Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

What Food Bank of Western Massachusetts does

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger relief organization founded in 1982 and headquartered at 25 Carew Street in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It collects, processes, and distributes food across Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties through a network of nearly 200 member food pantries, meal sites, and shelters, supplemented by direct distribution channels including a Mobile Food Bank, Brown Bag for Elders, college and K-12 pantries, Food Bank Farms (a local agricultural program), and SNAP application assistance. The organization reports distributing 17.9 million pounds of food and serving 122,198 people per month in 2025, equivalent to more than 1.2 million meals monthly.

Its core service portfolio includes a self-serve Food Finder Map for locating nearby pantries, Food Assistance Navigation, and an Advocacy Action Center plus the Western Massachusetts Transportation Advocacy Network (WMTAN) targeting systemic drivers of food insecurity. National affiliations include Feeding America and United Way; federal support flows through the USDA. Operations are anchored by a recently opened Chicopee facility developed through a $26 million capital project that included $5 million in state funding and a $1.62 million MassWorks grant for the new headquarters.

The revenue model is donation- and grant-driven rather than commercial. Funding streams include individual donations, foundation grants (e.g., Point32Health Foundation), state capital appropriations, federal USDA commodities, cause-marketing partnerships (Stop & Shop as Will Bike 4 Food presenting sponsor; Berkshire Brewing Company donating 10% of gross sales of Shabadoo Black & Tan and Turkey Trotter Brown Ale, totaling over $265,000 since 1997), and signature fundraising events such as the 43-mile March for the Food Bank (over $900,000 raised in the most recent edition, exceeding a $650,000 goal) and the annual Will Bike 4 Food cycling fundraiser ($300,000 goal).

Name

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

Legal name

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

Website

https://foodbankwma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hunger relief organization founded in 1982 that collects and distributes food across four Western Massachusetts counties through nearly 200 member pantries, Mobile Food Bank distributions, and senior, college, and K-12 programs, serving 122,000+ people monthly.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunger Relief Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Assistance & Food Banks (BPAGAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Waste Reduction & Diversion Services (Donation, Animal Feed, Source Reduction Programs) (EUAIAEAH), School Feeding & Child Nutrition Programs (BPADAJAD)

Keywords

• Food bank services
• Hunger relief programs
• Food assistance distribution
• Nonprofit food distribution
• Community food programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hatfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The Food Bank generates revenue through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising events such as the Annual March for the Food Bank, Will Bike 4 Food cycling event, Bingo in the Berkshires, and various community fundraisers. Donations are the primary source of operational funding.
2. Foundation and Government Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations such as Point32Health Foundation ($50,000 grant) and government sources ($5 million state funding for new distribution center, $1.62 million grant for new headquarters). These grants support capital projects and programmatic operations.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Cause Marketing: Partnerships with companies like Berkshire Brewing Company (10% of gross sales of specific beers donated), Stop & Shop (Will Bike 4 Food presenting sponsor), and other corporate sponsors provide both funding and awareness. Corporate cause marketing campaigns generate donations while building brand affinity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts collects, stores, and distributes food to food-insecure individuals and families across Western Massachusetts. It operates direct distribution programs and works through a network of member food pantries, meal sites, and shelters to address hunger in the region.

Product overview

The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts operates as a unified food assistance platform offering direct food distribution services and related support programs. The core offerings include the Food Finder Map (interactive locator tool), Mobile Food Bank (mobile distribution service), Brown Bag for Elders (senior food program), SNAP Application Assistance, and Food Assistance Navigation. Additional programs include Nutrition Resources, College Pantries, K-12 Pantries and Programs, and Food Bank Farms (local agricultural initiative). The organization also runs signature fundraising events including the annual March for the Food Bank (43-mile walk), Will Bike 4 Food (cycling fundraiser with multiple route options), and Bingo in the Berkshires. The portfolio functions as a coordinated network providing nutritious food access across Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties through direct services and a network of nearly 200 member food pantries, meal programs, and shelters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Food Bank
• Brown Bag Program
• Member Agency Network Support
• Food Finder Map
• March for the Food Bank
• Will Bike 4 Food
• Bingo Fundraiser

