With Thanksgiving just a week away, the Greater Boston Food Bank is facing challenges in meeting the growing demand for food in the region. The food bank supplies 600 other food banks across the area, but staffing shortages and location challenges are making it difficult to keep up with the need.One of the challenges the food bank is facing is its location. The main warehouse is located in the same neighborhood as the troubled stretch of Boston, known as Mass and Cass. “Our neighborhood is definitely a factor in terms of employee retention and recruitment,” said Catherine Lynn, the food bank’s chief operating officer. Lynn said it has made it difficult to retain and recruit employees.”We have done a lot within the neighborhood to make sure there’s a shuttle in place to make sure people are safely transported,” Lynn said. “So yes, that has been a factor.”The Greater Boston Food Bank distributes about 117 million pounds of food every year to the people of Eastern Massachusetts. Approximately one in three people in the commonwealth are food insecure and in need of a helping hand. The need is growing, with the Greater Boston Food Bank serving more than 60% more people than it did three years ago.”Even compared to last year, our agencies, on average, are seeing another 12 percent more families,” Lynn said.While food price inflation is mostly leveling off, proteins and produce are still driving up costs. The Food Bank says it now takes $35 to provide one holiday meal to a family, an increase of $5-10. The price increase is putting a strain on the Food Bank’s resources, which rely on donations and grants to keep up with the demand.But perhaps the biggest problem the food bank is facing is staffing shortages. The food bank said it needs more employees to fill orders for the local food pantries and soup kitchens that rely on it. However, the food bank is competing with companies like Amazon for warehouse workers and delivery drivers.The food bank encourages any interested in open positions or who may want to volunteer to visit their website.
With Thanksgiving just a week away, the Greater Boston Food Bank is facing challenges in meeting the growing demand for food in the region.
The food bank supplies 600 other food banks across the area, but staffing shortages and location challenges are making it difficult to keep up with the need.
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One of the challenges the food bank is facing is its location.
The main warehouse is located in the same neighborhood as the troubled stretch of Boston, known as Mass and Cass.
“Our neighborhood is definitely a factor in terms of employee retention and recruitment,” said Catherine Lynn, the food bank’s chief operating officer.
Lynn said it has made it difficult to retain and recruit employees.
“We have done a lot within the neighborhood to make sure there’s a shuttle in place to make sure people are safely transported,” Lynn said. “So yes, that has been a factor.”
The Greater Boston Food Bank distributes about 117 million pounds of food every year to the people of Eastern Massachusetts.
Approximately one in three people in the commonwealth are food insecure and in need of a helping hand.
The need is growing, with the Greater Boston Food Bank serving more than 60% more people than it did three years ago.
“Even compared to last year, our agencies, on average, are seeing another 12 percent more families,” Lynn said.
While food price inflation is mostly leveling off, proteins and produce are still driving up costs.
The Food Bank says it now takes $35 to provide one holiday meal to a family, an increase of $5-10. The price increase is putting a strain on the Food Bank’s resources, which rely on donations and grants to keep up with the demand.
But perhaps the biggest problem the food bank is facing is staffing shortages.
The food bank said it needs more employees to fill orders for the local food pantries and soup kitchens that rely on it. However, the food bank is competing with companies like Amazon for warehouse workers and delivery drivers.
The food bank encourages any interested in open positions or who may want to volunteer to visit their website.