Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll Talks Food Insecurity Crisis At Salem Pantry Impact Breakfast

SALEM, MA — Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll was back in Salem on Wednesday discussing the food insecurity crisis across the state as the former Witch City mayor was presented with The Salem Pantry's first-ever Leadership Award at its inaugural Impact Breakfast.

The event centered around the release of The Salem Pantry's inaugural impact report, which highlighted the growing need for reliable food access in Greater Salem.

Driscoll spoke about the rising levels of food insecurity across the state and the critical role of community organizations in addressing the issue.

"According to the Greater Boston Food Bank, 34 percent of households, or 1.9 million adults, in Massachusetts are food insecure," she said. "That's far too many people, especially when we consider that hunger is connected to so many of the other critical issues we're facing, from housing costs and health equity, to learning loss and chronic illness.

"That's why our administration is dedicated to taking an all-of-government approach to tackling hunger. Our administration is so proud to support organizations like Salem Pantry because we know what a critical role local food systems play in our day-to-day well-being. By working together to fight food insecurity, we're making Massachusetts more equitable, affordable, and competitive."

The Salem Pantry, which opened The Market brick-and-mortar location this past year, had a 105 percent increase in pantry visits from 2022, serving 6,510 households and 19,910 people.

The Salem Pantry also distributed over two million pounds of food through its pantry services
and processed an additional 697,000 pounds for other food assistance organizations across The North Shore via their regional food hub.

"As we continue our journey toward a food-secure future, we are committed to community-led solutions, advocacy, and fostering strong partnerships," The Salem Pantry Executive Director Robyn Burns said. "We are thrilled to present this update on our achievements, made possible by the support of so many."

Other award recipients included: Marnie Greenhut, Curly Girl Candy Shop - 2024 Business Partner of the Year; North Shore Community Development Coalition - 2024 Community Partner of the Year; Donna Herman - 2024 Volunteer of the Year.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached @[email protected]. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)