Virtual TPC Philanthropy Dialogue: Food Insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts

Virtual TPC Philanthropy Dialogue: 

Food Insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts

Thursday February 26, 2026

6:30-7:30 pm

Featuring:  

• The Boston Foundation

• Boston Area Gleaners (past TPC grantee)

• Neighbors In Need (past TPC grantee)

Join us for a timely virtual conversation on food insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts. Candance Burton from The Boston Foundation will provide a regional overview and data insights while Executive Directors from past TPC grantees, Boston Area Gleaners and Neighbors In Need, will share frontline perspectives on addressing hunger in our communities. Together, this speaker line-up offers a compelling look at the dogged issue of food insecurity in Eastern Mass. Come with your questions. TPC friends and guests are welcome.

Participating Organizations

• The Boston Foundation (TBF) is one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations, working to advance equity and opportunity across Greater Boston. Through grantmaking, research, and civic leadership, it addresses the root causes of social and economic challenges. Its Meeting the Moment: Sustaining Families initiative is a multi-part, multi-million dollar commitment in support of a stronger regional system to address hunger and food insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts.

• Boston Area Gleaners works to increase access to fresh, healthy food by rescuing surplus produce from local farms and distributing it to communities in need. The organization partners with farms, volunteers, and hunger-relief agencies across Eastern Massachusetts. Its model reduces food waste while improving nutrition for individuals and families facing food insecurity.

• Neighbors In Need is a Lawrence-based food justice organization serving immigrant and low-income communities. Through community partnerships and direct distribution, it provides healthy, nutritious foods to individuals and households experiencing food insecurity. Its work centers dignity, equity, and community voice in providing access to food and basic necessities.

Participating Speakers

• Candace Burton is TBF’s Program Officer for Safety Net Grants, supporting organizations that respond to essential needs for marginalized communities and vulnerable residents in Greater Boston. Since 2021, she has helped grant over $9 million to nonprofits. Candace also plays a leading role with TBF’s Food, Fuel & Shelter Fund and co-chairs the Boston Chapter of Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Thrive Philanthropy. Previously, she worked at various sport nonprofit organizations including Good Sports, Up2Us Sports and Asphalt Green where her responsibilities ranged from fundraising and event planning to program management. 

• Lisa Smith is the Executive Director of Neighbors In Need, a Lawrence-based nonprofit that operates multiple mobile food pantries and programs serving more than 1,600 families each week in Greater Lawrence, Methuen, and Andover. Under her leadership, the organization provides healthy groceries, diapers, infant formula, and other essentials with dignity and respect while mobilizing a large network of volunteers to respond to community needs. Lisa’s work focuses on strengthening local food access and adapting services to meet rising demand in one of the state’s most food-insecure regions.

• Usha Thakrar is the Executive Director of Boston Area Gleaners. Her commitment to food security is shaped by years of experience in nonprofit healthcare and long-standing volunteer work with the Lexington Food Pantry. Previously, she spent more than a decade at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Dana-Farber and time at a community health center. Usha holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School and serves on the board of the Lexington Food Pantry and the Health and Research Council at the Greater Boston Food Bank.