Food For Free CEO Leaves Organization in Position of Strength

CAMBRIDGE/SOMERVILLE, Mass. – After 10 years of service, which included leading Food For Free through the pandemic, and cementing the Cambridge and Somerville-based food rescue and redistribution nonprofit as a leader in the Greater Boston emergency food system, Sasha Purpura is stepping down from the position of CEO. Chair of the Board Stephen Pratt will assume the role of interim CEO while the nonprofit engages in an executive search.

Since joining the Food For Free team in July 2012, Purpura has transformed the nonprofit from a Cambridge-serving organization to a regional partner for individuals and families, food pantries and other community organizations in Eastern Massachusetts. In 2021, she led the opening of Food For Free’s new 12,000 square foot packing and distribution center. Purpura pioneered new ways to capture and distribute excess fresh and prepared food to students, families, and homebound residents, including the organization’s Heat-N-Eats prepared meals utilizing surplus food from university and corporate dining halls, and "pandemic-born" Just Eats, providing a bounty of fresh produce and staples in grab and go boxes. Purpura grew the nonprofit’s operating revenue (excluding food donations) from approximately $400,000 to $4.1 million and increased the amount of food distributed to 7.3 million pounds annually.

“The food access landscape has changed tremendously since I started this work,” says Purpura. “The organization has kept a close pulse on the evolving needs and disparities that challenge communities struggling with getting enough to eat, and consequently has pivoted programming to best serve the needs of Massachusetts’ most vulnerable populations with dignity. I am proud to have been part of the Food For Free team and look forward to seeing their continued good work.”

Pratt, President of Impact Catalysts, a consulting partner to social enterprises and philanthropies, stepped in as interim CEO effective Nov. 1. He brings more than 30 years of nonprofit management experience to the organization, including helping Food For Free develop and implement its most recent five-year strategic plan. He will work alongside the nonprofit’s existing leadership team during the transition as the organization engages an executive search firm to find a permanent CEO. He will not be a candidate for the permanent role.

“The organization is in a position of strength,” says Pratt, who joined the Food For Free board in 2017. “We have the financial stability and innovative approach to supply chain bottlenecks in the emergency food system to continue expanding our impact across more than 20 communities in Eastern Massachusetts to ensure people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities have continued and reliable access to nutrition.”

Founded in 1981, as one of the nation’s first food rescue organizations, Food For Free now serves more than 150,000 Eastern Massachusetts residents working to ensure that they and their families have reliable access to food. The nonprofit works with more than 80 food donors and 100 pantry partners across the region. 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 7.3 million pounds of nutritious food to over 20 different communities throughout Eastern Massachusetts and was named the 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 www.foodforfree.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @foodforfreeorg.

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