Boston must lead

The federal government announced plans to suspend SNAP (food stamp) benefits because of the ongoing shutdown. That means thousands of families right here in Boston could lose access to the program that helps them put food on the table.

This is not a political debate. It is a moral one. A prosperous nation is not one where a few flourish while many go hungry. A baseline of dignity must include a safe place to sleep and healthy food to eat. Anything less is unacceptable.

I grew up in a rent-controlled apartment to two Haitian immigrant parents who worked hard to get a better life for their kids. During my 16 years in the Marine Corps doing economic development and humanitarian assistance missions in Latin America and the Caribbean, I saw what hunger looked like; as a father of three and a Boston Public Schools parent, I see it in our own city. Too many residents are already forced to choose between rent, medicine, and groceries. Federal neglect should make every one of us furious.

As your next City Councilor At Large, I will fight to:

Create a Boston Rapid Grocery Voucher Fund

This program would provide immediate grocery vouchers to households impacted by SNAP freezes, government shutdowns, or processing delays. Working through trusted local partners, it would guarantee 72-hour turnaround for emergency meal support — keeping families fed and neighborhood grocers supported.

Strengthen the Last-Mile Food Network

Local heroes like the Greater Boston Food Bank, Haley House, Dorchester Co-Op, Fair Foods, and Project Bread already carry the city’s hunger fight. Boston must expand support for staffing, drivers, cold storage, and weekend delivery capacity. A shared logistics map will help these groups coordinate distribution and reduce spoilage, ensuring no community gets left behind.

Launch a “Right to Eat” Coordination Unit

Boston’s Office of Food Justice should formally partner with the Governor’s Anti-Hunger Task Force to map food insecurity by neighborhood, identify service gaps, and publish quarterly updates. This unit would create a unified citywide resilience plan — aligning schools, housing, and health agencies to make nutritious food access a year-round guarantee.

Expand Year-Round Meal and Community Kitchen Programs

We must fund weekend and after-school meals, empower community kitchens as approved BPS meal vendors, and integrate “Benefits at the Table” clinics for SNAP/WIC enrollment on site. Every Boston child and family should have access to a warm meal — not just during school hours.

Pilot Affordable Grocery Access Zones

Boston should use city-backed leases and tenant improvement grants to attract full-line grocers to underserved corridors. Pair that with a SNAP “boost” discount on essentials and a Boston Price Basket Index to track affordability. Food is infrastructure — and every neighborhood deserves a place to shop with dignity.

Boston is a city of resilience and heart. Hunger is not inevitable — it is a choice. And in Boston, we can choose differently.

Marvin Mathelier is a candidate for Boston City Council At-Large