Pathways to Change: Paving the Way for Food Security and Community Support

Marcia Picard, Executive Director of Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community, recently shared a story with Project Bread about a young woman who just moved into an apartment after a long stint of homelessness. “She is thrilled that she's with a free crockpot, a whole lot of kitchen utensils and materials, and so that was a nice unexpected plus of the program that we had done, obviously having no idea that anything like that could have come out of it,” Picard said.

At Project Bread, our mission to create a food-secure Massachusetts drives us every day. 

One of the ways we fight food insecurity is by collaborating with organizations doing vital work across the state. Launched in 2022, our Pathways to Change Grant has created meaningful opportunities for organizations dedicated to addressing food insecurity. The grant empowers these organizations to run crucial programs, foster community leadership, and dismantle the stigma surrounding food insecurity.

In 2024, we awarded five organizations — Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community/United Neighbors of Fall River, La Colaborativa, Merrimack Valley YMCA,  Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, Inc., and Mass in Motion — a grant of up to $6,500 each, for a total of $29,700.

As a community collaboration agency, their mission focuses on creating secure and stable families, fostering community engagement, and addressing pressing issues like food insecurity and mental health. 

A cornerstone of their work is their emergency food and toiletry cupboard, which helps families bridge the gap when traditional food pantries fall short. "Our cupboard isn’t like a typical pantry. We don’t require proof of residency or ask invasive questions. We’re here for people who have nowhere else to turn, including undocumented families, those experiencing homelessness, and individuals with unique dietary needs," Wendy Garf-Lipp, Executive Director of United Neighbors of Fall River, informed. With the Pathways to Change grant, Greater Fall Rivers Partners for a Healthier Community and United Neighbors of Fall River joined forces to run a crockpot program benefiting the community.

Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community worked closely with United Neighbors of Fall River, leveraging their strong relationship to extend the program’s reach and resources. “Wendy [Garf-Lipp, of United Neighbors] and I have a great working relationship. We align well organizationally, and this collaboration was a natural fit,” Picard explained.

When Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community and United Neighbors of Fall River received the Pathways to Change Grant, they saw an opportunity to further address food insecurity through a sustainable and empowering program. They launched a crockpot cooking initiative, providing participants with free crockpots, cooking tools, and pre-measured ingredients for two meals. The workshops were designed to teach families how to prepare affordable, nutritious meals with minimal time and effort. 

“For families juggling work, kids, and tight budgets, the crockpot is a game-changer.”

- Wendy Garf-Lipp, Executive Director of United Neighbors of Fall River

Utilizing the Pathways to Change Grant, the program went beyond traditional food distribution to tackle food insecurity. Garf-Lipp, Picard, and their teams created a hands-on crockpot cooking program to equip participants with the tools, practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to prepare healthy, affordable meals at home, using ingredients that could be found in community food pantries or purchased using HIP and SNAP.

“We designed it to be doable, impactful, and to have carry-over value.” 

- Marcia Picard, Executive Director of Greater Fall River Partners for a Healthier Community

Participants didn’t just learn to cook — they left with a crockpot, utensils, pre-measured ingredients, and cookbooks, enabling them to apply what they learned immediately. 

United Neighbors worked with Partners for a Healthier Community and the UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program to develop workshops that were both practical and inclusive. 

Participants learned to create meals using ingredients commonly provided by food pantries or accessed through Federal Programs such as WIC, HIP, or SNAP, such as Moroccan vegetable stew, breakfast casserole, and vegetarian chili. 

The crockpot program also showcased United Neighbors’ commitment to addressing food insecurity holistically. Their emergency cupboard played a critical role, ensuring participants had access to additional food when pantry supplies ran out. The cupboard operates on donations and grants and is open late twice a week, filling a crucial gap for those who can’t visit traditional food pantries during regular hours. “In just four hours one evening, we saw 56 families,” Garf-Lipp recalled. 

“We ran out of food long before we ran out of people. That’s the level of need we’re seeing.”

- Wendy Garf-Lipp, Executive Director of United Neighbors of Fall River

The program also received support from the UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program, which provided live cooking demonstrations and nutritional guidance, and local agencies that helped with donations of supplies like insulated bags and utensils. Thanks to the collective effort, the team was able to expand the program and add a third session using leftover funds.

The program targeted three specific groups: 

• Families living in public housing

• WIC participants

• Young adults in the YouthBuild program

With the Pathways to Change Grant, Picard, Garf-Lipp, and their teams are not only tackling food insecurity but also empowering individuals to take control of their lives. Like one young woman in a YouthBuild session who’d recently transitioned out of homelessness. She was overjoyed to receive a crockpot and cooking tools for her new apartment. 

“This program equips people for a fresh start,” Picard said. 

The crockpot program left a lasting impact on families, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to prepare healthy meals on a budget. Garf-Lipp emphasized the importance of sustainability, noting that families continue to use their crockpots and the skills they learned in the workshops.

Even after the program has concluded, people leverage the skills they’ve learned. “It has a lasting impact because they're going home with a crockpot, they have the ability to use it,” Garf-Lipp said. “Checking in with them, offering them more recipes. We see these people on a regular basis.”

