Boston Assistance Agencies receive $737,278 from Project Bread to Relieve Hunger in Tough Times

Percussion Sensation STOMP Partners with Project Bread to STOMP Out Hunger!

A large gift of funds has been awarded to Boston-area hunger relief agencies to support their work throughout the long winter ahead. Project Bread, the state’s leading antihunger organization, distributed $616,825 to 91 emergency food services as part of its annual Appreciation and Grant Award Ceremony at the Colonnade Hotel Boston last night.

In these and other grants in 2009, Project Bread contributed a total of $737,278 for hunger relief programs in Boston. These agencies are among 400 emergency food programs in 135 cities and towns across Massachusetts to receive money from Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger, which supports food pantries, meal programs, food banks, and food salvage programs. Despite the economic downturn, Walkers raised $3.8 millions, making this year’s Walk the second most successful Walk ever!

Audience members at the event were surprised with a special performance from the international percussion sensation, STOMP, playing at the Cutler Majestic Theatre through October 18. As part of the troupe’s promotion to STOMP Out Hunger!, Project Bread received a $10 donation for every ticket sold for their opening night performance.

Project Bread-funded agencies reported serving 57 million meals in 2008, the highest number of meals ever recorded. The demand shows no sign of abating, with the current food and fuel crisis compounded by unemployment. Project Bread will present startling statistics and compelling analyses about the prevalence and effects of hunger in Massachusetts in its 2009 Status Report due to be released next month.

Ellen Parker, the executive director of Project Bread, spoke of the tremendous effort to raise the money to fund the emergency food programs: “Approximately 100,000 people are behind the money raised through the Walk for Hunger,” Parker said. “We applaud the corporate and individual sponsors, the 50,000 donors, the 2,000 volunteers, and the 44,000 walkers who turned out to help these Massachusetts programs.”

Over 100 Boston agencies receiving grants from Project Bread have made great contributions in the fight against hunger. These include (please call for complete list):

? Wednesday Night Supper Club at The Paulist Center

? American Red Cross of Mass Bay/Boston Food Pantry

? Women’s Lunch Place

? Boston Medical Center/Preventative Food Pantry

? Pine Street Inn

? Catholic Charities/Yawkey Center Food Pantry

“Bay Cove struggles to find the balance between the rise in food costs and not wanting to raise the price of our meals,” said Allison DeMasi, food unit supervisor at the Boston human services agency. “Each day, the kitchen serves lunch to over 60 clients struggling with mental illness. With this year’s grant, we’re hoping to be able to provide more garden-fresh fruits and vegetables and nutritious ingredients.”