Joining Hands to Nourish Our Community
At Temple Beth Elohim (TBE), community means acting where it matters most. Over the past few months, our congregants have rallied together to launch a transformative program: the Ending Hunger Initiative. With the goal of addressing food insecurity, this initiative aims to educate and activate temple members to support TBE’s impactful programs that tackle hunger head-on and to add direct service and advocacy opportunities. As the need grows ever more urgent, we stand united in our commitment to ensuring no family goes without a meal.
Why Now? The Reality of Food Insecurity
The Ending Hunger Initiative emerges at a pivotal moment. A recent article from Axios Boston highlights alarming developments that are exacerbating food insecurity in Massachusetts. Three major food suppliers have closed their doors this year, collectively eliminating 50,000 pounds of annual donations to local food recovery programs. The ripple effects have been profound—food pantries and community centers serving vulnerable populations are struggling with reduced variety and volume of fresh foods. Some families now find themselves visiting multiple locations each week just to meet their basic needs.
The closures include notable contributors like Daily Table, a community nonprofit grocer, which shuttered all four of its Boston-area locations after losing federal funding. Freight Farms, a startup that supplied fresh greens through hydroponic farming, and produce delivery service Boston Organics have also ceased operations, further straining the emergency food network. $2.3 million of canceled food, about 105,000 cases of produce, protein and dairy, set to go to The Greater Boston Food Bank was also canceled by USDA.
Tim Cavaretta, director of operations at nonprofit distributor Food For Free, underscored the gravity of the situation: “We’re seeing just as many people—up to a third of the population here in Massachusetts—facing food insecurity, but steadily less food and less money going into the overall food security ecosystem.” This disruption comes at a time when federal nutrition support is contracting, leaving organizations scrambling to replace lost suppliers.
The TBE Commitment: Education and Action
Understanding the urgency of this crisis, Temple Beth Elohim’s Ending Hunger Initiative is designed to bring meaningful change. Through educational workshops, guest speakers, and hands-on activities, we aim to empower congregants with knowledge about food insecurity and the steps they can take to make a difference. Whether it’s volunteering at food banks, donating food or funds, or advocating for stronger policies, TBE is mobilizing its congregants to address this pressing issue.
The initiative also seeks to bolster current temple programs that address food insecurity such as TBE Table, as well as our collections that support partners like JF&CS’s Family Table and Yad Chessed.
What’s Next?
We invite every member of our community to join us in this critical effort. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading awareness, your involvement can make a profound difference. With your help, the road to ending hunger will be paved with compassion and care.
To get involved with the Education Subcommittee of the Ending Hunger Initiative, contact Marci Sindell at marcils@comcast.net. To learn more about the broader initiative, contact Marilyn Komessar at mlkomessar@yahoo.com or Ediss Gandelman at ediss.gandelman@gmail.com.
