2017 By the Numbers

In 2017, Food For Free:

• Rescued 1.8 million pounds of food
• Distributed 2 million pounds—that’s the equivalent of 1.6 million meals!
• Transported another 1.2 million pounds between the Greater Boston Food Bank and local food programs
• Helped 565 students arrive at school well-fed on Monday mornings through the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program
• Supported 125 seniors and people with disabilities in cooking for themselves, while making sure they received adequate nutrition, through Home Delivery program
• Held 30 School Markets reaching more than 500 Cambridge families
• Harvested 5,331 pounds of crops for Pine Street Inn’s guests and culinary students at Field of Greens, including beets, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, carrots, chard, collards, kale lettuce, parsley, scallions, radishes, tomatoes, and turnips

January Staff Changes

Food For Free has created a new leadership position to help us further the goal of working with schools to end hunger. As of January 1, Alanna Mallon, former Program Director and founder of the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program, has moved into the role of K-12 Strategic Lead. She will help us further build our relationships with the Cambridge School system, and begin to develop new relationships outside of Cambridge. Alanna will be responsible for identifying need in the schools and will work with the rest of Food For Free’s leadership team to prioritize the roll-out of new programs.

Fiona Crimmins will be stepping into the role of Program Director. Taking over management of Field of Greens, Home Delivery, School Markets, and the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program,, Fiona will work to create consistency across programs (where appropriate). Fiona will continue lead the Family Meals program which will, in the coming year, focus on expanding into state and community colleges.

We are delighted to welcome Ashia Aubourg to Food For Free as our new Cross-Program Coordinator as of January 8! Ashia interned with Food For Free in 2016, working on the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School food pantry, the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program, and the Market in the Park pilot. A Cambridge native, Ashia brings on-the-ground experience, lots of enthusiasm, and a big smile to her new role. Please say hi the next time you see her at one of our programs! 

Funding

We received grants from these funders in November and December:

• Life Science Cares, for Family Meals
• Cambridge Community Foundation, for Food Rescue
• Cabot Family Charitable Trust, also for Food Rescue

We’re also pleased to share that our Winter Appeal raised over $135,000—even more than we’d hoped for! If you didn’t get around to making a contribution, don’t let the calendar stop you. You can donate here.

Thanks for reading, and thank you for supporting Food For Free!