The Greater Boston Food Bank joins America's Second Harvest today in issuing a Call to Action to individuals and businesses to feed hungry Americans in response to rapidly increasing demand for food that in recent months has exceeded supplies.

The national campaign will be announced today at 11:00 am at the D.C. central kitchen, a Washington, D.C.-area hunger-relief agency. Members of Congress and Bush Administration officials and Americans from all 50 states will join officials from America's Second Harvest to highlight the critical need for more food, resources, and volunteers. Representing Massachusetts are Danny (age 14) and Betsy Nally (age 11) of Westwood, Mass. Since 1996, the brother-sister team have worked tirelessly to raise money to buy Thanksgiving turkeys for member feeding programs served by The Greater Boston Food Bank. In 2001 alone, over 114,000 people in need in eastern Massachusetts were able to enjoy turkey on Thanksgiving day, as a result of the Nallys' efforts.

The need for hunger-relief is greater than ever

The Call to Action comes as the result of a major downturn in the economy, subsequent massive lay-offs, and September 11 have all contributed to a significant increase in the number of Americans who are unable to feed their families. In fact, America's Second Harvest reports that the vast majority of its national affiliates, which include The Greater Boston Food Bank, are currently experiencing higher demand as a result of last year's tragic events and the recession, and that an additional 365 million pounds of food are needed nationwide during 2002 to meet this new demand.

"With the recent economic slowdown, more and more people are turning to local hunger-relief agencies for assistance," said Catherine D'Amato, president and CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank. "With unemployment in Massachusetts at the highest levels since 1996, hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs. Some people who were just barely making ends meet now must contend with reduced hours or less pay. Seniors who had planned on more secure retirements now face plummeting investment income. These are just a few examples of the new faces of hunger we've seen in the past several months.

How individuals and businesses can help

D'Amato outlined ways individuals, companies and organizations can join the effort to raise and distribute more food. "We need more companies to donate food products. We need money to pay for transportation to get it to where it is needed most. And we need volunteers to help us solicit, sort and move the food through our system," said D'Amato. "The need is great, but working together we can begin to address this need and help feed hungry Americans now. I hope every resident in our service area of eastern Massachusetts will call to find out what they can do to help get more food to where it is needed most. No one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from." People can call 866-FOODNOW to learn how to help.

ABOUT THE GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK

The Greater Boston Food Bank is a non-profit clearinghouse for donated food, which is distributed to a network of 750 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, daycare centers for children at risk, and other charitable feeding agencies throughout nine counties in eastern Massachusetts. The Greater Boston Food Bank is one of New England's largest hunger-relief organizations, annually distributing 18 million pounds of food, which is the equivalent of almost 14 million meals. To help, visit www.gbfb.org or call 617-427-5200.

ABOUT AMERICA'S SECOND HARVEST

America's Second Harvest is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States, with 215 affiliates across the country, more than 50,000 agencies and one million volunteers on the front lines of feeding America's hungry every day. Last year, America's Second Harvest fed 23 million Americans, including 9 million children.

Greater Boston Food Bank, The

Greater Boston Food Bank, The

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