Massachusetts leaders, grocers and volunteers mobilize at Greater Boston Food Bank as SNAP aid delays deepen

Cheryl Shondek, chief operating officer of the Greater Boston Food Bank, opened the 20th annual Chain of Giving at the food bank—s distribution warehouse and asked attendees to form a human chain to unload trucks.

The event combined a holiday distribution effort with emergency appeals after organizers and officials said a pause in federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits has driven a spike in hunger. "A holiday meal is now a luxury that many of our neighbors cannot afford," Shondek said, and she told the crowd the Greater Boston Food Bank expects to distribute nearly 50,000 turkeys and 100,000 chickens this holiday season.

Catherine D'Amato, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Food Bank, said the organization has delivered more than 100,000,000 pounds of fresh food across eastern…