The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, is proud to announce a new partnership with MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software for engineers and scientists, establishing a summer fundraising campaign called Growing Healthy Futures: Sponsored by MathWorks.
Summer is a particularly difficult time for students and their families facing hunger as kids, teens, and even college students are not receiving meals at school. Supporters of the Growing Healthy Futures campaign will help nourish communities across Eastern Massachusetts and MathWorks will match every gift, dollar for dollar, up to $1 million.
“Giving back to the communities where we operate is a vital component of our Social Mission as a company,” said Jeanne O’Keefe, MathWorks senior vice president and CFO. “One way we accomplish this is to partner with well-regarded community organizations that have a proven record in serving the needs of its people. There is no more fundamental need than addressing hunger, and few organizations that have had as meaningful an impact on the region’s food insecurity than The Greater Boston Food Bank. We are very pleased to collaborate with GBFB on this timely campaign.”
According to Feeding America, food insecurity is expected to remain 30 percent above pre-COVID levels in Eastern Massachusetts for the remainder of 2021. While families can normally turn to summer camp to help close the summer meal gap, many camps are either closed or operating at reduced capacity because of the pandemic. Additionally, 37 percent of public university students in Massachusetts experience food insecurity according to the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. This percentage is significantly higher among students of color and for students who are parents, and hunger remains a pressing issue among this population as campuses close for the summer.
GBFB offers several programs and initiatives that focus on helping children, students, and families succeed during the summer months including GBFB’s School-based Pantry Program and the newly established Family Meal Box program. The funds from the Growing Healthy Futures campaign will assist in supporting these initiatives to ensure that healthy meals are distributed to students and families so they can continue to grow, learn, and thrive.
“We are grateful for the generous support of MathWorks as we embark on another challenging summer with food insecurity persisting at historic rates as a result of COVID-19,” said Catherine D’Amato, president and CEO of GBFB. “Together we are raising critical funds to ensure that nutritious meals are getting into the hands of all students and families that need them.”
