Meals program that helps restaurants and those in need extended

A program run by the Charles River Regional Chamber that aims to provide financial support for struggling restaurants and healthy meals to those facing food insecurity has been funded for a second year.

The Nourishing Newton and Nourishing Wellesley programs delivered more than 7,500 meals from more than 50 independent restaurants in the two communities during some of the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now thanks to Sen. Cindy Creem, the chamber has been awarded another $115,000 from the state to continue helping local restaurants and those in need.

“I wish we could say our restaurants were on their way to full recovery and that there’s no one in our communities going hungry, but neither is true,” said Charles River Regional Chamber President Greg Reibman.  

“Nourishing Newton and Nourishing Wellesley uniquely address both needs at a time when restaurants continue to need support and too many families are going hungry,” Reibman added.  “We’re grateful to state Sen. Creem for securing a second round of funds for this program to continue and to our volunteers in both comminutes who have committed, once again, to coordinate meal deliveries.”

"I am thrilled our food assistance program will continue to operate and provide much needed relief to local households and the restaurant community in Newton and Wellesley," said Sen. Creem. "This program not only lifts up our restaurants during this tremendously difficult period, but also provides critical food assistance to our those in need."    

The chamber is once again partnering with  Rotary Club of Newton, the Wellesley Youth Comission and volunteers in both communities to arrange meal deliveries between restaurants, local food pantries, senior programs and individual households. 

"Providing meals from restaurants, enables those who struggle with food insecurity to enjoy the simple pleasure of eating delicious food from a restaurant in their community - something they would not have the resources to do without this program," said Regina Wu, MD, president of the Newton Food Pantry, one of the dozens of sites that received and distributed meals.

Round two of the program is resuming at a time when restaurant business is expected to slow down as the outdoor dining season ends and concerns about the delta variant keeps some indoor diners away. Over the next few weeks the chamber will solicit input from local restaurant operators, food pantries and social service agencies to the rollout. 

While the $115,000 state grant was earmarked Newton and Wellesley restaurants, the chamber was also able to secure $16,000 in private donations last year to operate a similar program in partnership with Needham’s Council on Aging that purchased and delivered more than 800 local meals. 

The chamber is actively looking for private donors to fund a second Needham effort, Reibman said. He encouraged anyone who might be able to help to contact him at greibman@charlesriverchamber.com

The Brookline Chamber of Commerce is also operating a similar state funded meal assistance program.