As food pantries, meal programs and other food-serving organizations across Worcester County report growing demand, Greater Worcester Community Foundation is expanding its investments in food security through both direct community grants and regional systems-building efforts.

This year, nearly $500,000 has been committed to strengthening food access across the region, including a record $229,000 in grants through the Worcester County Food Bank Fund to End Hunger and a $250,000 investment in a regional food transportation system for North County.

According to Worcester County Insights, approximately 83,300 Worcester County residents live in poverty, while nearly one-third of households are housing-cost burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Nearly 29,000 households countywide lack access to a vehicle, creating additional barriers to accessing food and essential services.

The Foundation's investments are designed to address both immediate needs and barriers to food access.

Supporting Food Access Today

Established and funded by Worcester County Food Bank and administered by Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the Fund to End Hunger was expanded this year through an anonymous gift made to the Foundation. 

This one-time infusion of funding doubled the size of the program, enabled grants to 42 organizations and resulted in the largest annual distribution in the fund's history. The Fund to End Hunger also received its highest number of applications to date this year.

The Fund to End Hunger supports a broad network of organizations working to ensure residents can access nutritious food through food pantries, meal delivery programs, community refrigerators, school-based food initiatives, community gardens and food rescue efforts.

Among this year's grants are $20,000 for El Buen Samaritano Food Program, the largest grant in the Fund to End Hunger's history and one made possible by the Fund's expansion this year. This grant supported the launch of a new food pantry on Lincoln Street, which EBS manages alongside its existing food pantry on Piedmont Street.

The organization reported serving 10,625 first-time visitors in 2025 at its Piedmont Street location, reflecting growing demand among residents, many of whom face transportation challenges, mobility limitations and unstable housing. "Many residents are struggling to keep up with rent, leaving little remaining income for groceries," Gonzalez said.

The EBS Lincoln Food Pantry is now open and operates weekly year-round.

Building Stability for Community Organizations

The additional funding also enabled the Fund to pilot multi-year grants, helping organizations plan beyond a single year of support.

Nonprofits receiving two-year grants include:

• Boys & Girls Club of Worcester ($20,000) to support its Fueling Futures Through Food and Opportunity program, which includes free meals, workforce development opportunities and food pantry services.
• Boys & Girls Club of Webster-Dudley ($6,000) for its Teen Food Security Initiative, providing access to nutritious meals and snacks for teens that participate in the Club’s evening programs.
• Quinsigamond Village Community Center ($6,000) to support the pantry’s storage and distribution operations.

Investing in Regional Food Systems

In addition to supporting front-line food providers, Greater Worcester Community Foundation is investing in efforts designed to strengthen food distribution systems across the region.

Earlier this year, as part of its 50th Anniversary Impact Grants initiative, the Foundation awarded $250,000 to United Way of North Central Massachusetts to support the exploration and implementation of a North County Regional Food Transportation System. 

The initiative seeks to improve the collection, transportation and distribution of food among food pantries serving North Central Massachusetts, recognizing the critical role transportation and distribution infrastructure play in getting food to communities that need it most.

Seana Weaver emphasized the importance of this innovative regional approach. "Food access is about people, and it's also about logistics,” Seana said. “Trucks, cold storage and shared routes are what turn a donated pallet of food into a meal on someone's table in Leominster or Gardner.”

Together, these investments reflect the Foundation's broader commitment to addressing hunger and basic needs across Worcester County, supporting organizations that provide immediate assistance while strengthening the systems that improve food access over the long term. Last year, the Foundation distributed nearly $500,000 through its Community Grants program's Basic Needs focus area, which includes food security and housing. Community Grants for 2026 will be announced later this year.

To learn more about Greater Worcester Community Foundation's food security initiatives, visit greaterworcester.org or download our Food Security one pager.