How MA Businesses, Organizations Are Helping Ahead Of SNAP Benefits Freeze: MA Food Week

MASSACHUSETTS — Welcome to Patch's weekly round up of food and restaurant news in Massachusetts, where we review openings, closings and more in the state's dining scene.

This week, we learned that Massachusetts officials have advanced previously planned payments to food banks and local organizations to help them provide food to families in need during this freeze, officials said.

The Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance program (MEFAP) currently provides $4 million to food banks per month. To help them meet the anticipated increase in demand, Governor Healey is advancing an additional $4 million of these existing resources appropriated in the state budget for November, bringing the monthly total to $8 million.

"Starting Saturday, more than one million Massachusetts residents and 42 million people nationwide will be at immediate risk of hunger because President Trump is freezing SNAP benefits. These are children, seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. They are your friends, family and neighbors," said Gov. Maura Healey. "Massachusetts is a place where people step up when their neighbors are in need, and I want to make sure that people who need help know where to get it, and that those who want to help know what they can do."

• Gov. Healey Blasts Looming SNAP Benefit Cutoff, Plans For Contingencies
• MA SNAP Benefits Won't Go Out In November, Officials Confirm

Last week, Healey and the United Way announced a new statewide effort to support Massachusetts residents who will be affected by the freeze.

The United Response Fund is "rapidly providing resources to trusted community-based organizations and local food pantries," officials said. In one week, the Fund has raised $1.3 million, including $400,000 committed by United Way organizations in Massachusetts.

United Way of Massachusetts Bay will start distributing funding beginning on Friday.

This funding effort will help local organizations like the Salem Food Pantry expand food distribution at their Market and Mobile Pantry locations, enabling them to serve more households, officials said.

The governor's office has also appealed to businesses to join in these efforts.

For example, the company r4 Technologies has committed to donate 10,000 pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables to Massachusetts food recovery organizations.

Businesses with surplus food and hunger relief organizations in need of food can register and list themselves on MassGrown Exchange. This free service allows users to list as available or post a need for wholesale-level products, services or equipment.

Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline is also available to support residents experiencing food insecurity. Call or text 1-800-645-8333 or visit this link for more information.

In this week's Cheap Eats column, we also highlighted some local restaurants that are stepping up to help. If you know of a business or restaurant in your community doing the same, let us know in the conversation feature.

• These MA Restaurants And Organizations Are Stepping Up For Those Impacted By SNAP Freeze: Cheap Eats

Here's what else was cooking this week in Massachusetts:

• Trader Joe's Set To Open Latest MA Store This Week
• Brassica Kitchen + Café Opens New Boston Space This Weekend
• Waltham Mexican Restaurant Debuts Brunch This Weekend
• Braintree Thanksgiving Holiday Farmers Market Returns For 2025
• Newton Supermarket Closed Due To Potential Health Hazard: Report
• Somerville Restaurant Closed By Board Of Health
• Salem Makes Donation Plea Ahead Of Looming SNAP Benefit Suspension
• Woman Assaulted Grocery Store Workers, Officers: Tewksbury Police