Aid Expands to Meet Families’ Deepening Woes
As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on and government aid either expires or gets bogged down in red tape, FamilyAid Boston is expanding its humanitarian aid to help the city’s poorest residents with more food, supplies and financial assistance.
When Massachusetts declared a state of emergency at the pandemic’s outset in March, the 1,600 unstably-housed and homeless children and parents in our care were suddenly left with no jobs, schools, daycare, or community connections. We sprang into action, delivering 1 ton of food and supplies weekly to our most-in-need families. Corporations, foundations and individual donors provided critical financial resources to help with this life saving work. We also connected to new, emerging resources like a pandemic-related USDA food program that linked agencies like ours to for-profit food distributors so that we could provide free, fresh dairy, vegetables and protein to high-need families. As a result, we decreased our clients’ food insecurity by 70% during the summer months.
But almost nine months later, food insecurity is growing again as the pandemic surges and federal relief efforts like the USDA food program, COVID unemployment benefits and SNAP and WIC have been reduced, delayed or abruptly ended.
Recent studies show that more than one million Massachusetts residents are now food insecure, and more than 60% of all families face significant financial crises due to the pandemic. Consequently, FamilyAid enrollments have ballooned to more than 2,600 children and parents seeking basic support.
Longtime partners Cradles to 2 Crayons, the United Way, Bank of America and Gerstner Philanthropies stepped in earlier this month to support the demand with increased supplies and financial support.
“Every week, we add more and more families to our food and supply deliveries,” says Betsy-Lynn Ngole, a FAB humanitarian relief worker. “Even though they are struggling more than ever, our families are incredibly grateful for our help.”
FamilyAid is now delivering more than 5 tons of food and supplies and direct cash assistance each week while providing financial coaching, housing advocacy and wraparound supports to help our families survive the pandemic. With support from the Buttenwieser Family Foundation and national poker celebrity Bernard Lee, the agency is ensuring that the more than 1,000 children in our care have some joy in their lives by providing holiday gifts as we enter the holiday season.
Even with increased corporate and foundation support, our resources are stretched thin, with funds for basic food and supplies deliveries projected to dry up by mid-winter. “While the financial strain on our agency is significant, it’s nothing compared to the financial strains poor families will continue to experience as the pandemic and shutdowns continue,” said Elba Marcillo, FAB chief financial officer.
In response to our families deepening needs, FAB is launching a new crowdfunding campaign later this month to extend critically needed aid to families through the spring and beyond. Learn more about the campaign here.
