BROCKTON — We’ve been following many cities and towns that have been struggling more than others. In hard hit Brockton, the food struggle is real, and they are having a hard time getting food to the community.
At the Greater Boston Food Bank, truck after truck of food gets loaded, and that helps feed thousands of families across the state. But with the shortage of volunteers here, some churches tell us, they haven’t been able to get food for the community.
“For the first time in all of my years, I had to rely on a food pantry. I’m not able to make ends meet," said a 33-year-old woman from Brockton.
“You have to choose, do I feed my family, or do I pay my bills?" the single mother told Boston 25 while getting food from the Brockton Boy’s and Girl’s Club.
The need is great, said Catherine D’Amato, the CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank.
“Individuals facing food insecurity in our state that have never ever gone to a food pantry in their lives,” said D’Amato.
50% more people in Massachusetts are going to the food pantries. We just spoke to a single mother from Brockton who says, “for the first time in all my years, I had to rely on a food pantry. I’m not able to make ends meet”. @Gr8BosFoodBank @boston25 pic.twitter.com/S2xNMmyXQs
— Malini Basu (@WFXTMalini) May 28, 2020
D’Amato tells us nearly 50 percent more people are going to the food pantries.
"Never in their dreams did they expect that would have limited income and need go to a food pantry,” said D’Amato.
Food insecurity in Massachusetts is on the rise, and the demands at the food bank keeps growing.
On Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker said there simply aren’t enough volunteers and most of the volunteers are older and retired.
“They got really worried about COVID-19 and spending a lot of time away from their home, and putting themselves in positions where they might contract the virus” said Baker.
It’s a struggle that is felt at the Brockton Assembly of God in Brockton.
“The Greater Boston Food Bank, it’s been two weeks that we have not been able to get an appointment to get food donations just because they’re short staffed on their end,” said Jonathan Sites, an assistant pastor.
Since the pandemic hit, nearly 20 million pounds of food has been distributed across the state. For the @Gr8BosFoodBank , this is the first time they handed out so much food in their 40 years. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/XyCqVRr9Yq
— Malini Basu (@WFXTMalini) May 28, 2020
The 120 volunteers at the food bank have been working relentlessly.
“Get food distributed, drive trucks, work in the warehouse, all these things are front line workers,” said D’Amato.
“We are in this together, we are Boston strong,” said the single mother.
The Greater Boston Food Bank told Boston 25 that they have distributed close to 20 million pounds of food since the pandemic hit. That’s a record in their 40-year history.
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