LYNN ― Mass General Brigham has distributed more than $520,000 to 12 community organizations throughout the state, including My Brother’s Table, to address rising rates of food insecurity and provide nutritional assistance to the area.
Mass General Brigham Community Health teams are deeply involved with community partners to improve food access and capacity by planning and implementing important food initiatives.
According to a survey done by the Greater Boston Food Bank, 1.6 million people in Massachusetts said they have been unable to get enough to eat during the pandemic, showing an increase of 55 percent from 2019 to 2020.
The survey also showed that people experiencing food insecurity are not reaching out for help ― with only half of adults experiencing food insecurity enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and a third of adults experiencing food insecurity freqenting food pantries.
Elsie M. Taveras, MD, MPH, the chief community health equity officer for Mass General Brigham, said that MGB is thrilled to be able to contribute to local organizations reaching people in the communities they serve.
“Among the various social determinants of health — the conditions in which people live, learn, work, and play — food insecurity has one of the most extensive impacts on the overall health of individuals, and it can affect anyone,” Taveras said. “Although food insecurity is prevalent in low-income communities, sudden events like severe illness or unemployment can make anyone vulnerable. It is a pressing issue that has only gotten worse during the pandemic.”
My Brother’s Table is using funds from the grant to prepare, serve, and promote the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.
My Brother’s Table will focus on preparing fruits and vegetables to be consumed by people who have difficulties consuming these foods due to dental issues such as painful or missing teeth.
About 8 percent of Americans over the age of 45 have lost all of their teeth, and 42 percent of low-income individuals have difficulty biting or chewing due to painful or missing teeth.
Dianne Kuzia Hills, executive director of My Brother’s Table, said being able to partner with an organization like Mass General Brigham is wonderful.
“I think by partnering with a major health institution we can show people that there is this really important nexus between what happens in the community and people’s health,” Hills said. “Health care isn’t just hospitals and specialists and all the things people think of when they think of Mass General Brigham. Health care is in the community — the things people consume, the air they breathe, the places where they live and sleep. That’s how we, day-to-day, can impact someone’s health.”
Funding was distributed based on applications that showed an organization’s ability to support and expand existing commitment to food access, improve geographic reach of food access partnerships, and reach vulnerable populations most at risk for food insecurity.
The goal of the funding is to enhance the program and design opportunities to increase food security to improve chronic-disease management and outcomes.
In the coming year, Mass General Brigham said that it will continue to look for ways to work with community partners to provide food, educational resources, and engagement in deeper partnerships to address food insecurity in our communities.
Allysha Dunnigan can be reached at [email protected].