The Greater Boston Food Bank is set to invest another $5 million to break their food spending record in 2026 and distribute over 94 million meals across the region as need grows.
“Families need our help now more than ever – GBFB is responding with urgency and action by providing our local partners the food and funding they need to meet growing demand,” said Greater Boston Food Bank President Catherine D’Amato. “As food, fuel, healthcare, and housing costs continue to rise, and new SNAP restrictions take effect, more people are finding it difficult to feed themselves and their loved ones.”
The New England region’s largest hunger relief organization announced a total $6.3 million investment in food spending and capacity building grants for local partners.
The organization will invest $5 million in food purchasing, bringing their total food spend to a new record of nearly $65 million in 2026, GBFB said. The new investment will allow the food bank to distribute an estimated over 94 million meals this year, about 2 million more than 2025.
In April, the annual GBFB and Mass General Brigham report of Massachusetts food access found that the state hit a new record of 40% of households experiencing food insecurity in 2025, double the number in 2019.
GBFB cited the “cost of living, high inflation, and restrictions on federal assistance” as drivers of hunger in the region. In November, new SNAP eligibility requirements through the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act decreased the number of residents able to access the food assistance by 13% or about 140,000 people. At the same time, food prices jumped around 30% since 2020, according to Consumer Price Index data.
For 2026, the food bank said they expect to distribute 260,000 meals a day.
Of the $5 million, GBFB stated, $3.3 million will buy healthy foods for 600 agencies partners in eastern Massachusetts, while the remainder will go to 370 partners buying food locally.
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The food bank will also give out over $1.3 million in Community Investment Grants to 88 food pantries and meal programs across eastern Massachusetts. The grants build on over $12 million in infrastructure grants to local organizations through GBFB since 2013.
The grants will go to “10 transportation improvements, over 30 refrigeration and storage upgrades, which reflects the demand for more fresh produce, eggs and dairy, over 10 technology investments, and over 30 other operational grants to support safe and efficient food delivery,” GBFB stated.
“These investments will help ensure our local pantries have the capacity, resources, and stocked shelves needed to provide nutritious food to everyone who turns to them for help,” D’Amato said.
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