A Call to Action

Cuts to federal hunger-relief programs and rising grocery costs are creating a perfect storm that will surely worsen food insecurity across our nation.

Here in Newton, we are already seeing the unfortunate effects. More and more people are turning to the Newton Food Pantry for critical food assistance as they struggle to afford fresh, nutritious and dietarily appropriate groceries.

The Newton Food Pantry serves more than 2,500 residents in need, and many hundreds more through our Newton Community freedge. We know those numbers will surely increase, just as our expenses will as well.

Federal cancellations of farm-to-pantry and farm-to-school initiatives are part of the problem. Programs that once helped schools and food banks to purchase fresh produce and other foods from local farms have been shelved, leaving pantries with fewer healthy options.

This is at a time when retail grocery prices are rising dramatically. The cost of fruit and vegetables increased by 4% in August alone, while egg prices are up 10% from a year ago and beef prices are at record highs. For households already living on the edge financially, such increases create impossible choices — between paying rent or buying groceries.

Then there’s the truly disastrous wave heading our way. With the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” upward of 4 million people nationwide are projected to lose access to benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Here in Newton, more than 4,300 residents rely on SNAP, one of this country’s greatest weapons against food insecurity and nutrition-related illness.

And if this wasn’t bad enough, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it would no longer generate the Household Food Security report. Published annually for the last 30 years, the report offered policy makers and front-time service providers like the Newton Food Pantry invaluable information about food insecurity trends. As the nonprofit Food Research Action Center wrote, “Ending data collection will not end hunger; it will only make it a hidden crisis that is easier to ignore and more difficult to address.”

The Newton Food Pantry is working tirelessly to meet this urgent moment — but we need your help. Here are just a few ways to join our fight against hunger in Newton:

+ Launch a food drive to support the Newton Food Pantry

+ Donate nonperishable and other select items to our Newton Community freedge

+ Sign up to volunteer through the Newton Food Pantry

+ Purchase a ticket to Newton’s Community Table, our annual fundraiser

+ Make a tax-deductible donation to the Newton Food Pantry

The Newton Food Pantry is an essential lifeline for thousands of people in our community, and with your help we will weather this storm together.