Community Servings

Goals

Nathan Ross, the organization’s Manager of Community Engagement, explains that “The biggest thing is that by providing medically tailored meals free of charge for people who are very ill (many are also living below the poverty line and food insecure), we are helping to level the playing field of access to healthy food. There is a growing understanding of the role that food plays in overall health, and we are helping to ensure that the most vulnerable and underserved people are able to access nutritious meals in the same way that those who are not ill and food secure are.”

Nathan also says “We also work with many health insurers who pay for the meals for their clients. The idea is that Nutrition plays a crucial role in health, and thus should be incorporated in healthcare plans, particularly for those who are ill and need a medically tailored diet. I think this work in health insurance markets and changing the paradigm about the role of health insurance in terms of preventative care and Nutrition is where Community Servings could ultimately leave the biggest mark.”

Budget

Community serving receives grants mainly through fundraising activities. On the official website, Community serving shows a pie chart of their profit sources for 2021. 49% of the revenue comes from grants from the community (all grants are anonymous and untraceable); 24% from contracts with medical institutions (Boston Public Health Commission and Suffolk county local board); 16% from government contracts (United States Department of Health and Human Services); 11% from fundraising events; and 1% from the discounted value of goods or services donated directly. The value of direct donations of goods or services. According to the financial year report published by Community serving, their total revenue in 2020 is $10,821,324 and in 2021 it is $12,887,995.

Community serving is a community-based non-profit organization in Massachusetts. The only program of its kind in New England, Community serving serves over 3,500 people in Massachusetts each year, using over 57,000 pounds of produce that is donated annually by local farms and vendors. From Monday to Friday, Community serving hosts over 75 volunteers each day who help prepare and package food for distribution to those in need. Community serving also offers a 12-week food service job training program for people who face barriers to employment. While learning cooking and work skills, trainees assist in preparing meals for clients and gain valuable work experience.

Community serving is in partnership with the following welfare agencies or companies:

• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

• Massachusetts General Hospital

• Commonwealth Care Alliance

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

• Carrington Charitable Foundation

• TJX Companies

• American Association of Retired Persons

• Community Harvest Project

• Citizens Financial Group - Bank

• Coldwell Banker

• AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts

• DaVita Kidney Care

• Meals on wheels America

• Fenway Health

• The Capital Grille

• Reinhart Foodservice