The Takeda Center for Community Health and Nutrition will create greater access to nutritious and medically tailored food for communities throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Click here to learn more about The Takeda Center.
The Takeda Center’s work builds upon The Greater Boston Food Bank’s dedication to food as health by advancing four pillars of work:
- Growing access to nutritious, culturally responsive, and medically tailored food
- Strengthening community-based and healthcare partnerships to address food insecurity
- Elevating and conducting research to pursue data-driven hunger-relief strategies
- Supporting investments in people and infrastructure to enhance local community impact and improved health outcomes
The work includes managing dozens of Community Health Mobile Markets that deliver and expand access to fresh, nutritious produce directly to communities and children, veterans, and seniors who are at increased risk of food insecurity. The Center also oversees GBFB’s SNAP application assistance team that helps up to 1,000 families access food assistance every year. Additionally, staff includes a Mass General Brigham doctor that serves as the health and research advisor overseeing GBFB’s annual statewide food access study and two full-time registered dietitians that administer the nutrition policy and provide education to GBFB’s agency partners.
Building on Two Decades of Partnership
The Takeda Center was made possible by a four-year, $4 million grant from Takeda, the largest-ever donation in the food bank’s history. Takeda has had a long-standing commitment to GBFB since 2005, with lifetime giving of almost $6.5 million. Additionally, Takeda employees have contributed nearly 30 volunteer shifts at GBFB’s warehouse, totaling nearly 1,000 hours of service since 2014.
Introducing the Community Advisory Group
We invite adults who have struggled with hunger to join The Greater Boston Food Bank’s (GBFB’s) Community Advisory Group. Community Advisors are people with personal experience of hunger or food insecurity who help GBFB improve food access, programs, services, and participate in advocacy. Advisors will share feedback, ideas, and guide our mission with their personal experiences. They will help GBFB understand what works, what does not, and how we can improve access to healthy food.
Community Advisors may:
• Share feedback in a group or one-on-one
• Complete short surveys
• Reply to follow-up questions by email or text
• Support advocacy through storytelling, public speaking, quotes, or testimony
• Participate in media interviews and social media content
• Meet with elected officials
•Participate in advocacy opportunities at the MA State House
Our goal for the Community Advisor Group is to improve GBFB’s programs, strengthen public policies, educate the public on hunger, make better use of GBFB’s resources, and better understand local needs, culturally appropriate food options, and what helps strengthen community wellbeing. We will provide training and tools to support advocacy and media outreach.
Time and format: Community Advisors are asked to serve for a term of one year. Advisors may be invited to continue longer if they want to stay involved and are able to do so.
Advisors can participate in person, online, or a mix of both.
Who can join: This group is open to adults of all backgrounds in Eastern Massachusetts. We especially welcome those who are currently experiencing, or have previously experienced, challenges accessing enough nutritious food for themselves and their families. Joining is voluntary. Advisors can leave at any time.
Affirmative Action/EEO Statement: GBFB provides equal employment opportunities to all Team Members and applicants for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, citizenship status, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, handicap, genetic information, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment.
Compensation: Consultation and advisory activities are paid $25/hour plus travel expenses.
Questions? Please email Neighbors@GBFB.org.
Interested in joining us? Please fill out our interest form.
More About the Center
Our Programs
GBFB distributes food and resources directly to those in need through direct service programs that serve our most vulnerable populations.
Learn MoreImproving Nutrition
Our goal is to have lasting impact on the health of the children, families and seniors we serve and to be a leader in providing sustained access to nutritious foods.
Learn MoreData and Research
Supporting healthy lives and communities is a priority for GBFB. Our public health initiatives bridge hunger and health, connecting those in need with critical healthy food resources.
Learn MoreCommunity Investment Grants
Our Community Investment Grants program ensures our partner agencies across Eastern Massachusetts have the infrastructure to achieve our mission to end hunger here.
Learn More