Hunger Action Month: Food Insecurity Is a National Issue—and a Local One

September is Hunger Action Month, Feeding America’s annual nationwide campaign to raise awareness about food insecurity and encourage communities to take action. Across the country, food banks, community organizations, volunteers, advocates, donors, and neighbors are each finding ways to contribute.

Here in Cambridge and the surrounding community, the issue is deeply local. At East End House, we see firsthand how rising food costs and other economic pressures affect children, families, seniors, individuals, and households working hard to make ends meet.

Hunger on the Rise

Food insecurity has increased sharply across Massachusetts.

Food insecurity does not always look the way people expect. It may mean stretching groceries for a few more days, choosing between food and another essential expense, or relying on community food resources during a particularly difficult period.

That is why access to nutritious food is about more than addressing hunger. It is about health, stability, dignity, and choice.

The East End House Community Food Program provides children, families, seniors, college students, and other community members with access to fresh, nutritious food through grocery distributions, direct-to-door deliveries, and community partnerships.

Each week, East End House orders and rescues more than 6,000 pounds of food to help meet growing community need.

Our approach is centered on making nutritious food easier to access while reducing barriers such as mobility, transportation, time, financial strain, and stigma. Whenever possible, we want the experience of accessing food to be welcoming, respectful, and grounded in dignity and choice.

We also know that East End House is one part of a much broader response. Our work is strengthened by The Greater Boston Food Bank, the City of Cambridge, community organizations, volunteers, donors, and many other partners and neighbors working toward the same basic goal: helping people access the food and resources they need.

Healthy Food, Dignity and Choice

East End House earned recognition as a 2025 Healthy Pantry Champion—a distinction received by only 9% of Greater Boston Food Bank pantries.

The recognition reflects the work of our Community Food Program team and partners to make fresh produce, proteins, dairy products, and other nutritious foods available to the people and families who participate in the program.

We are grateful for this recognition, but more importantly, we remain focused on the everyday work of responding to the needs we see in our community.

Bringing Healthy Food Closer to Home

Our work also extends beyond the walls of East End House. Through deliveries and other community-based approaches, we are helping bring healthy food closer to neighbors who may face mobility, transportation, time, or other barriers.

It Takes a Community

None of this work happens alone.

We are tremendously grateful to the City of Cambridge and our nonprofit, philanthropic, food rescue, and community partners—including the Greater Boston Food Bank, Food For Free, Boston Area Gleaners, Green City Growers, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Cambridge Community Foundation, Food Link, Green Cambridge, Spoonfuls, and others—along with our dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, and supporters.

Together, these partnerships allow East End House to reach more people, provide more fresh and nutritious food, and respond to growing community needs.

Learn More & Find Support

For readers interested in learning more about Hunger Action Month, food insecurity in Massachusetts, or food resources available locally, we recommend these three starting points:

More to Come on September 29

Hunger Action Month continues throughout September, with Hunger Action Day on September 29. Our plans are still evolving, and we look forward to sharing more in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for additional information and opportunities to participate.

Food insecurity is a challenge no single organization can address alone. East End House is grateful to be part of a broader community response, and we will continue to do our part alongside our partners and neighbors to make nutritious food more accessible.

For 150 years, East End House has responded as the needs of our community have changed. Today, access to fresh, healthy food is one of those growing needs and we remain committed to doing our part.

Every action counts. Together, we can help ensure that our neighbors have access to the healthy food they need.