Local
Dorchester mother relies on community fridge after SNAP benefits fall to $94
A Dorchester mother says a community fridge, nonprofits and friends help her feed her son after her monthly SNAP benefits dropped sharply. ABCD says more families are struggling to cover food alongside housing, medication and heating costs.
When Betty arrived at the Dorchester Community Fridge late one morning, little food remained on its shelves. She found a loaf of bread for meals at home, part of the patchwork of support she relies on to feed her young son.
Betty, who asked to be identified only by her first name, said the fridge is easier to use than food pantries she has visited in the past, where long lines and extensive requirements made getting help difficult.
After fleeing domestic violence, she began relying on nonprofits including Action for Boston Community Development, or ABCD. Her fixed income does not cover her needs, she said, and her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits fell from nearly $400 a month to $24. With help from Greater Boston Legal Services, the monthly benefit for her household of two rose to $94.
Even with that increase, Betty said, the assistance is not enough. She often eats less so her son can have food, and sometimes turns to friends because she does not receive child support. She also said complex post-traumatic stress disorder affects her ability to work.
Betty described a network of women who share information and help each other when resources run short. Their mutual support has become an important part of getting through gaps in food assistance and other expenses, she said.
ABCD CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler said the nonprofit is seeing growing demand as the cost of basic necessities rises. Families are having to weigh food against expenses such as medication, housing and heating, she said.
ABCD serves about 100,000 people each year and offers help with food, housing, utility bills, job training and other needs. Scott-Chandler urged people who are struggling to seek assistance rather than face hardship alone.