Hunger and poverty are hidden, even denied on beautiful Cape Cod, but childhood hunger is real here, every day.
The 2025 Greater Boston Food Bank Report done in collaboration with MA DESE (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) and Mass General Brigham, shows 34% food insecurity among residents of the Cape & Islands; up 14 pts from’23 to ‘24. Food pantries across the Lower and Outer Cape continue to see an increase in demand.
Since the 2023/2024 school year, all towns on the Lower and Outer Cape (Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown) have schools with 50% or more students qualifying for free/reduced-priced school meals.[baed on Massachusetts Department of Early and Secondary Education data]
According to Feeding America, 25-30% of food insecure families living on Cape Cod do not qualify for federal assistance. Not only is the high cost of housing an issue, but also the high cost of food. The average cost of a meal on Cape Cod is 29% higher compared to national averages, and 17% higher compared to the state of Massachusetts.
FRAC (Food Research Action Center) confirms “Food security is one of the most important factors in determining the health of a child. It is more than just filling their bellies. Access to food supports healthy brain function, fuels children’s growing bodies and minds, and aids in emotional and social development.” These factors increase in the summer when schools are out and the support they provide is absent.
United Way defines the most vulnerable as the families of the working poor - the low- wage hourly workers who perform the important tasks that support our community and our economy. They are the cashiers, waiters, child- and elder-care providers, healthcare workers, construction workers, and others of our essential workforce.
Project Bread recognizes the food insecurity situation state-wide and is a staunch advocate for children and youth in Massachusetts.
73% of food insecure households with children received free meals through school or summer meals programs in 2024 (Greater Boston Food Bank, 2025).