Families and individuals who didn’t previously know each other connected through the shared experience of preparing and tasting meals together. “It was very social,” Picard shared. “People were laughing, sharing tips, and encouraging one another. It wasn’t just instructional; it was informal and conversational.” This social aspect fostered connection, enhancing the program’s impact and leaving participants with practical skills, plus new friends and memories!

By combining practical training, community collaboration, and cultural sensitivity, the crockpot program was a resounding success. 

It empowered participants to stretch their resources and cook nutritious meals while building a stronger sense of connection among Fall River residents. As Picard put it, “Families left with a start kit — a crockpot, ingredients, and information — but also the skills and confidence to create something lasting. It’s a program we’re proud of and hope to expand upon.” This initiative shows how thoughtful, collaborative efforts can truly impact underserved communities.

For over a decade, La Colaborativa has been a cornerstone of Chelsea, Massachusetts, supporting immigrant and Latino residents with crucial resources like housing, healthcare, and food security.

The organization’s innovative programs include a food pantry, a mobile market, and a newly opened community market, all aimed at combating food insecurity in a city historically classified as a food desert. 

“Our goal is to service the community as best as possible. From youth to the elderly, we strive to meet their needs with creative solutions,” said Iliana Vidal, Youth Program Coordinator & Food Security Educator at La Colaborativa.

La Colaborativa used the Pathways to Change Grant to tackle food insecurity in Chelsea by educating local youth on food justice and healthy eating practices. 

They launched a six-week summer program through its youth employment initiative, creating a food justice cohort for 12 participants aged 14 to 22. The program was designed to teach practical cooking skills, address sustainability, and highlight the importance of nutrition. “We wanted to equip youth with the tools and knowledge to make healthier food choices and share those lessons with their families and community,” Vidal said.

A key component of the program was hands-on learning in La Colaborativa’s teaching kitchen. Participants prepared meals using ingredients commonly found in food pantries, focusing on culturally relevant recipes like rice and beans, tacos, and Latin-inspired dishes. The teaching kitchen allowed participants to build confidence in their cooking abilities while exploring healthier ways to prepare traditional and culturally relevant meals.

“Chelsea has historically struggled with food insecurity, but programs like this and resources like our pantry help the community take steps toward healthier living,” said Iliana Vidal, Youth Program Coordinator & Food Security Educator at La Colaborativa.

The success of the program was evident in the enthusiasm of its participants. Anyone who witnessed the excitement around this program could tell you how successful it was! Many took what they learned home, sharing recipes with their families and trying out new cooking techniques. “One of the most rewarding moments was hearing that students had recreated the dishes at home and were making healthier choices,” Vidal shared.

By focusing on education, skill-building, and sustainability, La Colaborativa turned the Pathways to Change Grant into a meaningful opportunity to empower youth and address food insecurity in Chelsea. 

Furthermore, La Colaborativa incorporated this program into their annual budget and programmatic initiatives, validating its impact and success.

Merrimack Valley YMCA’s Be the Bridge (BTB) project, supported by the Pathways to Change Grant, empowered youth to address pressing issues like food insecurity and homelessness while fostering critical leadership and advocacy skills. 

The program engaged participants in educating over 150 community members about accessing federal nutrition programs such as SNAP and WIC, helping to break down stigmas surrounding food assistance. Through partnerships with local food banks and shelters, BTB not only connected vulnerable populations to essential resources but also boosted enrollment in these programs. Program organizers highlighted, “The youth’s ability to educate and connect with the community was truly transformative.

A key component of the project was direct outreach to address food insecurity and homelessness. The youth-led initiatives focused on organizing impactful awareness campaigns that promoted long-term food security solutions, while also providing critical resources and housing information to 75 individuals in transitional housing. These efforts aimed to empower the community with knowledge and tools to access sustainable support systems.

These hands-on efforts brought relief to vulnerable populations while building the participants’ understanding of systemic barriers. One of the program’s most notable impacts was its work to reduce the stigma surrounding homelessness and food insecurity through community dialogues with local residents, stakeholders, and policymakers.

As of 2023, the homeless rate in Boston is 801 per 100,000 residents. 

BTB also prioritized youth development by equipping participants with leadership and critical thinking skills. Through town hall discussions, workshops, and structured debates, participants gained the confidence to advocate for social issues and engage with local government representatives. 

Surveys revealed that 85% of youth felt a stronger sense of social responsibility, and 80% reported increased confidence in tackling issues like food insecurity, homelessness, and mental health. 

The program’s focus on hands-on learning and civic engagement left a lasting impression on participants, with many expressing a desire to continue working on community initiatives.

The impact of the BTB project extended beyond the youth, creating tangible change in the community. By connecting over 200 individuals to federal nutrition programs and delivering meals and hygiene kits to more than 500 people, the project directly alleviated some of the most urgent needs in Merrimack Valley while also creating awareness about systemic change. 

Beyond immediate relief, the program fostered greater awareness and empathy within the community through public dialogues and awareness campaigns. BTB not only empowered youth to become advocates for change but also built a stronger, more informed community ready to address the challenges of food insecurity and homelessness.