Executive Summary Overview
“Just keep showing up and doing the work is our mantra.”
Springfield EATS (Equity, Advocacy, Transformation, Systems Change) is a multi-sector partnership rooted in authentic community leadership, shared trust, and collective action. It grew from early collaborative efforts supported by the MassUP Investment Program—efforts that brought grassroots and institutional partners together during the pandemic to coordinate mutual aid and long-term food systems transformation. That early work helped fortify trust, build shared infrastructure, and position SFPC and its partners to deepen their impact across Springfield’s food ecosystem.
Springfield EATS began in the early months of the pandemic, when longtime partners the Springfield Food Policy Council, Square One, called in Gardening the Community, Open Pantry Community Services, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, MLK Family Services, and Mercy Hospital/Trinity Health. Supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Health Policy Council, we came together around shared values of health equity, social and economic justice, accountability, and strong community leadership.
From that collaboration grew a powerful response: a four year local food distribution system nourishing 350 families each of 16 weeks with fresh, chemical-free produce and protein grown by immigrant and refugee farmers at World Farmers. Nearly $1 million was raised to sustain this work, and our advocacy helped restore the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), ensuring families could stretch their SNAP benefits with fresh produce. During that time, Square One began sourcing local fresh produce for their meal program, serving over 500 babies and young children.
These successes led to the manefestation of a trust based partnership where anchor partners remain constant, always thinking about expanding the resources we have with other partners called in over the years. No matter what was happening outside, we kept going and adapting. Partnership has sustained through federal funding cuts. So we kept the pop up markets going after LFPP. and added STCC, Brightwood Health, etc.
Six years of MACHHAF funding from Health Resources in Action to strengthen long term food access through policy and systems change. Yet 2025 brought new challenges as the Local Food Purchasing Assistance Program ended and federal budget cuts loomed. Anticipating this, Springfield EATS leaders took action. SFPC's Liz O’Gilvie was appointed to MA Governor Maura Healey's State Anti-Hunger Task Force to plan for the SNAP cuts while Square One's Dawn Di Stefano joined No Small Feat, a statewide advocacy network supporting children and families impacted by social program reductions.
Today, Springfield EATS continues to respond to the moment. SFPC developed a new tool, How the Big Beautiful Bill will Impact You survey to help residents understand the effects of federal cuts, while Square One continues to meet the daily needs of families by providing diapers and supplies for families. Together, partners are building awareness, mobilizing communities, and advocating for systems that protect food security. When SNAP was cut in the fall 2025, SFPC and GTC provided free eggs, milk, and produce to anyone in need at the Walnut St. Farm Store, and Square One waived early care fees and provided additional supplies for families. SFPC supported many families to access their Healthy Incentives Program benefit for free produce for the first time. When people do not have access to childcare then they cannot go to work which means they cannot get help applying for SNAP. In the fall, when people did not have access to SNAP they could not pay their rent. These were challenges that the Springfield Food Policy Council and Square One decided to tackle head on. As families continue to recuperate from the impacts of the government shutdown, Springfield EATS partners are pressing forward by supporting residents to manage the losses they experienced in this tough time.
Springfield EATS is where these groups come together—not to extract ideas, but to build shared responsibility for a more just local food system. The partnership has helped shift relationships between community and institutions, creating space for honest dialogue, accountability, and collaboration that moves beyond projects and programs toward lasting systems change.
