WCVB: Massachusetts program celebrates 1 million meals delivered during COVID-19 pandemic
MALDEN, Mass. —
A community organization in Massachusetts that has worked to help provide food for those in need is celebrating a major milestone.
The Shah Family Foundation, in partnership with Stock Pot Malden and the YMCA of Greater Boston, has served 1 million meals to the Chelsea community during the COVID-19 pandemic through its Local Lunchbox program.
Local Lunchbox provides free and locally-prepared meals for kids ages 18 and under across the state.
“The extreme circumstances of the COVID-19 crisis served for all of us as the mother of invention. As unemployment skyrocketed and schools closed, we faced both unprecedented levels of food insecurity and increased federal funding to address it," Jill Shah, president of the Shah Family Foundation, said in a statement. "Through Local Lunchbox, we leveraged that funding to create a new food distribution model – one that puts the money back into the local economy by using locally-produced foods to cook culturally-relevant meals and create dozens of local jobs. It’s inspiring to see how this program has taken off over the past year as we mark our millionth meal, and we’re looking forward to expanding this model across Massachusetts.”
Gov. Charlie Baker and his wife, First Lady Lauren Baker, toured the meal prep site at Stock Pot Malden on Wednesday to commemorate the achievement. They also spoke with several of the local workers employed through the Local Lunchbox program.
“Our administration is grateful to the Shah Family Foundation for its commitment to providing children and their families with healthy, reliable and locally sourced meals,” Gov. Baker said. “During this challenging year, programs like Local Lunchbox have been invaluable tools in addressing food insecurity and instability for families throughout the Commonwealth, and we are glad to celebrate its millionth meal prepared.”
The Shah Family Foundation unveiled a new website, LocalLunchbox.org, on Wednesday for other communities that are interested in participating in the program.
Local Lunchbox has already expanded to Fall River, Lowell, New Bedford and Wareham.