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.

Hunger in Worcester, Massachusetts

Rachel's Table is feeding an increasing number of hungry people in the Worcester area. In addition to current economic conditions, 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. 93% of pantries saw an increase in demand for emergency food from elderly persons.

Food pantries saw an average increase of 23% new clients in 2009. In some pantries it was as high as 47%. In all of the social service agencies helped by Rachel's Table, clients needing food aid increased by 16% in 2009.

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

Since its inception nineteen years ago, Rachel's Table has distributed over 9,000,000 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.