FOOD

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.

Andrew Morehouse, the executive director for the Food Bank, cited high food insecurity rates, in particular Hampden County and Franklin County, which had the highest food insecurity rates of any county in the state in 2024.

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.

We check in with the executive director of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts about SNAP benefits, learn about Westfield's Hutghi's at the Nook, and learn about mounweasels with the Word Nerd.

The Trump administration says it will fund SNAP food aid for November, but only partially and with delayed disbursement.

A federal judge in Boston on Friday ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund SNAP as the government shutdown threatens food aid benefits for millions of Americans, ordering the White House to outline a plan to provide at least partial assistance starting Nov. 1.

We check in with local folklorist Jeff Belanger, talk with Hors d'Oeuvres about the F*ing Awesome Game Show and McGovern with Rep. Jim McGovern.

Today on The Rundown, panelists discuss the state of local elections around the 413, the local impact of losing SNAP benefits amidst the government shutdown and more.

President Trump announced he would stop the federal program during the government shutdown — which no president has done before. Farmers and consumers say they are scared and angry.