Food Access and Security Initiative partners meet to discuss the first year of work.
In October 2023, CCF announced a five-year strategic plan centered on economic mobility and social cohesion, aiming to create a more vibrant, just, and equitable Cambridge for all. Building upon COVID era infrastructure investments, the cornerstone of the plan’s first year was our Food Access and Security Initiative, a combined $1.9 million multi-year investment designed to strengthen Cambridge’s emergency food system through partnership and collective action. After one year, the initiative has already shown remarkable progress in strengthening Cambridge’s food security system.
“CCF is bringing food security partners together to create solutions that address both immediate needs and systemic challenges,” said CCF President Geeta Pradhan. “This initiative exemplifies our approach to community change—framing systemic problems differently, investing in capacity building, and partnering with organizations to create new creative solutions.”
“This year we made fantastic strides toward creating solid ground for food security,” says Christina Turner, CCF’s vice president for programs and grantmaking. “We’re supporting our partners as they move from being emergency response organizations to becoming vital hubs of economic security for families.”
Food insecurity affects Cantabrigians across all demographics but disproportionately impacts people of color, families with children, seniors, and adults with disabilities. According to a 2023 study by the Greater Boston Food Bank, almost a third of Cambridge residents experience challenges accessing nutritious food, despite Cambridge’s image as one of the wealthiest cities in the United States.
Ellen Semonoff, Cambridge Assistant City Manager of Human Services, emphasizes the critical nature of this work: “You can’t learn, bring your best self to school or work if you’re hungry or worried about feeding your family. The fact that in this city, which has so much economic opportunity for so many people, there are children who go to bed hungry is intolerable.”
“I’ve been blown away by the work CCF and the initiative’s partners are leading thus far,” Semonoff adds. “Bringing people from nonprofits together to share best practices, support one another in finding efficiencies, and providing professional development for staff creates new possibilities. Giving a strapped nonprofit the opportunity to step back and think about making changes to benefit the community is huge.”
Building Capacity Through Collaboration
Through the Food Access and Security Initiative, eight nonprofit partners—Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC), Daily Table, East End House, Food for Free, Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House, Mass Farmers Markets, and Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Cambridge Community Center—have deepened their collaboration, sharing best practices and increasing collective impact.
“Our two-pronged approach both addresses immediate needs while looking at more systemic solutions,” says Tina Alu, executive director of CEOC, who is leading the Food Pantry Network. “That’s how I think the Foundation is looking at the problem as well. They challenged us as their partners to think differently, and we are.”
Edith Murnane, executive director of Mass Farmers Markets, emphasized the power of the collaborative approach: “This cohort is greater than the sum of its parts.” The shared expertise, resources, and commitment of the partner organizations have created momentum that extends beyond what any single organization could achieve alone.
CEOC established a Neighbor Advisory Council to ensure those with lived experience of food insecurity can directly shape improvements to services. This diverse group includes members from different Cambridge neighborhoods who speak multiple languages and have varied experiences with the food pantry system.
“Having access to Cambridge food pantries has been a blessing for my family,” shares Raquel E., a member of the Neighbor Advisory Council. “As a mother, the worry of putting enough food on the table is constant. The pantries not only provide nutritious food we couldn’t otherwise afford, but the staff treat us with dignity and kindness.”
A capacity assessment conducted with the Cambridge Food Pantry Network showed impressive growth over the year, with average scores increasing by 10%—reflecting significant improvements in creating welcoming environments, offering healthy food choices, and connecting patrons to additional resources.
Measurable Impact Across Partners
The initiative has helped pantries increase their hours, add staff, reduce customer waiting times, and purchase needed items, including culturally-appropriate foods that match the dietary needs of diverse community members. It has also allowed pantries to integrate additional services and referrals, moving beyond simply distributing food to becoming resource hubs.
Individual partner organizations have reported significant achievements:
- East End House increased its food ordering, rescue, and distribution by almost a third and doubled the amount of fresh-perishable items available.
- Daily Table has seen an 84% increase in produce purchases among clients on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
- Food for Free distributed more than 16,000 Just Eats grocery boxes to housing sites in Cambridge, with 90% of recipients reporting greater access to fresh produce.
- Margaret Fuller House is converting its food pantry to create a “shopping model” for patrons, offering greater dignity and choice.
Looking Ahead
As the initiative moves into its second year, partners are building on their momentum, with plans for a Cambridge Food Security Summit in 2026.The Food Access and Security Initiative exemplifies CCF’s commitment to solving Cambridge’s most intractable problems through partnerships, convening, and collective action—bringing together the shared expertise and resources needed to help ensure that no one in our community goes hungry.
