MetroWest Food Collaborative

05/14/2026

📣As food insecurity has increased, access to SNAP has decreased. In the past year, the SNAP caseload has dropped by 80,000 households in large part because recipients can’t get in touch with DTA. In March, 81% of calls to DTA were disconnected due to high call volume, meaning the vast majority of SNAP recipients have no way of speaking to a caseworker.

‼️This is unacceptable - we need the state to infuse DTA with funding for more case workers.

🔔Please join us in urging your State Senator to include a $7 million increase for more DTA staff in the FY27 state budget.

VISIT ⬇️ TO TAKE ACTION
🔗 https://projectbread.quorum.us/campaign/157307/

05/12/2026

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table at the Healthy Kids Fair at the YMCA in Hopkinton! 💚🍎
We loved connecting with families, sharing resources, and talking about the importance of food access and healthy communities. Events like this remind us how powerful community partnerships can be.
Thank you for having us! 🌱

04/23/2026

The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) is understaffed, and it’s hurting our communities. SNAP is one of our most effective anti-hunger programs, but its effectiveness relies on people being able to reach a SNAP caseworker. When they can’t get through busy phone lines, they lose access to food.

✅ Each DTA caseworker currently handles about 1,300 cases. That’s up from about 850 cases in pre-COVID days.
✅ In January 2025, an average of 68.7% of calls to DTA went unanswered. In February 2026, that average had jumped to more than 94%. That means less than 1 in 10 people who tried to reach DTA were able to speak to a worker.
✅ As a consequence, DTA is spending weeks to process documents, leaving people in limbo or worse, losing their SNAP benefits through no fault of their own.

Urge your State Representative to support Amendment #899 and fund DTA caseworkers, take action here:

https://projectbread.quorum.us/campaign/160908/?utm_source=Make+Hunger+History&utm_campaign=54a320ef75-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_10_14_12_56_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-d7988260ba-7684309

04/15/2026

Families can apply for SUN Bucks at DTAConnect.com/SUNBucks or through a paper application, available at your child’s school! Many eligible children will be automatically enrolled in SUN Bucks through other programs they already participate in.

Visit to apply -> https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/SUNBucks

04/08/2026

Snow can’t stop us from pushing for increased investment in Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)!

We joined Food Policy Councils throughout the state and our Make Hunger History coalition partners to show support for the DTA caseworkers who work tirelessly to get people connected to SNAP by visiting the Framingham office with refreshments posters sharing our community’s gratitude.

Investment in the DTA is critical to connect families facing food insecurity with SNAP and handle increasing caseloads. If eligible families can’t reach the DTA, they may lose or be denied SNAP because they can’t get the help they need to navigate the paperwork.

Join us in calling on policymakers to increase funding and support for the DTA to better serve our communities.

Act now ➡️ https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fprojectbread.quorum.us%2fcampaign%2f157307%2f&c=E,1,g_oSQ7zSN-byHHJgOcrhNcgswKXczU0hBvty51cAejvptNV8PBMYvbPMPELpOBxflQIsGP8KRbxEMcEUYlORlnMi05_2On1A9f3KtkwbTMuN6Q,,&typo=1

04/04/2026

Kali’s kids helped her make some signs for the rally on Tuesday! Hoping you can all make it to help hold them to thank DTA caseworkers for helping get food onto families plates!

04/02/2026

These photos capture our participation in this year’s HIP Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House—an inspiring day of advocacy alongside the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative and dedicated food access champions from across the Commonwealth. Together, we raised our voices in support of continued and expanded funding for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), a vital initiative that helps Massachusetts residents access fresh, locally grown food while supporting our farmers and local economy.

This day was a powerful reminder that meaningful change happens when communities come together with a shared purpose. Ensuring strong funding for HIP is not just about food—it’s about health, equity, and building a more resilient food system for everyone in Massachusetts.

04/01/2026

We’re rallying for DTA on April 7th at 8AM in Framingham 📍
Together, we’re calling on state leaders to protect SNAP and invest in our communities.
Because everyone deserves to eat with dignity.
RSVP + spread the word! 💚

03/24/2026

If you missed the Food Access Summit, watch the recording.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

03/21/2026

As we head into the weekend, we are still feeling the energy from our 4th Annual Food Access Summit, which took place this past Tuesday at Framingham State University.

Many thanks to our hosts at FSU (and especially Megan Mayer for her support); to this year’s speakers, David Halbert, Senate President Karen Spilka, Representative James Arena-DeRosa, and to our panel facilitator Framingham City Councilor Leora Mallach and panelists, Alexandra DePalo of Open Table, Rev Dr Anthony Lloyd of Greater Framingham Community Church, Jeanne Sherlock of the MW YMCA and Margie Rosario of Gem’s at the arts. And importantly, to Lanie Silva from MetroWest Shared Public Health Services for all of the wonderful photos!

This Food Access Summit is central to our work because it brings us together to share our collective wisdom and build momentum for change. We are at a critical juncture for food access, equity, and sustainability in MetroWest and all across Massachusetts. As the summit highlighted, we need to collaborate with one another and continue to advocate to protect foundational state and local food programs to ensure residents have enough food on their tables.

We are grateful to all who came out and shared this learning and visioning space with us, and to all who are leading this work forward in our region. Missed the event, check out the recording!

.jamesarenaderosa