We'll be frank. Boston area families at risk of homelessness once again need your help.
First, gas prices rose. Many households just barely making ends meet had to sell their vehicles. Some then lost their jobs. Others lengthened their commutes on public transportation, which put further strain on their home lives.
The Boston Rescue Mission's Food Pantry program was there to help. Donors from all over greater Boston pitched in to make sure that the Food Pantry was stocked and ready to serve those whose life circumstances had changed for the worse.
Then food prices shot up. More households had to choose between rent and food. Tamika, a single working mother on the brink of exhaustion with 2 and 5 year old boys, recently contacted us asking for help. Scores of others preceded her.
Once again, our Food Pantry and Community Meal programs provided some relief. Generous friends of the Mission, from poor to rich, students and retirees, fire fighters, church groups, and many others all pooled resources to replenish our food pantry.
For many families like Tamika's, an extra few meals a week is enough to keep them in a home with heat and light. In poor families the three greatest expenses are rent including utilities, food and heath care. When we provide food, more money is free to meet these other needs.
Now, we've seen colossal change in the U.S. financial system. For years, companies sold risky mortgages at attractive rates. Many potential homeowners signed on to fulfill a long-awaited dream. Now, home foreclosures are at an all-time high. Those companies and their supporting institutions have crumbled. Taxpayers will foot the bill for decades to come.
People continue to lose their homes. Former homeowners are crowding the rental market. More low income renters are stretched to the limit. If they can count on a food pantry like the Boston Rescue Mission's, it might just be enough to keep them off the streets.
Will you help us to continue our Food Pantry and Community Meal programs for families in need? Our requests for food have already increased, and some pantries report a 40% increase just in the last year!
There are many ways you can help:
1. If you would like to coordinate a food drive at your place of business, church, or community group, please gather non-perishable cans and packages of food and contact our Food Service Manager, Charles Sommers, at (617) 338-9000 ext. 1235 or via email at csommers@brm.org.
2. If you are a business or organization that has food to donate after an event, or have food available to donate on a regular or semi-regular basis, please contact our Food Service Manager, Charles Sommers, at (617) 338-9000 ext. 1235 or via email at csommers@brm.org.
3. If you'd like to make a donation to help us feed the hungry at our Day of Thanks celebration and throughout the year, click the Donate Now! button in the upper right corner of this page.
On behalf of thousands of families who visit our food pantry each year, thank you very much, and may God bless you.