Worcester Food Policy Council

Calling Worcester County Food pantries and service providers - we need your input!

Survey on Food Access Challenges

We are conducting a survey to better understand the pressures food pantries and food-access organizations are currently facing, and to identify capacity gaps and resource needs based on the past year. We would greatly appreciate your participation. This survey will close on April 24th, so we ask that you please complete it as soon as possible.

Your responses will help us better document current challenges, inform our advocacy efforts, and guide our ongoing work to support food access across Worcester. The survey will only take a few minutes to complete.

Here is the survey link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfj77HrRcNmAHOwGJUuDc2OwhImZaJyoNPG3R6IzrwwkAJPOQ/viewform

You're invited to join the Center on Food Equity, Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester, and Worcester County Food Bank for a DTA Appreciation Event.
April 7, 2026 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM (Appreciation)
9:00 AM - 9:40 AM (Press Conference)
DTA Office 20 Southwest Cutoff, Worcester Questions? Contact us at: [email protected]

In January, approximately 94% of unique callers were unable to reach a DTA worker for assistance. Importantly, this is not a compliance issue—it is a capacity issue. Frontline DTA workers are operating well beyond sustainable limits, making it difficult for eligible residents to maintain access to vital nutrition benefits.

This event is being held in response to growing access challenges within the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), where many individuals who depend on SNAP are unable to access or receive their benefits on time due to limited capacity. It is also an opportunity to recognize and appreciate DTA staff, who continue to serve residents while working under significant staffing and resource constraints.

This moment presents an important opportunity to: -- Lift up the dedication of DTA staff
-- Highlight the real-world consequences of understaffing and access barriers
-- Reinforce the need for sustained state investment in DTA capacity so eligible households do not fall through the cracks

Join us – all are welcome!

You’ll hear from:
Local community partners
Sen. Moore, Rep. Keefe, and other elected officials
A community member sharing what it means when DTA is out of reach due to long wait times and system barriers

It takes just a minute to contact your Members of Congress to through the FRAC Action Network. Urge them to repeal harmful SNAP cost shifts to states in H.R. 1 asthey work on a fiscal year 2026 appropriations package. Take action: https://secure.everyaction.com/Wf7TjlCO3kue_AtCMhE6qQ2

Did you know that socks are the most requested non-food item at food pantries?

Most food pantries and homeless shelters happily accept donations of new socks in all sizes and colors, especially in cold weather. Make a difference today.
Center on Food Equity Keeping Worcester Warm Worcester County Food Bank .marykeefe Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester

Follow the DTA and our Center on Food Equity page on updates as we have them.

“The Trump administration’s announcement that it will comply with the Court’s order and begin using contingency funds to partially pay November SNAP benefits as the government shutdown continues is an important step, but comes many days late and billions of dollars short,” said Crystal FitzSimons, president, Food Research & Action Center. “There is no excuse that justifies the administration delaying the release of benefits and then choosing not to utilize every resource available to provide full benefits to the 42 million people who rely on SNAP to put food on the table. The decision to provide only partial benefits forces state agencies to scramble under unclear guidance, which will further delay benefits. It also means that families are missing out on much needed nutrition support. Enough time has already been lost - the funds must be released immediately to avert further harm, chaos and confusion.”