Party Under the Harvest Moon Raises $160K to Benefit Food For Free

CAMBRIDGE/SOMERVILLE, Mass. – Last week, 200 supporters, donors, and community members gathered for Party Under the Harvest Moon hosted by Food For Free. The annual event raised $160,000 to support the nonprofit’s year-round food rescue and redistribution efforts in over 20 communities across Eastern Massachusetts.

“Hunger is at an all time high, and our distribution of food has gone from two million pounds pre-pandemic to nearly eight million in 2022,” says Marena Burnett, Chief Development Officer at Food For Free. “Food For Free is committed to providing fresh, delicious, and culturally connected foods and to implementing a food access model that is full of dignity. The Party Under the Harvest Moon was a celebration of our volunteers, sponsors, donors, partners, staff and friends who make our critical work possible. We are grateful for this support and community.”

After a two-year break, Food For Free was thrilled to welcome event guests back in-person. Each year, Party Under the Harvest Moon raises critical funding in support of the nonprofit’s innovative programs that address nutrition insecurity, rescue roughly 2 million pounds of food annually, and distribute around 7.5 million pounds of food across Eastern Massachusetts.

During Party Under the Harvest Moon, guests enjoyed beverages and heavy appetizers by Something Savory, a silent auction, and live music by The Nephrok! Allstars. Members from across the community were in attendance, from Manolo, a BC High student who has been volunteering regularly at Food For Free for the past two years, and who brought his mom along as his “date,” to Maggie, who has served on the Food For Free board for 19 years. The atmosphere at MIT’s Morss Hall became electric as The Nephrok! Allstars took the stage with their soulful energy, and party attendees could be seen enthusiastically defending bids on their favorite auction items before winners were confirmed at 9pm.

Food insecurity increased massively as a result of the pandemic. According to a recent study published by the Greater Boston Food Bank, one in three adults in Massachusetts is food insecure. Families with young children and Black and Brown communities are disproportionately affected. Further, food prices increased 10.3 percent over the past 12 months, according to the Consumer Price Index, Boston. Today’s inflation not only makes it harder for people to afford higher-priced fresh fruits and vegetables, but also increases the costs for hunger relief organizations to make purchases and transport goods to those in need. That’s where Food For Free comes in.

Food For Free acquires rescued, donated, and purchased food from a number of sources to meet the increased demand to help ensure that everyone in the community—regardless of age or ability—has consistent access to nutrition. For more information, visit: www.foodforfree.org.

ABOUT FOOD FOR FREE

Food For Free is a Cambridge and Somerville-based, non-profit organization dedicated to providing Eastern Massachusetts 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 7.5 million pounds of nutritious food to over 20 different communities 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 @foodforfreeorg.

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