Reimagining Food Systems. Redefining Justice.
The SFPC
The Springfield Food Policy Council (SFPC) is an anchor organization in Springfield and Hampden County’s food system. Governed by resident-driven Community Advisory Boards, SFPC works to reduce food-related health disparities by increasing access to affordable, locally grown food through policy advocacy, local farm partnerships, and programs like the 40 Acres and a Mule Farm and 40 Acres Mobile Market. SFPC collaborates with its “Springfield EATS” partner, Gardening the Community (GTC), as well as other community-based organizations, early learning centers, healthcare centers, municipal departments, colleges and universities, and state and national partners working to create a community-centered food system grounded in health equity.
SFPC is a community-driven organization with deep roots across Springfield’s neighborhoods and a proven track record of building partnerships that deliver both measurable community impact and long-term systems change.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Liz Wills-O’Gilvie Lorette Picciano
Springfield EATS Rural Coalition
liz@springfieldfoodpolicycouncil.org lpicciano@ruralco.org
413-244-5859 703-624-8869
Stand in Hunger: A National Call for Solidarity, Food Justice, and Action
SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS — August 19, 2026 — 19 days ago, liz Wills-O’Gilvie who co-leads Springfield EATS made a simple decision: to stand in hunger with her neighbors.
“I did not begin this with a strategic plan. I led with my heart,” said Wills-O’Gilvie. “I knew
that if my neighbors were going hungry, I could not simply stand by and watch.”
What began as a personal act of solidarity in Western Massachusetts has grown into a national call for communities to Stand in Hunger. The Rural Coalition, Farm Aid, and other organizations; the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, Kansas Black Farmers Association, Latino Farmers and Ranchers International, the National Black Food and Justice Alliance, the National Family Farm Coalition, the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives, Farmworker Association of Florida, World Farmers, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, American Indian Mothers, Inc., the Northwest Forest Workers Center, and the Rural Advancement Fund of the National Sharecroppers Fund, the American Indian Movement IC, are among those who have joined the effort.
The action has also received coverage from NEPM, Boston Globe, WWLP and Reuters.
With millions of people facing reductions or loss of SNAP benefits and eligible families encountering barriers to accessing assistance, Springfield EATS is calling on farmers, food justice organizations, faith communities, service providers, advocates, elected officials, and people of conscience to participate.
Participants are asked to fast for one meal or one day during August and September in solidarity with people experiencing hunger.
“This is not about pretending that one meal without food is the same as living with the constant uncertainty of not knowing how you will feed your family,” Wills-O’Gilvie said. “It is about pausing long enough to feel, in some small way, what hunger means—and using that experience to move our hearts and our communities toward action.”
“The Rural Coalition and our partners join Springfield EATS in calling on you to uplift this call for Federal and State elected leaders to ensure significant investment in, and ensure access to, SNAP benefits for our most vulnerable neighbors. As organizations that advocate for access to healthy food, we recognize the SNAP program also comprises an important market for small-scale local farmers and ranchers whose financial viability depends upon these benefits and others from the long-pending Farm Bill which Congress must pass or extend before it expires again on Sept. 30, 2026.
We urge you to join us in Standing in Hunger to support our neighbors”
WEEKLY ACTION STEPS
Every day: Contact your legislators directly or use the FRAC Action Network to urge your senators to move a Farm Bill that makes significant investments and reverses the crushing impacts of deep Supplemental Nutrition Program(SNAP) cuts in HR 1 through the Farm Bill and any other legislative vehicle.
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You can find information to reach your two senators here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/
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You can find your representative’s information here: https://www.house.gov/representatives
Every Monday: Be mindful and learn more about the SNAP program and dispel myths. Watch for the link to a conversation between U.S Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-D2) and state poverty experts about 30 years of harm, hard-won progress, and lessons for today’s fight in next Monday’s Action Alert.
Every Wednesday: Fast for a meal or day in solitude or in community gatherings or prayer and share what you’re doing here.
Every Tuesday and Thursday in August & September: Tell the stories of those impacted SNAP recipients and farmers and listen to one of the stories which originally compelled liz to fast.
Every Friday: Tell your U.S. Senators and Representatives why you are standing in hunger and what you are hearing from your community.
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You can find information for your two senators here: https://www.senate.gov/senators/
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You can find your representative’s information here: https://www.house.gov/representatives
Throughout August & September: Share SNAP resources and stories with legislators and the public, contact legislators, and amplify the need for a strong SNAP program. Let them know how much these cuts are hurting their constituents and neighbors.
