About Target:Hunger

Target: Hunger is a four-year community organizing project conceived of and initiated by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. Its goal is to create model projects, one urban and one rural, that decrease hunger by ten percent over four years.

The urban project is in the Mason Square area of Springfield, Massachusetts. In a research study conducted by Market Street Research of Northampton and published in May, 2006, nine percent of households experienced moderate to severe hunger and 19 percent of households were food-insecure, with or without hunger, during the previous year. The rates of hunger and food insecurity were over two times the national average, four percent.

The rural project takes place in the Northern Berkshires, focused in seven communities around North Adams, Massachusetts. During the same time period, research showed 11 percent of households experienced moderate to severe hunger and 18.3 percent of households were food-insecure, with or without hunger. The rate of hunger is almost three times the national average.

In each community around 25 partners have come together to address the problem of hunger and food justice, and they are well positioned to make the kind of multi-level, community-based changes in local food systems, policies, and social supports that can actually reduce hunger. Partners include social service agencies, farmers, students, communities of faith, people personally affected by food security, government officials, statewide anti-hunger agencies, and concerned citizens. The goal is to move from a “crisis” response to hunger toward long-term solutions that are integrated into the fabric of these unique and vital communities.

Research will be conducted at the end of the project to measure its success. The project model will then be shared to serve as a model program that other communities can look to for guidance and inspiration for sustainably reducing hunger through building community food security.

Target:Hunger is supported by grants from The Frank Stanley Beveridge Foundation, Third Sector New England, Project Bread, TD Banknorth, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and a challenge grant from The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation.

A note about Food Justice: Even in our land of plenty, many people experience “separate and unequal” access to food. While higher-income families and individuals can afford fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, and lean meats, families and individuals living at lower incomes often must make less healthy choices.

While most Americans can shop for the foods they prefer, many people must rely on pantries – emergency programs with limited, if any, choices. Well stocked, affordable supermarkets are abundant in the suburbs, but rare in inner cities and rural areas. A lack of adequate transportation and a lack of grocery stores within walking distance have been shown to create “food deserts” in low-income areas. These “food deserts” have a measurable negative impact on health.

Furthermore, global trade practices can undermine local food systems by forcing small farmers either to go out of business or to sell cash crops to distant consumers rather than meeting local needs.

Local people around the world are working against these trends – creating greater access to healthy foods for people of all backgrounds and incomes, effecting changes in public policy, celebrating local food traditions and passing skills on to the next generation, and fostering sustainable agriculture that meets local needs. Target:Hunger is a food security/food justice project incorporating the unique strengths and needs of each region.