The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. GBFB distributes more than 36.7 million pounds of food and grocery products annually to 550 member hunger-relief agencies and 30 direct service programs throughout eastern Massachusetts in a dedicated partnership to end hunger in our region. This provides enough meals for as many as 545,000 people. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, the nation's food bank network.

Client:

Greater Boston Food Bank

Practices:

Education/Nonprofit

Expertise:

Public Relations

Our Work

Beginning in early September 2011, Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications (RBSC) was charged with generating attention and support for The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), its mission, programs, key issues— specifically food insecurity and food deserts —senior leadership and the organizations’s annual fundraising initiatives. During the first two months of the engagement, we worked to garner press and public attention, position GBFB as a national model, and present President and CEO Catherine D’Amato and GBFB’s senior executives as expert resources. Media coverage has included:

  • The New York Times – In response to our outreach, The Times assigned reporter and photographer to visit the GBFB warehouse/distribution center and to cover a mobile food pantry in a nearby community. The two day visit resulted in a story in Giving, a special annual section of The New York Times which is inserted in all editions of the paper.
  • WGBH-TV – The PBS affiliate’s nightly news and public affairs program, Greater Boston, produced a field report and an in-studio panel discussion featuring Catherine D’Amato.

Other coverage included stories/interviews in the following media outlets:

  • The Boston Globe/Boston.com
  • Boston University’s The Daily Free Press
  • WBZ Radio News
  • WBZ’s Women’s Watch and Connoisseur’s Corner special reports
  • WRKO’s morning drive program, The Tom & Todd Show
  • The five Greater Media stations (Magic 106.7 FM, WMJX, WROR FM, 105.7, Country 102.5 WKLB, 96.9 FM Boston Talks, and WBOS FM, 92.9)
  • WERS-FM

RBSC will continue to help raise awareness of The Greater Boston Food Bank and the vital role it plays in 190 cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts.

“A Mobile Oasis in a ‘Food Desert’" news: 11.2.11 From The New York Times
"Rasky Baerlein’s work on behalf of The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) has far exceeded our expectations. They quickly immersed themselves in our mission and clearly understood our clients, community partners and benefactors. Rasky Baerlein secured significant stories in influential national and regional media outlets. These stories improved the public's impression of GBFB, helping to increase our awareness, fundraising and brand position. Rasky Baerlein has become an essential partner in our effort to educate the public about hunger and how together, we can help end hunger in our community.”
Catherine D'Amato, President and CEO, The Greater Boston Food Bank