First Congregational Church of Revere Food Pantry receives $40K GBFB Community Investment Grant

Grant empowers local food pantry to boost community reach with new Operations Manager!

First Congregational Church of Revere (FCCR) is excited to announce that our food pantry has been awarded a $40,000 Community Investment Grant from The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). Our food pantry has always been volunteer-based, and, with these funds, we can hire our first staff person, Nicoletta Giardina, to serve as the Operations Manager. The annual Community Investment Grant program – originally founded in 2013 – has now been investing in GBFB partner agencies for 10 years.

Nicoletta will assist us to better serve our diverse community. Besides assisting with the overall food pantry operations, she will also help recruit and train essential volunteers. She will work on offering more nutritious food, including culturally connected and dietary specific foods. As a team, FCCR is actively seeking fundraising opportunities to expand our service hours and potentially introduce client choice through preordering.

For 40 years, FCCR Food Pantry has been an emergency food provider for food-insufficient families in Revere and nearby areas. Immediately following the pandemic in April 2020, the number of unique families (those that visited at least once) rose 147%. Our food pantry went from serving about 200 unique households each month in March 2020 to almost 1,000 households currently. Revere has 12-13% of families living at or below poverty levels. These families were hardest hit during the pandemic, with many employed as essential workers. In 2022, we served 3574 unique families, and we still see many new clients each week, particularly immigrants new to our community.

We are blessed with the help of many volunteers and GBFB to serve so many families in need in these difficult times.

Statement from Nicoletta Giardina, Operations Manager

Greetings! My name is Nicoletta Giardina (pictured in middle), and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Operations Assistant Manager of the Food Pantry here at the First Congregational Church of Revere. I’ve been with the First Congregational Church as the Nursery Coordinator since January, and I’ve developed such a deep appreciation for our community that I recently accepted an offer to extend my services through the Food Pantry.

Growing up in Suffolk County, it feels great to give back and further strengthen my ties within the community. Whether it was caring for geriatric patients, assisting local insurance agencies, teaching universal pre-kindergarten, or nurturing and nannying local kids, community-building has been the core of my endeavors; with this variety of experience, I’ve also developed my operational skills in project management, decision-making, process improvement, and communication. In my new role, I hope to collaborate with you all to further nurture the bonds within our community. As I’ve identified, success in the community is only possible when we strengthen our connections through communication and collaboration. I’m confident that with our dedicated team, we can achieve more than we ever dreamed of in service of community.

I currently hold an AS in Early Education from Bunker Hill Community College and am working to finish my BS in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Child Homelessness & Trauma from Lesley University. Outside of work, I enjoy singing, playing piano, reading, and the beach. I am eager to hear from and collaborate with those who continue to serve this community. I look forward to working together and making a positive impact.

About First Congregational Church of Revere (FCCR)

FCCR has been a vital community resource and welcomes any and all searching for a church home. Their ministry services range from providing Sunday worship (offered in English and Cambodian), serving at the food pantry, youth groups, neighborhood English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, Angels for the Elderly ministry, music ministries, Sunday School for Children & Adults, Young Adult groups and various other community and small Bible studies. Their Caring Hearts ministry also provides food, clothing and services to Revere’s population experiencing housing instability. Their mission is to serve and support the greater Revere community. Get involved on their website, catch the Church Livestream, donate online or call at 781-284-4158.

About The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB):

GBFB is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. As the food bank for Eastern Massachusetts, GBFB is feeding people in 190 towns across the region, distributing the equivalent of nearly 90 million meals through a network of 600 dedicated food distribution partners and programs. A member of the national Feeding America network, GBFB’s mission is to end hunger here. The organization remains committed to the belief that access to healthy food is a human right regardless of an individual’s circumstances. Through policy, partnerships and providing free, nutritious and culturally responsive food, GBFB is committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity while promoting racial, gender and economic equity in food access. For more information and to help GBFB help others, visit GBFB.org, follow GBFB on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call GBFB at 617-427-5200.