Nutrition Insecurity Is a Lifespan Issue and Hunger Relief Must Evolve

by Stephanie Tyler Smith | Jul 1, 2026 | Community, Food For Thought, Impact Series, Local, Partnerships, School Markets

By Stephanie Tyler Smith with contributions by Jessica Cantin Before joining Food For Free, I spent several years managing the Beverly Bootstraps food pantry on Boston’s North Shore. At the time, I was overseeing all pantry operations and food acquisition processes...

Diverting Food Waste from Landfills is Only Half of the Solution: How Dueling Crises Can Work Together to Help People AND the Planet

by Jessica Cantin | Feb 23, 2024 | Food For Thought

The USDA recently announced it is investing approximately $11.5 million in 38 cooperative agreements that support innovative and scalable waste management solutions, including composting and urban farming, to minimize food waste in landfills. Nearly 40 percent of all...

Despite Free School Meals in Massachusetts Children are Still Hungry: National Poverty Awareness Month Underscores There is More Work to Be Done

by Jessica Cantin | Jan 24, 2024 | Food For Thought

It’s 1991, and I am in the ninth grade and what should be a typical lunch period is anxiety producing. Despite my parents’ attempts to apply for a reduced priced lunch, this year we were denied due to a slight increase in household income. There was nothing in the...