The Food Bank works behind the scenes of nearly every charitable organization that provides food to people in need in western Massachusetts.



The mission of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is to work with our community to reduce hunger and increase food security.



The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is one of 156 food banks that participated in Hunger in America 2006, the largest, most comprehensive study ever conducted on domestic hunger.



Childhood Hunger in America



- One in five children in our nation (approximately 15 million) live at or below the poverty line (U.S. Census Bureau).



- Nearly two-thirds of poor young children live in working families (The National Center for Children in Poverty).



- Recent research indicates that even mild under-nutrition during critical periods of growth may affect brain development and reduce physical growth (Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy).



- Requests for emergency food assistance have risen by 18 percent in American cities, with more than half of the requests coming from families with children (U.S. Conference of Mayors).



- Nearly half (43%) of those receiving food from The Food Bank’s member agencies are children.



Many people seek emergency food to get them through a short-term crisis: a layoff, a critical illness, or loss of home due to fire. Others are unemployed and hungry with no way to buy food.



An increasing number are seeking food to fill in gaps their paychecks aren’t covering. With 25% percent of U.S. workers making $8 an hour or less, many families are living from week to week, just on the edge of emergency.