The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston (ICA) has partnered with several East Boston organizations–East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC); East Boston Social Centers; Maverick Landing Community Services; Eastie Farms; Orient Heights Housing Development; and Crossroads Family Center–on a month-long food donation initiative for at-need communities in the neighborhood at the ICA Watershed.
East Boston is currently experiencing one of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the city of Boston. The ICA was alerted to the need for fresh produce and healthy food through conversations with its community partners in East Boston. The museum reached out to its caterer, The Catered Affair, who offered to donate their labor in creating fresh food boxes for distribution over the next month. Each box contains a family-sized supply of fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy products, and is delivered directly to households in need. The food donation initiative will feed 400 families over the course of the next month. The ICA was able to fund this effort with support from people who had never before contributed to the museum and were willing to help.
“We know this is just a drop in the bucket of need,” said Jill Medvedow, Ellen Matilda Poss Director of the ICA, “We are pleased to help in this small way. It is wonderful to use the Watershed as a distribution place for food and to understand the many ways the arts can be in service to our community.”
“This collaborative effort of many agencies in these trying times is wonderful! Seeing a donation leave the ICA’s food truck, hand delivered to members of our community, is making a true impact in people’s lives,” noted Michelle Hagerty, Marketing Manager at EBNHC.