In the News

City and state officials gathered in celebration of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts’ groundbreaking ceremony on June 2. The food bank is constructing a new food distribution center on Carew Street.

While currently operational in Hatfield, the food bank is developing a new headquarters location in wake of rising food insecurity rates. Factors driving the rising insecurity rates include the conclusion of coronavirus pandemic-based assistance programs and the rising costs of inflation.

The current Hatfield location was deemed insufficient by the food bank. A lack of storage space forced the food entity to turn away more than one million pounds of food donations over the last three and a half years. The food bank’s current location also possesses insufficient loading docks and persisting supply chain issues, according to the food bank’s press release.

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts purchased the vacant property in December 2020 near the Chicopee River Business Park. The project then featured a $26.4 million capital campaign program that began in January 2021.

So far, the campaign raised 96 percent of the project’s goal, which includes 25 percent from federal and state grants, 22 percent from individual gifts, 22 percent from federal New Market Tax Credit investments and 18 percent from corporate gifts.

Executive Director of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Andrew Morehouse welcomed Mayor John Vieau, Congressmen Richard Neal and Jim McGovern, state reps. Carlos Gonzalez, Bud Williams and Jacob Oliveira, state Sens. Eric Lesser and Adam Gomez, and representatives from the project’s doners for the ceremony.

In his address, Vieau reflected on the development of the food bank’s new headquarters.

“We are excited to add the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to our list of the wonderful things we host in the city of Chicopee. It’s something I am really proud of…We’re going to have a state-of-the-art facility here that is going to be second to none,” said Vieau.

The mayor also shared that the city is currently in talks for a new food pantry, which would mark the city’s 11th pantry. Vieau speculated that the pantry would focus on providing for members of the veteran community.

Reflecting on the food bank’s impact to those in need, Neal spoke about his own experiences growing up on Social Security Survivor Benefits.

“We might have suits and ties on, but our own steep climb is part of the story…There was a tendency not to talk about things that generation,” said Neal. The congressman explained that the food bank’s new location will provide an accessible source for addressing the growth of food insecurity.

Neal also stressed that food insecurity requires additional attention on a national level.

“Hunger is still a very stubborn problem in America. For a country that has been blessed with such great opportunity, housing and food ought to be minimal obligations that we see ourselves embracing. This is a national problem, it needs a national solution,” said Neal.

McGovern utilized his speech to further highlight the sobering realities of food insecurities.

“We live in the richest country in the history of the world and there are close to 40 million Americans that don’t know where their next meal is coming from. I am ashamed of that fact,” said McGovern.

McGovern also shared that President Joe Biden will host a White House conference on hunger, nutrition and health. The aim of the meeting is to find a national plan for ending hunger.

Readers can learn more about The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts at https://www.foodbankwma.org/.