Rachel's Table - Feeding the Hungry

Rachel's Table is a program of the Jewish Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. Food recipients and volunteers are from all faiths and backgrounds.

Worcester
Hunger Statistics

1 in 3 children living in 14 low-income neighborhoods in Worcester are hungry or at-risk of being hungry each month.
20.9% of families in Worcester live below the poverty level.
64% of people requesting emergency food from pantries helped by Rachel's Table are children and their parents. 8% are senior citizens.
One third of surveyed mothers not living in shelters stated there were days last month when family members went without food.
An average of 29% of all donated food to emergency feeding programs was supplied by Rachel's Table.

For copies of recent reports, please call Carla at (508) 799-7699 or email her at carlaszyrt@gmail.com

The mission of Rachel's Table is to distribute donated and specially purchased foods, without charge, to agencies feeding hungry families and individuals in greater Worcester, Massachusetts and to reduce the waste of nourishing food. The Children's Milk Fund purchases milk for needy children.

In support of this, Rachel's Table is committed to:

Providing training programs on food safety and efficient food distribution.
Establishing a network of collaborative community support systems.
Advocating where appropriate for hungry people.

Rachel's Table News

Rachel's Table was proud to be honored by Project Bread, the statewide anti-hunger organization, at their annual grant award reception in October, 2008.

Project Bread selects one of the 400 organizations that they support for special recognition each year. Representative James McGovern was also honored that evening for his efforts in fighting hunger.

Did you know that . . .

One in three children living in 14 low-income neighborhoods in Worcester are hungry or at-risk of being hungry each month.
Over one-third of all donated food to emergency feeding programs in Worcester is supplied by Rachel's Table.

Hunger in Worcester, Massachusetts

Rachel's Table is feeding an increasing number of hungry people in the Worcester area. A serious lack of affordable housing, increased heating costs, cost of gasoline, medical costs, childcare costs, mortgage foreclosures, and the increased cost of food in the area have contributed to what agency administrators have termed a "critical" situation.

Even families with two working parents are struggling to feed their children once all their expenses are met.

Last year, all of the area food pantries and soup kitchens serviced by Rachel's Table reported an increased demand for food assistance. All but one of the pantries and soup kitchens saw an increase in the number of families with children requiring food aid. 71% of pantries saw an increase in demand for emergency food from elderly persons.

People must often choose between paying for heat, medicine, or food.

Since its inception nineteen years ago, Rachel's Table has distributed over 8,500,000 pounds of food, at no cost, to 40 local shelters, pantries and soup kitchens.

Even so, hunger and the need for food continues to rise. With today's economic conditions, the situation has only become more critical.

Rachel's Table 633 Salisbury Stret, Worcester, MA 01609. (508) 799 - 7699