By Bob Katzen

Rep. Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) has filed legislation, co-sponsored by 36 of her colleagues, to establish a $500 million emergency fund to support food pantries in Massachusetts as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The legislation, would provide money to buy additional food and personal care items as well as to support pantry’ operations.

“These pantries were part of the monthly safety net for many families before the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Domb. “Many families live paycheck-to-paycheck in the best of times. The … outbreak has furloughed many of those workers, and families are turning to food banks for help. Record-shattering claims for unemployment benefits indicate an additional need for emergency food for our neighbors, many of whom never needed food pantry services before.”