Food Security United States Project #17969

The Greater Boston Food Bank

by The Greater Boston Food Bank

Project Report | Oct 6, 2025
A Holiday Thanks for Healthy Meals

By GBFB Communications | GBFB Communications

This holiday season, many of us will give thanks for family, good food, and health—three values that Wakefield resident S. holds close.

“I take care of my mother who’s both elderly and [has disabilities], and sometimes it gets hard providing good meals for her,” says S., explaining how she shops for fresh produce and lean proteins to look after her mother’s health. When bargain hunting doesn’t make ends meet, S. turns to the Wakefield Food Pantry, a GBFB partner agency.

Rising costs are a widespread issue, but the Wakefield Food Pantry is meeting a growing demand for food. In addition to approximately 172,000 meals from GBFB in the last year, the pantry received a GBFB Community Investment Grant to purchase a climate controlled food storage container to increase capacity.

This food empowers neighbors like S. to put healthy meals on the table. “The fact that I can get beans and fresh produce makes it easier for me to make healthy meals,” she says, adding that during the holidays, she appreciates the “care packages” the pantry distributes, which include gift cards for purchasing turkeys.

S. expresses thanks for GBFB’s donors. Donor funds help send food to 600 agencies across Eastern Massachusetts—including Wakefield. “I don’t need the food pantry all the time. I’m very grateful for it when I need it, and I appreciate what everybody contributes to make this happen,” she says.

“The fact that I can get beans and fresh produce makes it easier for me to make healthy meals.” – Serena Saeed, client at the Wakefield Food Pantry

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Aug 30, 2023
Fiscal Year 2023 Quarter 3 Impact Report

By The Greater Boston Food Bank | Organization

May 2, 2023
Stories of Hope from a Chelsea, MA resident

By Amanda Simeone | Donor Services Associate

Chelsea pantry distributes food to 3000+ families

It has been no less than 35 years since Nicolas left behind his house and life in Chalatenango, El Salvador, for the United States, yet he shivers even now from flashbacks of violence and war—grainy images of cruelty and loss that have come to define his home country.

When he arrived in Boston in 1988, it was much easier than it is today to find work and get established, he says. He began by packing chocolates, and subsequently took various janitorial positions. Eventually, he was working 70 hours a week for a cleaning service and property-management company. With steady and reliable work, he was building a new life.

But now, at 69 and living alone, Nicolas struggles in retirement. His sole income is the $800 he receives each month in social security, which must cover all his expenses—electricity, gas, cable TV, and more. In the face of daunting inflation, food has become a luxury.

Fortunately, he says, his local food pantry, GBFB partner La Colaborativa, in Chelsea, has proved a blessing. He depends on them for everything from fruit and vegetables to meat and rice. Even better, he adds, the pantry offers cultural staples, such as Maseca—maize flour to make the tortillas and other foods popular with Salvadoreans.

He is so appreciative of the pantry’s work that he has become, one of its most steadfast volunteers. Waiting in line one day last year, he looked around and realized they needed help. Without asking questions, he jumped out of line and began distributing food. After everyone finished cleaning up, he asked if he could come back again. “Everybody said yes,” he said. “And that was it.”

“God put a light in the heart of whoever started this pantry,” Nicolas says, adding—“a light in the heart of anyone who even thinks of helping us in Chelsea.”

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