Hunger is a serious issue in our state, and considerable evidence indicates that lack of adequate nutrition can cause health and learning problems. Inadequate nutrition particularly impacts the young and elderly. The 2006 Project Bread hunger study found that hunger existed in 18% of the households in low-income Massachusetts communities, an increase of 10% over three years. The 2007 study emphasized the degree of the hunger problem in Massachusetts, stating that food insecurity increased 22% between reporting periods of 2000-02 and 2003-05.

Low-income families and individuals run out of food each month due to their limited income and the high cost of living, forcing them to make the choice of purchasing food or paying their bills each month.