Mayor Ballantyne Directs $975,000 to Food Security Programs Amid Growing Community Need

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne today announced that the City will use $975,000 from the Community Benefits Stabilization Fund to address rising food insecurity across Somerville. The funding, approved by the City Council on November 13, will support a range of critical food access programs for individuals, families, children, and seniors. 

The investment includes $875,000 for a range of food security initiatives and $100,000 to expand the Senior Taxi Program, which provides rides to seniors so they can attend congregate meals hosted by the Somerville Council on Aging. 

"The need we face is both immediate and growing," said Mayor Ballantyne. "These are not abstract funding changes – they represent efforts to address real hardship for real people in our community. And this is about more than meals. It's about affirming that in Somerville, we take care of each other. It’s about recognizing that when the federal safety net frays, our local commitment must be stronger than ever." 

The appropriation responds to federal funding cuts affecting local food security programs, changes to SNAP eligibility criteria (independent of the federal shutdown), and the end of federal pandemic funding (American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA) along with high food costs, all of which have increased pressure on local food assistance programs. 

The funding will support a range of initiatives, including: 

• A half-million dollars in direct support to organizations providing daily food services to Somerville residents including food pantries, community meals, and more 

• Carrot cards for groceries and expanded funding for the School Free Food Markets that serve families and students 

• Support for weekly community meals, ready-to-eat frozen meals, and restaurant meal voucher programs 

• Funding for grocery assistance to senior and homebound residents, and supports to fill gaps caused by cuts to the Congregate Meal Transportation Program 

Organizations receiving support include but are not limited to the Somerville Homeless Coalition, Shepherd's Kitchen, Elizabeth Peabody House, Food for All, Connexion, East Somerville Main Streets, Food for Free, and Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services. 

This appropriation builds on Somerville's growing commitment to food security. The City has already invested more than $850,000 in food security resources in fiscal year 2026, and over $2.5 million in federal pandemic (ARPA) funds was directed to food programs in recent years. Additionally, residents voted to allocate $275,000 in Participatory Budgeting funds to food support initiatives including community fridges and meal programs. 

The funding will provide staple foods, community meals, grocery cards, and ready-to-eat foods for high-risk populations including public school students, homebound individuals, those with limited kitchen access, food pantry users, SNAP clients, older adults, and working families struggling to make ends meet. 

Food Resources Available Now: 

Somerville residents can access food support multiple ways: 

• Visit the Food Coalition website at somervillefoodcoalition.org for a list of free local food resources such as a local food pantry, community meal, food market, or other resources near you 

• Visit somervillema.gov/SNAP for multilingual quick guides for food resources 

• Children in Somerville Public Schools can always access free lunch and breakfast at school 

 How to Help: 

Community members can support their neighbors: 

• Donate money or gift cards to local organizations such as those listed at somervillefoodcoalition.org/donate  

• Contribute to school PTAs to help distribute food gift cards to families 

• Bring food to Community Fridges (guidance at somervillema.gov/SNAP) 

• Share food resource information with those who may need it 

 For more information, contact the Somerville Office of Food Access & Healthy Communities at ofahc@somervillema.gov or contact 311 (617-666-3311) by phone, web, text, email, chat, social media, or more (see somervillema.gov/311).  

Accessibility 
Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.   

Interpretation and Translation via SOIA 
The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.