Hunger hurts eastern Massachusetts. 1 in 9 members of our community is at risk of hunger, and that number is expanding. The Greater Boston Food Bank has witnessed a 23% increase in requests for food assistance since 2005.

Hunger is no longer just a problem facing those in poverty. A recent study shows that 47% of those at risk for hunger in eastern Massachusetts earn too much to be eligible for government-provided emergency food assistance. Many never dreamed they would need a food pantry or community meal program to feed themselves and their families.

Why is hunger hurting so many in our community?

The answer, it turns out, has less to do with food - there's plenty of food available - and more to do with economic and political obstacles that prevent food from reaching those who need it. With most food in our country moving from west to east, we are at the end of the primary distribution pipeline, making food more expensive. Our cold winters mean higher heating bills, and housing costs are higher relative to other areas of the country. Ending hunger means addressing those systemic problems, while doing everything possible, every day, to feed hungry people.

Note: Compiled by the Greater Boston Food Bank