North Suffolk Food Security Collaborative (NSFSC)

Mass General Brigham has awarded a $2 million grant to the North Suffolk Food Security Collaborative (NSFSC) to support its regional effort to promote food security in Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop. NSFSC received the grant through Mass General Brigham’s Community Health Impact Funds and is using the money to coordinate a new, unique community-driven, multi-municipal initiative to support food security.  

Food insecurity persists in Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop beyond the challenges experienced in the pandemic and has been further impacted by current political shifts and economic strain. The communities have committed to working at a systems-level – looking into policy, systems and environmental change that would allow food security to flourish and our region to thrive. 

Through this coordinated regional network, NSFSC’s goal is to help transform the current food environment through enhanced local operations that increase efficiency and positively impact residents by creating a more holistic and affordable food system. NSFSC plans to take actions that support shared logistics, communications, operations, sourcing, and resources in local production and procurement of culturally relevant foods.  

Eleven community organizations have been instrumental in the creation and momentum of the Collaborative. Collaborative partners include municipal public health departments, environmental justice organizations, food pantries working at the front lines, and school- and clinic-based food assistance organizations. Along with facilitation from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the following organizations make up the Steering Committee: 

Revere 

• City of Revere Public Health Department 

• Women Encouraging Empowerment 

• Revere Arabic Community 

•  First Congregational Church of Revere 

• Cambridge Health Alliance (Mobile Market) 

Chelsea 

• City of Chelsea Public Health Division 

• GreenRoots 

• Revival Kitchen 

• St. Luke’s Food Pantry  

Winthrop 

• Town of Winthrop Public Health Department 

• Mi Amore