Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program

Between 2006 and 2010, the demand for food from food banks grew by 23 percent in Massachusetts.

Federal aid that propped up food bank resources during the height of the recession has receded, but the demand has not, according to officials from the Greater Boston Food Bank, which feeds 545,000 people a year. Places like the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Rosie’s Place, the Pine Street Inn, and local food pantries in dozens of communities rely on the Greater Boston Food Bank for a bulk of their supplies.

Money from the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program helps buy locally-grown produce - eggs, milk and other fresh staples. But with food prices on the rise – dairy is up 8 percent, and the average price of peanut butter has skyrocketed 30 percent, D’Amato said, “that $11.5 million doesn’t get you $11.5 million anymore.”

The Greater Boston Food Bank serves approximately 550 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in eastern Massachusetts.