What is Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity is defined as the lack of having access to food, or the inability of being able to eat food that is nutritious enough to successfully power your body. This could be caused by poverty, unemployment, and an incapability to obtain food (such as not having access to traditional food pantries).The primary "solution" to food insecurity within Massachusetts is to file for SNAP, also known as food stamps. Food stamps allow a person in need to take food from food pantries and soup kitchens, while also being able to act similar to coupons when at supermarkets. Food stamps essentially give a person a "discount" on their purchase, with the "discount" corresponding to the severity of the economic situation of the person and their family. Food stamps cannot be used for alcohol, cigarettes, medications, pet food, cleaning and household supplies, hygiene products, live animals (such as fish), and any items that are deemed "hot" at sale.───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────But if food stamps give discounts and allow people to get "free" food, why is there food insecurity?Food stamps are helpful, but only to a certain degree. Food stamps generally do not cover enough, or even any, of the cost for more expensive items such as healthier or more diet/allergy-friendly foods. Likewise, food stamps don't change their "discount" percentage when food prices change—practically leaving the people who rely on its support without any aid. Additionally, food pantries often receive products that are close to, or have already expired.Despite this, some food pantries have found a solution to the threat of expiration. Daniel's Table, a local Framingham food pantry, is one of the most unique in its practices, with food that is set to expire not being thrown out (especially meats, fruits and vegetables, and bread), but rather repurposed. Sandra Montesino, one of the main organizers of Daniel's Table, describes their practice as trying to save as much food as possible in order to feed as many people as possible. In preparation for holidays such as Thanksgiving, Daniel's Table will freeze expired goods in order to preserve their shelf life and prevent waste.

Our Mission

This pantry and the What Can You Give? project as a whole is a Gold Award project run by Aatu McCarthy from Framingham, Massachusetts. As someone who has struggled with food insecurity themselves, Aatu has made it their mission to attempt to combat food insecurity in Framingham—even if by just one step (or can) at a time.In collaboration with Daniel's Table and the Framingham Public Library,
What Can You Give? is a Gold Award project that aims to give a freer access to food pantries that is not restricted by food stamps or pantry hours. Sandra Montesino from Daniel's Table describes many food pantries as only being open during the work hours (standard 9 AM to 5 PM), which prevents many people in need of food from actually ever obtaining it.As a project located within the library, the pantry is open in congruence to the hours of the library on that day: Mondays through Thursday it is open from 9 AM to 9 PM, Fridays through Saturdays it is open from 9 AM to 5 PM, and on Sundays it is open from 1 PM to 5 PM. The pantry works on a merit system, meaning that if you take from the pantry, it is assumed that you need something inside, and if you give to the pantry, it is assumed that you don't need anything inside. You can find the pantry adjacent to the main help desk on the first floor in the space beside the stairwell.

Data About Food Insecurity

Out of over 150 surveyed responses including members from Framingham and Girl Scouts across America, 34.9% of them have struggled with food insecurity, with 82.8% of this 34.9% having been on food stamps before. 77.6% of the people surveyed claim to know someone who is struggling or has struggled with food insecurity. Most people who have been on food stamps before report having been on food stamps for over one year.Within this group, many of the people who have had access to food stamps before claim that SNAP does not sufficiently support people enough. The overall consensus is that although food stamps are somewhat helpful in a time of need, they cannot support someone's nutritional needs completely. When combined with the costs of bills, housing payment, transportation, electricity, heating, and any other specialized needs, the budget available to be spent on food is very small. In a suburban city like Framingham, all economic excursions have an impact on someone's life; with good food, commonly, being one of the least of priorities.

What is the Gold Award?

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can obtain. It is a project that is fueled by a passion for an injustice the Gold Award candidate feels strongly about. Gold Award candidates work as leaders of their team, creating a sustainable end product that will be able to function years after the candidate is no longer involved with the project.

Available Resources

Websites and Hotlines

- Project Bread, telephone: (617) 723-5000
- Mass 211, telephone: 2-1-1, OR (877) 211-6277
- Feeding America
- Ample Harvest
- Food Insecurity and SNAP Education

Local Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens

- Daniel's Table, located at 56 Park Steet, Framingham, MA
- Pearl Street Café and Pantry, located at 46 Park Street, Framingham, MA
- Salvation Army, located at 350 Union Avenue, Framingham, MA
- St. Bridget Food Pantry, located at 15 Wheeler Avenue, Framingham, MA
- A Place to Turn, located at 99 Hartford St, Natick, MA
- The Greater Boston Food Bank, located at 70 South Bay Avenue, Boston, MA

Donations

The pantry accepts donations from locations across the city of Framingham that are yet to be determined.If you would like to donate food items to the pantry via the internet, we have an Amazon wishlist that you can access here.