“Most advocacy organizations are quiet in August. Seize this moment.”
Make your solidarity visible by recording a short video for TikTok, Instagram, or LinkedIn saying:
“My name is____. I am with ____. And I am standing in hunger in solidarity with the thousands of families who have lost or are at risk of losing SNAP benefits and calling for their restoration.”
Use #StandinHunger #SaveSNAP and #FoodPoverty and invite others to join
Tag @ruralco @springfieldmafpc
We must ask ourselves “What kind of country do we want to be if we are willing to let our neighbors go hungry while we have the ability to do something about it?” liz says “Not our country, Not on our watch.”
Read broader background on this effort here and our previous press release.
Media
Get into good trouble”, stand with Jim McGovern, Liz and our neighbors who need SNAP!
Listen to the NEPM podcast here
Instagram post by Gardening the Community
WWLP - 22 News Coverage
Our Work
High on the Hog Watch Party Dinner
Join us this June for a shared viewing of High on the Hog, a powerful series tracing African foodways through the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and their lasting impact on American cuisine, culture, and economy. As we watch, we’ll gather over a meal prepared with love honoring tradition, culture, and community. Rooted in our commitment to public health, this experience highlights how food connects to history, equity, and well-being, reminding us that access to nourishing, culturally meaningful food is essential for thriving communities.
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Springfield EATS
In the face of shrinking federal support, a higher demand for private support and looming devastating cuts to SNAP, school meal programs and Medicaid, partners have mobilized quickly to advocate for mitigating State policies, to educate and equip residents and our partner organizations with tools to understand and navigate the impacts and to educate policymakers and funders on the intersectionality of the work. Through strong collaboration, shared leadership, and deep trust, Springfield EATS continues to adapt and respond to community needs while advancing long term food access policy, systems & environment solutions.
REI x SFPC Case Competition
As part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the local food system, the SFPC is beginning to reimagine the possibilities of the former MCDI space considering how it might contribute to a future food hub that serves community needs with a draft case study presentation by 6 student teams from NYU's Stern School of Business.
Leadership Pathway Creation
At the center of SFPC’s work is leadership development and pathway creation for community members who have been historically excluded from economic opportunity and civic decision-making. As well as with emerging professionals who may lack access to opportunities that center community health and leadership
40 Acres Farm & Backyard Garden Projects
In response to the pandemic, SFPC built 128 backyard gardens in 2020. That has become an ongiong project - we never stopped. To date we have put in 423 backyard gardens (including a church garden). We continue to support families in maintaining and expanding gardens. SFPC also built the original pilot school gardens in 5 elementary schools, and through our work on the School Wellness Policy, helped to institutionalize the Springfield Public Schools farm to school program which now has 35 school gardens, a STEM driven garden curriculum, a school garden coordinator, and teachers at each school stipended to lead the school gardens.
Postcard Campaign
In response to proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Springfield Food Policy Council and Square One have launched a joint education campaign to protect access to fresh food for families and support local farmers. The campaign includes a postcard initiative where children illustrate their favorite farm-grown foods to urge U.S. Senators to pass the Senate Reconciliation Bill, known as “The Big Beautiful Bill.” These cuts could severely impact SNAP recipients, Massachusetts' 7,000 farmers, and free school meals, affecting nearly 300,000 children statewide. Leaders warn that reduced support will increase hunger, strain families, and threaten the survival of small, underrepresented farmers who nourish local communities.
Institutional Local Food Procurement
In partnership with Farm to Institution New England (FINE), SFPC has convened food providers from schools, colleges, hospitals, early care, food banks and pantries, and farmers to map out the infrastructure, processes and supply chains to see how to build more robust local food procurement in the region. The goal is to increase access to healthier foods for the commuinty and create a more stable food economy, and more wholesale opporutntieis for small local farms.
Community Food Assessment
The SFPC started the development of a community food assessment which aims to present what we have already “learned” about our local food system and to identify challenges and opportunities for building an integrated food system that ensures a healthy, local, sustainable food supply available to everyone regardless of income or zip code. Our focus is to help Springfield residents and city leaders understand what we have and what we need to do to enable our neighbors to access the food that they need for good health. The assessment will also inform strategies for alleviating hunger and/or the worry about having enough food to feed ourselves, our families and our neighbors.