Western Massachusetts Hunger Summit

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Local Leaders to Open Western Massachusetts Hunger Summit with Announcement of New Springfield Food Policy Council

Opening the first-ever Western Massachusetts Hunger Summit, the Mayor of Springfield will announce the creation of a city-wide collaborative entity to oversee the coordination of public and private efforts to improve access to nutritious, affordable, fresh, and safe foods for all residents of Springfield.

Leaders of the planning process to create the Council, including The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Springfield Partners for Community Action and the New North Citizens Council, will be available to discuss the goals of the Council and how it will work to improve local food systems and community food access.

Following the Mayor’s announcement, nationally-known author and anti-hunger advocate Joel Berg will give a keynote speech on national and local strategies to end hunger.  Throughout the afternoon, the Hunger Summit will include discussion panels with local and regional experts on hunger and what Western Mass. communities can do to increase food security for all.

A recent study of hunger and food insecurity in the Mason Square district of Springfield found that rates of hunger and food security were far above the national average. Nine percent of households experienced moderate to severe hunger and 19% were food-insecure. In Western Massachusetts overall, at least one in every ten people seeks food assistance through the emergency food network. The Western Massachusetts Hunger Summit and Springfield Food Policy Council will help our communities learn about hunger in our region and find solutions that improve the availability of nutritious affordable food for all residents. More information about the Western Massachusetts Hunger Summit is available at www.foodbankwma.org.