M&T Charitable Foundation Presents Catholic Charities Boston with $20,000 Check to Fight Hunger During Holiday Season

Today, on Giving Tuesday, the M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank (NYSE:MTB), presented Catholic Charities Boston with a $20,000 grant to fight food insecurity this holiday season. As one of the largest sources of emergency food in the City of Boston, the Catholic Charities Emergency Food Pantry has seen a 200% increase in demand since the COVID-19 global pandemic. Over the last year alone, the pantry has provided more than 1.2 million pounds of food to 6,730 families across Greater Boston. 

“The increased demand highlights the ongoing challenges faced by so many Boston families this holiday season,” said Grace Lee, Massachusetts Regional President for M&T Bank. “We are honored to support the great work of Catholic Charities Boston to fight food insecurity and make the holidays a little brighter for families in need.”  

In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, Catholic Charities Boston distributed 4,500 Thanksgiving meal bags containing turkeys and fresh produce across six sites in Dorchester, Brockton, Lynn, Lowell, and South Boston. Still, food insecurity remains a vital issue long after the holidays are over. 

“After Thanksgiving, there’s 364 more days of food insecurity throughout the Commonwealth. This partnership between Catholic Charities and M&T Bank and this giving moment is truly special to help feed families throughout our communities,” said Representative Christopher Worrell.  “It’s inspiring to see community partners like M&T Bank use Giving Tuesday as a way to encourage others to give back.”

The $20,000 grant will support a critical portion of the food pantry’s general operating expenses during the holidays including the operation of its delivery vans and utility costs for the pantry’s walk-in refrigerators and freezers.

Located at the Yawkey Multi-Service Center in Dorchester, the food pantry is one of the largest sources of emergency food in the city of Boston. In addition to emergency food, pantry clients can be referred to other Catholic Charities services including help with applying for SNAP benefits, adult education programs, and homeless prevention services including assistance with utility bills and rent.

For over a century, Catholic Charities Boston has served vulnerable individuals and families of all faiths and backgrounds. One of the most comprehensive non-profit providers of social services in Massachusetts, it offers over 70 programs across more than 20 locations throughout Greater Boston, serving thousands of individuals and families annually within the four core areas of Basic Needs, Family & Youth Services, Refugee & Immigrant Services, and Adult Education & Workforce Development. Catholic Charities Boston addresses critical social justice issues with compassion and aims to break the cycles of poverty by providing life’s necessities, education, and advocacy to move families toward self-sufficiency. 

Food insecurity remains a vital challenge for thousands of families in Massachusetts. Thanks to the support of community partners, donors, and volunteers, Catholic Charities Boston distributes over 2.6 million pounds of food each year. From organizing a food drive to benefit one of the agency’s four food pantries to donating grocery store gift cards, learn more about how you can help families get food on the table this holiday season here. 

About M&T Charitable Foundation 
The M&T Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1993 and funded by M&T Bank. The M&T Charitable Foundation awards nearly $40 million in grants per year to thousands of nonprofit organizations focused on improving the quality of life in the areas the bank serves.   

About M&T Bank  

M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, provides banking products and services in 12 states across the eastern U.S. from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C. Trust-related services are provided in select markets in the U.S. and abroad by M&T’s Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. For more information on M&T Bank, visit www.mtb.com.