Worcester Business Journal

66 Giving Guide 2026 Worcester Business Journal www.wbjournal.com Worcester County Food Bank Worcester County Food Bank 474 Boston Turnpike Shrewsbury, MA 01545 Phone: (508) 842-3663 www.foodbank.org Employees: 14 Annual revenues: $6,400,000 Year founded: 1982 MISSION STATEMENT To engage, educate, and lead Worcester County to create a hunger-free community SERVICE AREA Our network of close to 100 partner agencies serves neigh- bors in all 60 communities in Worcester County. TOP FUNDING SOURCES 49.9% Individual Donors 28.3% Foundations 15.8% Business FUTURE GOALS 1. Strengthen and grow the network that feeds our county. Invest in the WCFB Partner Agency network across all 60 cities and towns — the pantries, meal sites, and shelters our neighbors know and trust — with the food, cold storage, and support they need to meet a rising tide of demand. 2. Collaborate across the local food sys- tem. Work with local farmers, producers and food hubs by investing in our local economy through food purchase. Find ways to improve and increase access to the incredible foods that are grown lo- cally in Massachusetts and New England both during the harvest season and later by supporting advances in food process- ing and storing like fresh-frozen foods. 3. Get to the root of hunger. Grow our advocacy in collaboration with the Center on Food Equity and the Make Hunger History statewide coalition so that state and federal policy — from pro- tecting SNAP and WIC to strengthening the Healthy Incentives Program and Universal Free School Meals— make the systemic shis that move us toward a hunger-free Worcester County. 4. Grow to meet the moment. Build the capacity and infrastructure to source, store, and move more fresh, nutritious food — because need in our region is climbing, not leveling off. is includes a technology modernization project that will improve systems that serve our partner agencies. 5. Bring our community together around food justice. Deepen partnerships with the businesses, donors, and civic leaders who believe access to food is a right, not a privilege — and who help us treat hunger as the intersectional problem that it is. "I've stayed close to Worcester County Food Bank because it is both compassionate with and accountable to those it serves. I've seen firsthand how far every dollar and every volunteer hour reaches across all 60 cities and towns we serve." - Laurie Rains, Board Chair Seana Weaver CEO Laurie Rains Board Chair FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES UPCOMING EVENTS: Worcester Hot Dog Safari August 15, 2026, 11:00 AM, Ralph's Rock Diner. Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB) is the charitable partner of the annual Hot Dog Safari. Events and giving opportunities happen throughout the year, follow @hotdog- safari on Instagram for updates.. e Hot Dog Safari is an annual restaurant/ chef competition to raise money to fight hunger and fund local food assistance programs. September is Hunger Action Month September is Hunger Action Month, when Worcester County Food Bank joins Feeding America, the national network of food banks, to ask ev- eryone in Worcester County and across America to take action to fight hunger in their community, all month long. Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to join a movement that has a real and lasting impact on our effort to feed more Americans than ever before. Whether it's by holding an awareness event in your communi- ty, advocating for systemic solutions, making donations, or volunteering at your local food pantry, you can find the way that's right for you to make a dif- ference during Hunger Action Month. Together, we can solve hunger. GIVING OPPORTUNITIES Food Donations WCFB welcomes food donations from food drives and the food industry with- in Worcester County year-round. Food drives are a wonderful way for people to support WCFB and provide food for individuals and families living in Worcester County. With a little planning and some helpful hints from WCFB, your food drive can be success- ful and rewarding. Tips are available on our website at foodbank.org The Fund to End Hunger at Greater Worcester Community Foundation In partnership with the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, WCFB has established the Worcester County Fund to End Hunger, which awards grants to nonprofit organiza- tions that share the vision of creating hunger-free communities and work towards that goal through innovative and sustainable solutions. For more in- formation on how you can support the Fund or receive support from the fund, please contact us. Fund Donations WCFB accepts donations of funds and food year-round. ese valuable contributions nourish bodies and bring peace of mind to individuals and families across all 60 cities and towns in Worcester County. Your financial donation goes an especially long way towards creating a hunger-free Worces- ter County. Donations are accepted via mail, online , and in-person. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WCFB recently began welcoming new, long-term volunteers to our ranks of committed volunteers who sort and ensure the donated food we distribute is up to our standards. Please contact us at info@foodbank.org to inquire. WCFB's warehouse is located in Shrewsbury. We encourage people looking to volunteer to check our website at www.foodbank.org/volun- teer to learn about volunteer needs at our Partner Agencies and hunger-re- lated community partner organiza- tions across Worcester County. Laurie Rains, Board Chair, Retired Business Executive Sabine Dupoux, MBA, Board Vice Chair, Mount Wachusett Community College Kenneth Pickering, Esq, Governance Committee Chair Christopher Staysniak, PhD, Board Clerk, College of the Holy Cross Tom McGregor, Finance Committee Chair, GFA Federal Credit Union BOARD MEMBERS John Lebeaux, Buttonwood Consulting Shelly Yarnie, MPH, MA Dept. of Transitional Assistance Julie Yi, Country Bank

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