As costs of holiday meals soar, 140,000 pounds of food and $180,000 in grants distributed to support thousands of families in 21 communities across the region
BOSTON – United Way of Massachusetts Bay hosted its 25th Annual Holiday Meal Essentials Gratitude Project today, providing over 10,000 packed reusable grocery bags of Thanksgiving meal essentials, 10,450 gift cards, and $180,000 in grants to 12 community-based partners – reaching over 16,000 families across 21 communities in Eastern Massachusetts.
Since 1999, United Way has distributed Thanksgiving groceries to families in Greater Boston, to ensure they enjoy a homecooked holiday meal with their loved ones. What started as a catered meal for 10 families funded by an anonymous donor has grown into an annual community-wide event reaching more than 16,000 families.
Today, the reusable grocery bags were distributed in seven communities across the region in partnership with Catholic Charities of Boston, Interfaith Area Collaborative in Attleboro, Interfaith Social Services in Quincy, Dwelling House of Hope in Lowell, Lynn Housing and Neighborhood Development, Madison Park Community Development Corporation and Neighborworks Housing Solutions in Taunton.
“This time of year, families across our region look forward to gathering with loved ones to enjoy a holiday meal, but we know that many households need a little extra support,” said Daphne Principe-Griffin, Interim President and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay. “For 25 years, United Way’s Gratitude Project has brought together corporate partners, community partners, donors, and volunteers to make this possible. Over the years, the need has only grown. We know more people are facing food insecurity than ever because of the rising cost of food and the high cost of living in our region. At United Way, we stand ready to partner with communities to provide swift response in times of crisis and to champion long-term solutions to housing stability, access to childcare, pathways to college and career, and increased financial wellbeing.
Families receive a reusable grocery bag filled with stuffing, cornbread, rice, canned beans, canned corn, onions, carrots and brownie mix. Families also received a disposable turkey pan and either a turkey or a grocery gift card in their bags to purchase a turkey, depending on the distribution site.
United Way also distributed $180,000 in Gratitude Grants to 12 lead community partners: Boston Center for Youth and Families (Mattapan), Chelsea Black Communities, Community Action in Haverhill, East Boston Social Center, Family Nurturing Center in Hyde Park, Food for Free in Cambridge, Family Services of the Merrimack Valley in Lawrence, Mystic Valley YMCA in Malden, Randolph Community Partnership, Salem Food Pantry, Weymouth Food Pantry, and YMCA of Metro North in Revere.
Sponsors for this year’s Thanksgiving Project include Bank of America, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, P&G Gillette, Boston Properties, Charlesbank, Ropes & Gray, Amazon, UPS, Wegmans, Winn Companies, Sun Life Financial and many others. For a full list of sponsors go to https://unitedwaymassbay.org/get-involved/gratitude-project#events
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About the United Way of Massachusetts Bay
United Way of Massachusetts Bay exists to build more equitable communities, together. With over 85 years of local impact in eastern Massachusetts, we work with and for our communities to build economic prosperity and enable everyone–across races and ethnicities–to share in the knowledge, wealth and resources available. We believe that the key to unlocking opportunity is uniting people, and we bring together individuals, community leaders, corporate partners, legislators and organizations to build a powerful engine of change. Visit www.unitedwaymassbay.org for more information.