A sign of the times perhaps and a not so unusual reality for some nonprofits, two hunger organization boards call it quits, That the boards have thought through all the options, considered their capacities and come to a strategic decision is noteworthy. Rather than call on the community to "beg" their continuation, they have raised the white flag to surrender. Kudos to the board members for making the difficult decision. Now it's up to other community members or perhaps the public sector to determine how big was the need and this approach to address that need. If so found, yes, I believe others will rise to the occasion. This is essentially how it works for the nonprofit sector.
Here's the MSN article describing the situation.
In a surprising announcement on Friday, May 9, 2025, Daily Table, the nonprofit community grocer known for making healthy food accessible across Greater Boston, revealed plans to cease operations within days. The organization, which has served communities in Dorchester, Roxbury, Salem, and Cambridge for the past decade, cited financial challenges and a difficult funding environment as key factors in this decision.
According to the announcement from their Board, Daily Table has made a significant impact during its tenure, serving over 3 million customers and generating over $16 million in savings to the community. The organization's commitment to removing barriers to healthy food access has been a cornerstone of its mission since 2015.
The closure comes amid what the organization describes as particularly challenging circumstances. "The past several years have been particularly hard," the Board explained, pointing to multiple factors including "the challenges of COVID-19, plus the pressures of facing historically high levels of food price increases, to the current uncertain and difficult funding environment." Without immediate funding to sustain operations through 2025, the organization determined it could no longer continue.
The closure timeline varies by location. The Dorchester, Roxbury, and Salem stores will close their doors for the final time on Sunday, May 11, 2025, while the Cambridge location may remain open through Monday, May 12, 2025. All stores will offer significant discounts on remaining inventory during their final days of operation. Daily Table's Board acknowledged the impact of their departure, particularly at a time when other food access resources and organizations are at risk. They have directed customers to the City of Boston food resources for alternative food access options.
In their closing message, Daily Table expressed profound gratitude to their supporters, stating they are "deeply grateful to every person, and organization, who has supported our mission since 2015 — donors, suppliers, customers, volunteers, and community partners." The organization hopes that those who have supported their mission will continue to invest in other organizations addressing food access needs in the communit