By John Pappalardo
With all the turmoil in federal government, it’s good to be able to share some good news coming from the state level.
A great meeting of people from across Massachusetts took place on April 16 in Boston, created by The Greater Boston Food Bank. Everyone at the gathering was involved in food production, distribution, and support for the remarkable work food banks and pantries undertake every day, supporting people who face what they call “food insecurity.” The shocking truth is that even here in Massachusetts, a third of all households, nearly two million people, do not always know where their next meal will come from, and what it will be.
The group came together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of MEFAP, the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program. Our state is one of only a few in the nation to dedicate a line item in the state budget to provide direct funds for food banks to order nutritious food. Often local farmers (and fishermen) are providing that good food, and it reaches people from Cape Cod to Springfield.
The group singled out the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance, and our Small Boats. Big Taste. chowders and stew, for a big shout out as a great example of how MEFAP works at its best, and asked our own Seth Rolbein to share our story and accomplishments. He managed to do that in less than two minutes, if you’d like to check out his remarks.
This was flattering of course, but even better was the news reported out of the State House soon after the group convened:
The House of Representatives released its budget for the coming year. The House’s recommendation is that MEFAP funding be increased to $55 million from $41.5 million, recognizing the seriousness of food insecurity in Massachusetts, and that federal support for great programs like this is evaporating.
This is far from a done deal. Now the Massachusetts Senate takes up the budget, and will create its own version. Differences will need to be negotiated, resolved, then a combined version sent to the governor, who must agree as well.
But the House action was a big victory for food banks and their supporters. And in the past the Senate has been even more of a champion for MEFAP, so this bodes well.
It also bodes well for our efforts here, that Small Boats. Big Taste. will continue to support both small boat, independent fishermen and people who otherwise would not be able to enjoy great local fish and shellfish, hearty chowders and stew.
Unfortunately, another of our efforts, working with Cape Abilities, Barnstable County, and local farmers to send more than 100 food produce boxes across the Cape every week, is not in good shape. Federal support has been eliminated, and so a program that for two years has brought great local food to shelters, veterans, Wampanoag elders and a new high school pantry in Barnstable to name just a few recipients, will soon be forced to stop. Local growers, some of whom hired new workers because of the new income, will lose that great support as well.
Setbacks aside, we’re working on ways to continue to grow Small Boats. Big Taste., thinking about how to get onto retail shelves, schools, direct to consumer business models. This great recognition in Boston, for us and for MEFAP as a whole, lifts our spirits and provides great encouragement.
It’s heartening to see this, which is building on the solid foundation of your ongoing support. Because as I’ve said before, in the face of all that is happening, your support is what makes it possible for us to hold true to our mission, and keep on keeping on.
John Pappalardo is CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance