Greater Boston Food Bank Gets Boost from Visiting Dems

Lincoln, McGovern and Durbin build food packs and bring attention to hunger issues.

BOSTON --- July 28, 2004 --- Taking a break from their Democratic National Convention activities, U.S. House and Senate anti-hunger activists visited the Greater Boston Food Bank on Wednesday afternoon to assemble food items for delivery to families and individuals in the Boston metropolitan area, with the additional objective of building greater awareness about hunger issues facing communities across the United States.

Congressional hosts including Senator Blanche L. Lincoln (D-AR), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman James McGovern (D-MA) spent Wednesday afternoon meeting with Food Bank staff and volunteers while filling dozens of bags with food for families throughout eastern Massachusetts.

"We need to acknowledge that there are others that need our help," said Senator Lincoln.  "More than 35 million people, including 13 million children are food insecure.  That is devastating to me.  We need to work together as a nation to end hunger."

"Combating hunger is not only about ensuring that people have enough to eat, but also making certain that they have a proper, nutritional diet," said Senator Durbin.  "Food banks offer clients wholesome, nutritious choices that help families stay healthy.  I applaud the efforts of all food banks and America's Second Harvest in providing families healthy choices."

Congressman McGovern spoke of his own experiences visiting the Worcester County Food Bank.  "I have seen the realities of hunger and food insecurity in my own community.   As the richest nation on the planet, we have the resources like the America's Second Harvest network to do so much more."

Also joining the Congressional delegation was Judy Carter, Board Chair of America's Second Harvest, a national network of more than 200 regional food banks and food-rescue programs, and Vicary M. Graham, chair of The Greater Boston Food Bank Board of Directors.

"It's gratifying to see that legislators have taken a break from their schedules to help us serve the people of Massachusetts in such a personal way," said Carter, who also serves as CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank in Austin, Texas.  "Their help this afternoon truly shows that there is strong support for emergency food providers and the critical role that food banks play in addressing hunger in America."

The Greater Boston Food Bank, which operates in more than 190 communities throughout eastern Massachusetts, is part of America's Second Harvest.  As the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization, America's Second Harvest's network distributes 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually, supporting nearly 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, women's shelters, Kids Cafes and community kitchens.  More than 200 regional food banks and food rescue programs make up America's Second Harvest, serving all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico.