The mission of Rachel's Table is to distribute donated and specially purchased foods, without charge, to agencies feeding hungry families and individuals in greater Worcester, Massachusetts and to reduce the waste of nourishing food. The Children's Milk Fund purchases milk for needy children.

In support of this, Rachel's Table is committed to:

• Providing training programs on food safety and efficient food distribution.
• Establishing a network of collaborative community support systems.
• Advocating where appropriate for hungry people.

Third annual FoodRaiser Rachel's Table is excited for our Third annual FoodRaiser which will take place on Sunday, May 5 from 11 AM to 1 PM at the Big Y on Mayfield St in Worcester. Food donations will go to local families through Friendly House Neighborhood Center. All you have to do to participate is show up and purchase as many or as few items as you can. There is a buy one, get one (or two) free special promotion that day. Do your shopping and help others at the same time! Every purchase is an important part of our fight against hunger!

A Program of the Jewish Federation

We are one of the many programs of the Jewish Federation of Central Massachusetts. For more information about Rachel's Table, see our Mission page.

Project Bread Walk for Hunger Join the fight against hunger at the annual Project Bread Walk for Hunger in Boston on May 5. Join the Rachel's Table walk team as a walker or a virtual walker (you don't even have to leave home!), or sponsor a walker. Go to projectbread.org for more information. It's a fun event and provides funds for Rachel's Table and similar hunger relief programs.

Hunger in Worcester, Massachusetts

Rachel's Table is feeding an increasing number of hungry people in the Worcester area.A serious lack of affordable housing, increased heating costs, cost of gasoline, medical costs, childcare costs, mortgage foreclosures, and the increased cost of food in the area have contributed to what agency administrators have termed a "critical" situation. Rents in Worcester increased 16% last year, having a huge impact on people already struggling to get by.

Cuts to SNAP (food stamps) have affected many There are large cuts being threatened. Even families with two working parents are struggling to feed their children once all their expenses are met.

Last year, almost all of the area food pantries and soup kitchens serviced by Rachel's Table reported an increased demand for food assistance. All pantries and soup kitchens saw an increase in the number of families with children requiring food aid. 58% of pantries saw an increase in demand for emergency food from elderly persons.

In all of the social service agencies helped by Rachel's Table, clients needing food aid increased by 16% in 2018.

People must often choose between paying for heat, medicine, or food.

In the past 30 years, Rachel's Table has distributed over 12.5 million pounds of food, at no cost, to 33 local shelters, pantries and soup kitchens.

Even so, hunger and the need for food continues to rise. Even with today's better economic conditions, the situation has not improved for the people we help.