The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Our Operations

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) had to re-imagine our capabilities to meet the incredible rise in food insecurity, unemployment, demand, and distribution brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In early February, GBFB established a COVID-19 Response Team. We were prepared for the surge with a comprehensive, well-organized plan and the ability to innovate and pivot to meet the urgent needs of our Eastern Massachusetts community.
During this turbulent year, GBFB:

• Distributed 98 million pounds of healthy food, 68.1 million of which were distributed in just seven months (March through September 2020)— the largest distribution months in our 40-year history
• Sustained an increase in spending on food that is provided free to our member agencies by 130%. 
• Invested over $3 million in the GBFB partner agency network to support COVID-19 response efforts
• Implemented new distribution models such as drop-shipping, in which food is shipped directly from vendors to agencies. Since the food never passes through GBFB’s warehouse, it frees up space and person power, enabling us to maximize our efforts and ship more food. Using drop-shipping we provided 5.8 million pounds of food to the community
• Remained resourceful and innovative in our food acquisition efforts, securing food from an extensive network of new and existing suppliers while also taking full advantage of new government programs (e.g., CFAP boxes) and emergency food sources (e.g., MEMA boxes)
• Established a Business & Data Analytics Team to capture key data on GBFB agencies and clients, service and census data, to influence public policy and steer programming
• As the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has deemed GBFB and our hunger-relief partners as essential frontline workers during this crisis, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the communities we serve.

GBFB Responds to Rise in Demand due to COVID-19

Our School-based Pantries get food to kids and their families during the pandemic

An Overwhelming Response Proves Compassion is not Quarantined

Amid these difficult times, The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) has seen our community rally and step up like never before. Powered by the generosity of the most ardent supporters of our mission, and the willingness of individuals and corporations to pitch in, together we rose to the challenges posed by unparalleled levels of food insecurity brought on by the pandemic. And even though we raised a lot this year, we are still challenged to keep up with the demand for food.
‍
Donations were put to immediate use to purchase food, compensate and incent our essential front-line workers, ensure the safety and cleanliness of our facility, and invest in the resiliency of our network of over 600 distribution partners who are feeding our neighbors in need.
‍
From the civic-minded donors who gave through the Massachusetts COVID19 Relief Fund and the Boston Resiliency Fund, to the average viewer who donated through the WCVB-5 Project Community 5for5 Food Drive, we have witnessed the mass outpouring of compassion and humanity from all walks of life. In a year that has kept so many of us apart, there is no doubt that the kindness of our community would not be kept on lockdown.
‍
We are grateful for the unwavering support and generosity of all our donors. Thank you for making a positive impact during the COVID-19 crisis and playing an important role in ensuring that our communities continue to receive the healthy food and nutrition needed during these unprecedented times.

A look back at the work that so many have made possible.

Preventing and Mitigating Food Waste

GBFB’s Retail Donation Program connects retailers with local GBFB partner agencies to facilitate the donation of surplus food. By making these connections, GBFB prevents food from having to pass through our warehouse, allowing it to move from the retailer and into the community much quicker. This reduces food waste and increases capacity in the GBFB warehouse.
‍
Since the onset of the pandemic, grocery stores, like food banks, have been squeezed to meet increased demand and it would be logical to expect retailers not to have extra food to donate. And yet many of them did. The COVID-19 pandemic created a mass migration of consumer grocery shopping from in-store to online. Consequently, local retailers increased their donations. In total, in FY20 GBFB distributed 12 million pounds of food through the Retail Donation Program, almost 3 million more than the year before.

A First, Best-in-Class Food Pantry

Just weeks before the COVID-19 crisis hit, GBFB made history by fully financing a new food pantry in Medford, MA, the Mystic Community Market (MCM). For the first time ever, GBFB was involved in the inception and development of a food pantry, allowing us to implement the knowledge accumulated from 40 years of working with our partner agencies to create a pantry that serves fresh, healthy food to a high-need community. 
‍
This newest venture is run by our partners at the Malden YMCA and is located at the Walnut Street Center. The pantry is already playing a vital role in our efforts to meet the growing demand for food during the COVID-19 pandemic. The MCM served 25,175 clients each month from April through September 2020. With an emphasis on distributing fresh produce, protein, and dairy, the MCM has distributed over 1.2 million pounds of healthy food to our neighbors in need.

Breakfast After the Bell Signed into Law

GBFB is thrilled to report that Breakfast After the Bell legislation was signed into law this summer. Breakfast After the Bell will require all public K-12 schools where 60 percent or more students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals to offer breakfast after the start of the school day. Through its leadership of a statewide coalition Rise and Shine Massachusetts, GBFB dedicated three and a half years towards advocacy for Breakfast After the Bell.
‍
Though the state already requires that schools provide breakfast to low-income students, currently less than half of eligible students are actually getting this important meal; unlike the school lunch program, which has 80 to 90 percent participation rates. The Rise and Shine Massachusetts coalition pointed to the fact that breakfast is being offered before school starts as a reason for low participation, making it difficult for students who take the bus or do not have reliable transportation to get to school early.
‍
On Aug. 4, 2020, Governor Baker signed Breakfast After the Bell into law. It will go into effect for the school year beginning in 2022, increasing access to breakfast – the most important meal of the day – for more than 150,000 low-income students in the Commonwealth.

Thank you video to the Rise and Shine Massachusetts Coalition