Lowell – Greater Lowell Community Foundation (GLCF) today announced a $200,000 emergency grant program to address acute food insecurity across its 21-community service area as Massachusetts families face an unprecedented convergence of threats to food security.

The emergency funding responds to multiple simultaneous crises: the federal government shutdown threatening SNAP benefits for over 1.1 million Massachusetts residents, dramatic cuts to food bank funding, and new eligibility restrictions projected to eliminate benefits for approximately 150,000 state residents. With winter approaching—when heating costs compete with food budgets—the need for immediate action has never been more urgent.

“Families in our communities are facing impossible choices between heating their homes and putting food on the table,” said Jay Linnehan, President and CEO of Greater Lowell Community Foundation. “This emergency funding represents an immediate, comprehensive response to ensure no family in our region goes hungry during this crisis.”

The $200,000 initiative includes a $100,000 grant from an anonymous donor, demonstrating unprecedented philanthropic collaboration in response to community need. Grants will be distributed immediately to 15 organizations serving all 21 communities in GLCF’s service area.

“Thanks to GLCF, this generous grant means the world to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank and will make a real difference in our fight against hunger, especially during such a critical time,” said Debbie Callery, Executive Director, Merrimack Valley Food Bank. “Because of this funding, we can get more food to the people in our community who need it most.”

Strategic Distribution Framework:

The program employs a three-tier approach ensuring both regional efficiency and community-specific support:

• Regional Support ($50,000): Merrimack Valley Food Bank receives the largest allocation, leveraging its 8:1 purchasing power multiplier to convert the investment into $400,000 in food value through wholesale purchasing, donated goods pipelines, and federal commodity programs.
• Multi-Community Organizations ($74,000): Five organizations serving multiple communities receive substantial support, including The Open Pantry of Lowell ($32,000), Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry ($20,000), Dwelling House of Hope ($10,000), St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen ($10,000), and Humane Society of Greater Lowell ($2,000).
• Community-Specific Programs ($76,000): Nine town-based organizations ensure comprehensive coverage across GLCF’s entire service area, with grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 based on community size and organizational capacity.

The emergency grants will enable immediate expansion of services including extended pantry hours, increased food distribution, emergency meal programs, and enhanced support for vulnerable populations including seniors, families with children, and individuals with disabilities.

“This is not business as usual—this is an emergency response to an emergency situation,” explained Jennifer Aradhya, GLCF’s Vice President of Marketing, Programs & Strategy.  “By working with established community partners who can deploy resources immediately, we’re ensuring help reaches families who need it most, right now.”

The initiative builds on GLCF’s longstanding commitment to addressing food insecurity in the Merrimack Valley region, where poverty rates range from 16% in Lowell to lower rates in surrounding communities, but where all residents face the same federal policy changes threatening food security.

Organizations receiving emergency funding include regional anchors and community-specific programs across all 21 GLCF communities: Acton, Ashby, Bedford, Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Lowell, Pepperell, Shirley, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Westford, and Wilmington.