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides 1,227,334 meals every month
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational food bank network affiliation providing access to national resources, best practices, and collective impact initiatives for addressing hunger across the United States.
• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with United Way supporting community investment and collaborative approaches to addressing local social service needs including food security.
• USDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA partnership providing federal food commodities and support for food distribution programs serving low-income individuals and families.
• Stop & ShopflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerStop & Shop is the presenting sponsor of Will Bike 4 Food, the Food Bank's annual cycling fundraiser. The partnership includes financial sponsorship and brand visibility at the signature event.
• MassMutualcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting the Food Bank's mission and programs, visible on the Food Bank's sponsor recognition materials.
• Berkshire Brewing CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough a special partnership, 10% of gross sales of Shabadoo Black & Tan and 'Turkey Trotter' Brown Ale are donated to the Food Bank. Since 1997, Berkshire Brewing Company has contributed over $265,000 through these campaigns.
• Big-YcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Food Bank, appearing on sponsor recognition materials for events and programs.
• Two Men and a TruckminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTwo Men and a Truck Community Collection Days partnership facilitating donation drives where community members can donate gently used clothing, household items, and other goods. Proceeds support the Food Bank.
• MGB CooleycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Food Bank, appearing on sponsor recognition materials.
• 22 News (WWLP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal news partner providing media coverage and support for Will Bike 4 Food event and other Food Bank initiatives.
• The River (WRSI)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio partner providing coverage for the March for the Food Bank event and hunger-related issues in Western Massachusetts.
• New England Public Media (NEPM)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNEPM provides focused coverage of the March for the Food Bank and hunger issues, examining food insecurity as it exists in Western Massachusetts. Monte Belmonte of NEPM leads the annual March.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Greater Boston Food Bank: Largest hunger-relief organization in eastern Massachusetts; operates the same Feeding America-affiliated food bank model distributing to a large member agency network. Highly comparable in mission, structure, and donor base, but serves an adjacent metro region rather than direct competition.
• Worcester County Food Bank: Central Massachusetts food bank that distributes food through member pantries and meal programs. Directly comparable in operating model, member-agency structure, and New England hunger-relief mission; serves a neighboring geography.
• Food Share (Connecticut): Regional food bank serving Hartford and Fairfield County, CT with member pantry network and direct distribution. Closely analogous in scale, programming (mobile pantries, SNAP outreach), and New England hunger-relief mission.
• Vermont Foodbank: Statewide Feeding America affiliate distributing food across Vermont through a network of partner pantries and meal sites. Comparable in member-agency distribution model and rural/small-town service area challenges.
• Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York: Feeding America affiliate serving 23 counties in upstate/eastern New York. Highly comparable operating model with member agency network, mobile distributions, and SNAP outreach, serving an adjacent rural-suburban region.
• Island Harvest (Long Island, NY): Long Island-based Feeding America food bank distributing food via member agencies, mobile pantries, and direct-to-neighbor programs. Comparable programmatic mix and donor-engagement model in a different Northeast region.
• Maryland Food Bank: Mid-Atlantic Feeding America affiliate operating a member-pantry distribution network with mobile markets and SNAP outreach. Comparable scale and programmatic portfolio to a large New England regional food bank.
• Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina: Feeding America affiliate serving 34 counties with member-agency distribution, mobile pantries, and nutrition programs. Similar multi-county regional model with comparable programmatic breadth.

Broad incumbents

• Feeding America: National umbrella network of 200+ food banks including Food Bank of WMA as an affiliate. Provides national brand, federal advocacy, and food sourcing infrastructure; not a direct competitor but a strategic partner and category benchmark.

Emerging players

• Community Servings: Massachusetts-based nonprofit providing medically tailored meal delivery to food-insecure individuals with critical illness. Adjacent mission in hunger relief and nutrition access, with overlapping New England donor base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FoodBankofWesternMA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FoodBankofWesternMA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-food-bank-of-western-massachusetts
• Instagraminstagram.com/foodbankwma
• Xx.com/FoodBankWMA

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors3 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Food Bank of Western Massachusetts