When the nation faced the longest government shutdown in history, millions of families were left wondering how they would feed their children. Even as Congress reconvenes, the effects of halted federal food assistance programs—like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—continue to ripple across the country. Here in Greater Boston, the need remains acute.

According to a recent report by The Greater Boston Food Bank, nearly 45% of adults in Suffolk County experienced food insecurity between late 2022 and early 2023—one of the highest rates in Massachusetts. The City of Boston estimates that more than 100,000 residents lack reliable access to fresh, healthy food. Despite the city’s goal of ending food insecurity by 2030 through the Mayor’s Office of Food Justice, the immediate crisis is far from over.

Read below to see how churches and Christian organizations across Boston are coming together as the hands and feet of Jesus, responding to these needs to show God’s love and care for our neighbors.

---

Send Relief: Partnering with Churches to Meet Immediate Needs

As federal food programs stall, Send Relief, one of the nation’s largest faith-based compassion ministries, has expanded its hunger relief efforts through local ministry hubs. In Boston, UB Cohort member John Ames and his team are coordinating shipments of food and resources to families in need.

Send Relief Boston has mobilized four local church partners—Arborway Community Church (Jamaica Plain), Timothy Baptist Church (Roxbury), Redemption Hill (Medford) and Hope Fellowship (Cambridge)—to distribute groceries and provide meals to neighbors as early as this weekend.

---

Dorchester Neighbors Respond: Community and Compassion

“A group of us from the neighborhood used Facebook, and existing neighborhood groups like “Nothing for Sale” and “DOT Parents,” to create a network where neighbors whose SNAP benefits were impacted could connect with neighbors offering to help with groceries through the crisis,” says Hannah Hafter. “It became a lot bigger than we ever imagined, with over 60 families that ended up being matched, and we had to close out the form unfortunately to make sure we could follow through for everyone. We felt like this offering was really important because there are a variety of barriers people can face related to food pantries, whether it’s transportation, or timing, or having dietary restrictions and allergies in the family that aren’t met by pantries, so we wanted this to support and supplement the rest of what already is out there.”

This grassroots model reminds us that food justice is not only about access but dignity—ensuring people can receive the foods that meet their cultural and religious needs.

---

Churches Offering Hope and Hospitality

Across the city, congregations are transforming their sanctuaries into spaces of hospitality and hope. First Baptist Church of Jamaica Plain, under the leadership of Rev. Ashlee Wiest-Laird, has long hosted regular community meals and food pantries for their neighbors.

Pastor Ashlee describes, “Our Centre Food Justice Program provides low cost food, free groceries and two hot meals a week to our neighbors in Boston. Every month over 75,000 pounds of food are made available to people in Jamaica Plain and throughout Boston. We believe that food is a God-given right for all people. By providing meals and food to our neighbors, we embody the love and justice of Jesus.  All God’s children deserve a full stomach.”

Churches, like this one, exemplify what it looks like to live out the gospel in public—feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, and building tables big enough for everyone.

---

Faith Communities Working Together

UniteBoston celebrates how faith leaders and organizations are joining forces during this time of need. From large-scale operations like Send Relief to neighborhood-based efforts like the Dorchester SNAP Response, these collective acts of compassion are a testament to the power of collaboration and sharing the gospel in word and deed. But the work is not over.

“While SNAP has been restored in MA, lots of people are reporting reduced benefits, which seem to be permanent due to changes in the system coming down from the Trump Administration – it’s not just partial payments this month,” says Hannah Hafter. “One mother of 3 tells us that her SNAP was cut to $26 a month. This really highlights that food security among our neighbors is going to continue to be a big concern.”

In addition to these local efforts, churches across the state are collaborating through SNAP Sundays, an initiative of the Black Ministerial Association Tenpoint of Massachusetts, the Pastors Council of Greater Springfield, and the Black Ecumenical Council of Massachusetts. Together, these networks are gathering canned goods, funds, and essential resources to continue to support families affected by the SNAP cuts and fall-out of the government shutdown.

No matter what happens in Congress, the Church’s call remains clear: to love our neighbors as ourselves and to ensure that no one in our city goes hungry.

It can be hard to look beyond ourselves when money is tight and resources are dwindling. However, we celebrate how these congregations and organizations are choosing God’s kingdom economy of generosity and abundance, knowing that what affects one of us affects all of us: “But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor 12:25-26). Together, they remind us that the beloved community Jesus prayed for is built one shared meal, one open table, and one act of love at a time.

---

Local Food Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, here are local resources you can share:

• Food Resource Guide for the Greater Boston area that is updated frequently
• Greater Boston Food Bank Pantry Finder
• City of Boston SNAP Resources
• Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline
  Call or text 800-645-8333 for information about local food programs.
• Healthy Incentives Program (HIP)
  Continue to use your SNAP card to get fresh food from farmers markets, farm stands, and CSAs.
• Boston Double Up Food Bucks
  Get 50% off fresh produce with SNAP at participating stores.
• Dorchester SNAP Cuts Community Response
  Join or support neighbors by offering groceries, gift cards, or deliveries:
  Support form
• Fresh truck – If people have $.01 on their SNAP, card they are eligible for $40- 80$ of fresh produce
• Send Relief Boston Food Drive
  Donate non-perishables or give financially:
  Send Relief Boston Facebook
• Support the Centre Food Justice Program with First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain – GoFundMe Link