Nourishing Newton Meals Program Receives $115K State Grant

NEWTON, MA — The Nourishing Newton and Nourishing Wellesley meals program, an effort that aims to provide financial support for struggling restaurants and healthy meals to those facing food insecurity, has been funded for a second year thanks to a $115,000 state grant secured by Sen. Cindy Creem.

The program, run by the Charles River Regional Chamber, provided more than 7,500 meals from over 50 independent restaurants during some of the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I wish we could say our restaurants were on their way to full recovery and that there’s no one in our communities going hungry, but neither is true,” said Charles River Regional Chamber President Greg Reibman in a statement. "Nourishing Newton and Nourishing Wellesley uniquely addresses both needs at a time when restaurants continue to need support and too many families are going hungry.

“We’re grateful to state Sen. Cream for securing a second round of funds for this program to continue and to our volunteers in both comminutes who have committed, once again, to coordinate meal deliveries," he continued.

Round two of the meals program comes at a time when restaurant business is expected to slow down due to the end of outdoor dining season and Delta variant concerns. To ensure efficient meal pick up and delivery this winter, the chamber will once again partner with Rotary Club of Newton, the Wellesley Youth Commission and volunteers to arrange exchanges between restaurants, local food pantries, senior programs, and individual households.

"I am thrilled our food assistance program will continue to operate and provide much needed relief to local households and the restaurant community in Newton and Wellesley," said Creem in a statement. "This program not only lifts up our restaurants during this tremendously difficult period, but also provides critical food assistance to our those in need."