United Way of North Central invests over $157K for food assistance

FITCHBURG — United Way of North Central Massachusetts recently announced the local impact of the United Response Fund, a rapid and flexible crisis response initiative. Through this fund, $157,433.77 has been invested in the region, supporting 17 local organizations providing essential food assistance to families and individuals.

The Fund was created to help organizations serve residents affected by recent SNAP benefit cuts that strained food security across the region. Support included fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable foods, as well as grocery gift cards and vouchers.

Alongside United Way of North Central Massachusetts’ Fall Food Drive, which served 1,875 individuals, the United Response Fund provided critical assistance to families throughout the holiday season.

UWNCM President and CEO Kory Eng said, “We thank our community for their generous and thoughtful support of our most vulnerable friends and neighbors. United Way remains committed to ensuring that no one in our region goes hungry, and we could not do this without the empathy and compassion of those who have stepped forward during this unprecedented time.”

Brandon Robbins, Executive Director of Ginny’s Helping Hands, emphasized the impact of the Fund at a critical moment: “The United Response Fund launched when vital lifelines were being cut for families across North Central Massachusetts. Because of this support, more households were able to turn to Ginny’s for a meaningful hand up — accessing the essential resources they needed to care for their families during an incredibly challenging time.”

Since its launch, the United Response Fund has helped organizations expand food programs, strengthen operational capacity, and meet growing demand among vulnerable residents in Fitchburg, Leominster, and surrounding communities.

United Way of North Central Massachusetts and its partners remain committed to strengthening community resilience and expanding access to essential services. The United Response Fund remains active to provide vital support for food, heating, and other critical needs. Learn more or give at uwncm.org/donate/united-response-fund.