88.5 NEPM Hunger Awareness Week
Hunger affects many different people throughout western Mass. 88.5 NEPM’s Hunger Awareness Week explores stories about hunger in our region to better understand this crisis, the impact it has on our community, and what’s being done to combat it.
It all leads up to the 16th annual March for the Food Bank with The Fabulous 413's Monte Belmonte, Nov. 24-25. The trek is a two-day, 43-mile reminder of what we can achieve when we work together: Monte’s annual march has raised millions for the food bank over the years.
Support the March for the Food Bank and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts at marchforthefoodbank.org.
Where's Monte?
Follow along and track the March for the Food Bank Nov. 24-25 as Monte and his fellow marchers walk from Springfield to Greenfield.
Follow the march in real-time with the Monte Tracker!
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We check in before the 22nd annual Hot Chocolate Run, see how Resilient Valley is strengthening western Mass. food ways and discuss facts of life with Mr. Universe. -
We wrap up the 16th annual March for the Food Bank with conversations from the first-ever Berkshires Mini March, words from Gov. Maura Healey and other ways to support the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. -
We keep up with Monte Belmonte and marchers as the 16th annual March for the Food Bank continues on to Greenfield, Massachusetts. -
We follow Monte and the hundreds of other marchers as they walk from Springfield to Northampton on day 1 of the 16th annual March for the Food Bank. -
We speak with author Chuck Collins about the elite class and his book, "Burner by Billionaires," preview the Northampton Book Fair this weekend and McGovern with Rep. Jim McGovern. -
We visit Born Free Food Pantry in Springfield, hear live music with musician Jude Roberts and discuss silent letters with the Word Nerd. -
Food banks around the U.S. have been busier than usual in the past month. Produce for soup kitchens and pantries comes from several sources, including fields that are gleaned of excess crops, after farmers finish their harvest. -
In Springfield Public Schools, about 87% of all students eat breakfast every morning, followed by 75% of elementary school students in North Adams and 73% in Holyoke, a new report finds. -
We visit community center The Brick House in Montague, walk through Crabapple Farm and learn about a play about musician Teddy Pendergrass premiering at CitySpace this weekend. -
When politicians use food benefits as political football, Prof. Mariana Chilton says the country — not only hungry families — experience a collective trauma. -
Though SNAP has been restored and the shutdown has ended, some local restaurants took action to feed residents who relied on this aid and they've decided to continue this work throughout the month of November. -
U.S. Representative Richard Neal, D-Springfield, says he will be voting against a plan to reopen the federal government. The plan offers no guarantees of funding being restored for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. That's something most Democrats had been holding out for.
