Donation Will Allow Food For Free to Provide More Than 1.2 Million Meals to Greater Boston Families in Need

Cambridge, MA (December 1, 2021) – Food For Free, the Somerville and Cambridge-based non-profit hunger-relief organization, announced today that Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) is making a substantial donation to their Just Eats Grocery Box Program, which provides healthy boxes of fresh produce and pantry staples for easy grab-n-go distribution to thousands of Boston area families each week.

This will be the largest donation that Food For Free has ever received and is part of Takeda’s enhanced U.S. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program, which is making an initial commitment of $20 million across several organizations its first year to help improve equity among underrepresented communities in the areas of health, education, the environment and access to nutrition/food, according to the press release.

Food For Free was identified as an organization that is increasing food system equity for vulnerable families in communities around the country.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with Takeda, and for this incredible donation that will provide more than 1.2 million fresh, healthy meals for people in need,” said Sasha Purpura, CEO of Food For Free. “This support could not come at a better time as the demand for food is at an unprecedented high due to the pandemic and costs only continue to increase. In partnership with Takeda, we look forward to supporting even more families in our community, helping us to get closer to our food equity goals.”

“Achieving better health outcomes requires a multi-faceted approach and a more holistic view of health and well-being. Our philanthropic efforts in the U.S. focus on multiple areas including helping reduce social disparities, improving access to medicines and diagnosis, achieving environmental sustainability, promoting equitable educational opportunities and ensuring healthy food sources for vulnerable individuals and families.” – Ramona Sequeira, President, US Business Unit and Global Portfolio Commercialization, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

To learn more about Food For Free and the ways the organization is supporting the local community visit 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. The organization 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 and named Somerville’s Non-Profit of the Year in 2021. To learn more, please visit us at http://www.foodforfree.org/, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.