Greater Boston Food Bank President/ CEO Catherine D’Amato, left, presents the Public Advocate of the Year Award to local state Rep. Sean Garballey.

State Rep. Sean Garballey (D), who represents Arlington and West Medford, has been awarded the Public Advocate of the Year Award. 

This honor was given by Greater Boston Food Bank as part of its annual Partner Appreciation Awards — a ceremony celebrating advocates dedicated to hunger relief, according to a press release from The Castle Group.

 Garballey was honored several weeks ago as the State House of Representatives Public Advocate of the Year Award during GBFB’s annnual FreshFest event. 

“I am honored to partner with The Greater Boston Food Bank on so many issues in the State House,” Garballey wrote in a news release. “The Greater Boston Food Bank does tremendous work on combating hunger across the region. I have been proud to work with them on the Hunger Free Campus Initiative, passing free school meals and prohibiting the practice of ‘meal shaming’ in our schools.”

 Garballey is a member of the Joint Committee on Higher Education; a supporter of the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, which aims to support colleges in implementing hunger relief initiatives on campus; a strong advocate towards ensuring student success in Massachusetts; and is committed to preventing student hunger, the statement said.

Garballey was presented the award by the president & CEO of The Greater Boston Food Bank, Catherine D’Amato. 

“Rep. Garballey stands behind a mission to keep all of our students fed, focused, and healthy. We are proud to highlight his efforts and celebrate his accomplishments with this award,” D’Amato wrote in the press release.

Eleven other awards were given at this ceremony. A full list of honorees can be viewed here >> 

Those in need of food assistance anywhere in greater Boston may check GBFB.org/need food to see a list of resources and to search for a food program near them by zip code. Meanwhile, Arlington itself has at least three nonprofits involved in various ways with addressing food insecurity: Food Link, Arlington EATS and Neighbors Eating All Together, or NEAT.

The Greater Boston Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest in the country. More information on the organization can be viewed here >>

Nov. 3, 2020: Resident joins Great Boston's Food Bank's board

This news announcement was published Monday, Aug. 14, 2023. Brynn O'Connor,YourArlington assistant to the editor, prepared it for publication.