Community food to students like Shiv and thousandsCollege (BCC). What I love about this program is that it benefits of other individuals and families.the students and it benefits the Fall River community.Thank you for supporting our effortThe Mobile Market at BCC provides about 275 people with to create a hunger-free Eastern30 to 35 pounds of free, nutritious food every month. In addition Massachusetts. Together, weto BCC, GBFB has four other community college Mobile Markets can end hunger here.in Charlestown, Haverhill, Lynn and Wellesley.Your donation helps us get healthy food to students, seniors, Sincerely,families and individuals in Fall River and all across Eastern Massachusetts.Catherine DAmatoPresident and CEOLearn more : GBFB .org/Distribution2"