Food justice solutions are desperately needed when nearly half a city can’t count on its next meal.
“Until recently, anybody who walks in is qualified to pick up food. Now it’s reserved for the Revere community… We just don’t have the funds.”
— Nicoletta Giardina, First Congregational Church of Revere Food Pantry
In a country with more billionaires than any other—and more food waste than anyone should tolerate—40% of households in Revere, Massachusetts are facing food insecurity.
That number is not a typo.
It’s not a statistic from decades ago.
It’s from this month.
According to the Greater Boston Food Bank, nearly half of one city can no longer count on regular access to food. At the same time, the food bank itself is losing over $2 million in emergency resources, due to recent cuts in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding under the Trump administration.
When the safety net is fraying from the top, community organizations are left to do more with less. But there’s only so much stretching you can do before something breaks.
And for many food pantries—something already has.
When Need Grows, But Funds Shrink
Nicoletta Giardina leads the First Congregational Church of Revere Food Pantry, one of the many community programs hit hard by these funding cuts. She told WBUR that while her team is proud of the work they do, they’ve had to turn away people from outside Revere simply because the money isn’t there.
What was once a welcoming door is now a hard line in the sand. Not because they want to say no—but because the system made it necessary.
This isn’t just a local crisis. It’s a national pattern. Food prices are rising. Federal funding is shrinking. And communities like Revere are being asked to do the impossible: feed more people with fewer resources.
What Does Food Justice Really Mean?
Food justice solutions go beyond charity—they challenge the systems that make hunger a persistent issue. It’s not enough to fill shelves for one week. We have to ask: Why are families returning every month?
Food justice means recognizing that hunger is often the result of systemic inequality—low wages, unaffordable housing, healthcare debt, and inaccessible transportation. It means creating paths not just for survival, but for stability.
When communities like Revere lose funding, it’s not just about fewer meals—it’s about eroding hope. Real solutions must address both immediate needs and long-term change. That’s why investing directly in grassroots programs is so powerful. These organizations understand their communities. They don’t waste time on complicated applications or delayed aid—they act.
At Meals N Feelz, we’re committed to supporting these front-line organizations and working toward a future where every person’s right to food is met with dignity and compassion.
This Is Why We’re Building Meals N Feelz
We launched Meals N Feelz with one simple idea: feeding people shouldn’t be controversial.
Not partisan.
Not religious.
Not limited by ZIP code.
When 40% of a city is hungry, the problem isn’t lack of food. It’s lack of systems built on dignity and access.
That’s where we come in.
We’re not building new pantries.
We’re not reinventing the wheel.
We’re here to find and fund the programs already serving with heart—whether they’re Muslim-led, church-based, or anything in between.
We believe that fidya, zakat, and everyday giving can fuel a deeper kind of food justice—one rooted in love, not red tape.
Where You Can Learn More
📖 Read the full article from WBUR: 57th Walk for Hunger hopes to raise $1 million
🤝 Support Project Bread and their ongoing work: projectbread.org
🧡 Learn more about our mission or refer a food program: