Food insecurity in Massachusetts has become a major concern as more people file for unemployment due to job loss during the coronavirus pandemic. WGBH Morning Edition host Joe Mathieu spoke with the president of Project Bread, Erin McAleer, to learn more about how the organization is responding to increased need during the outbreak. The transcript below has been edited for clarity.
Joe Mathieu: How's it going so far? What are the numbers at this point, and are you having trouble keeping up with demand?
Erin McAleer: Yeah, we're seeing a huge surge in demand. Our food source hotline, which is the statewide resource to support individuals looking to access food, has seen a quadruple increase in the past two weeks. In the first few days, it was double, then it was triple [and] now it's quadruple, and we actually expect that trend to continue. So over the weekend, we've brought on new counselors to help meet the demand. So absolutely, more people are struggling to put food on the table, both because of the economic impact of this crisis, but also the unique public health needs that prevent people from accessing food in the traditional way.
Mathieu: I understand. Can you help remind people or inform them for the first time where and when to pick up meals if needed? And who qualifies?
McAleer: Yeah, there's a lot of different solutions available. Project Bread is really leading on supporting the federal nutrition programs — food that's already supplied by the federal government. So school meals are critical. There's over 1,200 sites in Massachusetts right now, and I would encourage people to go to projectbread.org. We actually have a list and a map of every school meal site. They all have their own hours, but most are providing both breakfast and lunch. Over the weekend, we received approval for all schools in Massachusetts to be able to do this, not just schools where over 50 percent of kids are receiving free and reduced price lunch. Many more sites will be coming on in the coming days, so projectbread.org has the most up to date information on what school meal sites are available.
Mathieu: I mentioned the walk. That's a pretty big deal around here. It's something a lot of people are familiar with. We see thousands step off from Boston Common every year. How much of an impact, if any, is that going to have in terms of donations for your organization?
McAleer: Yeah, we were hoping the walk was going to raise over $2 million this year. We obviously were able to have some cost savings around event production, but it's certainly a loss. But on the flip side, others have really stepped in and are supporting the work that Project Bread is doing in response to this crisis. And we're actually still using the Walk for Hunger fundraising platform. So our most dedicated walkers will not be walking around Boston this year, but they're actually reaching out to their friends and their family and asking them to still fundraise and support Project Bread's work. So people are just stepping up in a different way, but still honoring the tradition of the walk, which is really about community coming together to support this cause.
Mathieu: Well, I'm glad to hear it. And I wondered if a fundraising effort was still underway because you were not rescheduling the walk, right?
McAleer: We are not rescheduling the walk, no. We transitioned it to fundraising for COVID-19 response work.
Mathieu: What kind of participation are you getting from local, or for that matter, federal government? I know this has evolved from the onset.
McAleer: Yeah, that's where we're really putting our pressure. The magnitude of this crisis demands a federal response. The charitable system will do all it can to collect food and distribute it, and organizations like ours are working around the clock. But the magnitude of this crisis really requires the federal government to expand access to these programs. They talked about school meals, but SNAP is another critical program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. So we are really looking for ways to expand that program, break down any barriers right now. People obviously can't do in-person interviews. Paperwork that once was easy to collect at the office, [but] if they're not going to work, they can't do. So how do we break down barriers and expand access? And our state departments are really pushing on the federal government, which is fantastic. So we hope in the days and weeks to come, more people will be able to access food that way. The federal government programs can provide the most food to the most number of people, but they also give people the flexibility to purchase the food in the way that's most comfortable and safe for them by having money on a card and determining how to purchase the food.
Mathieu: Understood. Erin, I'd like to ask you about protective measures that you're taking and that your volunteers are taking. It's obviously a big deal for first responders, but you're interfacing with a lot of different people and, in fact, going out into the field, going to where people live. How difficult is this making the job?
McAleer: Yeah, we've come up with new models. On the school front we've got some school districts that are using their school buses and dropping food off that way. We have others that are still using the cafeteria, but only allowing one person to come in at a time and being six feet apart. And we've done drive-throughs; some after school programs have set up a window where people can just drive through and grab meals. So everyone's being creative and coming up with new solutions. I know the city of Boston is really looking for more delivery models.
But the thing that's critical to know is food's the most basic need. We've got to get it out there, and I think all the organizations, volunteers and workers are committed to doing it in the safest way possible.
Mathieu: Well, Erin, I want to thank you for everything you're doing. And again, if people want to learn more or maybe find out if they qualify, projectbread.org is where they should go.
McAleer: That's right, Joe. And also our food source hotline. It's 1-800-645-8333. We help people in 180 languages, so if people have questions about where to access food or whether they might be eligible, that's the best place. And also folks, if they are interested in helping, can always donate by texting the word "hunger" to 243725.
