Local Food Rescue Organization Food For Free Receives Award at Somerville Chamber of Commerce’s 75th Anniversary Annual Dinner 

Somerville, MA (November 23, 2021) – Food For Free, the Somerville and Cambridge-based non-profit hunger relief organization, was named “Non-Profit of the Year” at the Chamber of Commerce’s 75th Anniversary Annual Dinner & Powderhouse Awards. The dinner, which took place on November 17, is the foremost gathering of local business, civic, and community leaders in the city. 

Food For Free was one of the nation’s first food rescue organizations and commemorated 40 years of serving the community this year. Since Food For Free was founded in 1981, the organization has grown substantially but never experienced the unprecedented growth and demand as it has due to the pandemic. 

“We are incredibly grateful to have been named Somerville’s Non-Profit of the Year — which is a true testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to getting fresh, healthy, delicious food into the hands of our Somerville neighbors who need it most,” said Sasha Purpura, CEO of Food For Free. “This year has by far been the most difficult that we’ve experienced due to the pandemic. We’ve been forced to innovate and pivot, and then do it over again, in order to keep up. We’ve more than doubled the amount of food distributed and plan to distribute more than six million pounds of food over the next year.”

This award comes just a few months after Food For Free moved to its new expanded space in Somerville at 59 Inner Belt Rd., which allows the team to reach even more people than ever before. The expansion also allows the organization to support growing programs and provide more flexible volunteer opportunities, including larger groups. 

Food For Free is looking for extra support from the community this season to help handle the growing need. Give to Food For Free’s Winter Giving Campaign, explore volunteer opportunities, or learn more at www.foodforfree.org.

ABOUT FOOD FOR FREE

Food For Free is a Cambridge and Somerville-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing the Greater Boston community with reliable access to fresh and nutritious food. Food For Free accomplishes its mission through food rescue, partnerships with schools, colleges, and community food programs, and our own direct service programs. In the last year, Food For Free distributed 6 million pounds of nutritious food to nearly 40,000 people throughout Greater Boston and was named 2020 .Org Impact Award winner in the Fighting Hunger and Poverty category for its work improving access to healthy food within the Boston community. To learn more, please visit us at http://www.foodforfree.org/, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.