Ashley Stanley, founder and executive director of Spoonfuls, a Newton-based food rescue nonprofit, is addressing growing food insecurity across Massachusetts by salvaging surplus food and redistributing it to social service organizations statewide. Since its inception in 2010, Spoonfuls estimates it has rescued approximately 50 million pounds of food, translating into around 40 million meals for residents facing food insecurity.
Stanley emphasized the increasing demand for food assistance, noting a recent study by the Greater Boston Food Bank and MassGeneral Brigham which found that 40 percent of Massachusetts households report experiencing food insecurity—more than double the 19 percent reported in 2019. Rising living expenses, including housing and fuel costs, along with higher food prices, are compounding challenges for many families in the state.
Operating as a logistics-focused nonprofit, Spoonfuls partners with more than 125 food donors, including grocery stores, farms, wholesalers, and schools. Each week, the organization collects about 140,000 pounds of food—comprising produce, protein, dairy, and prepared meals—from donors and distributes roughly 112,000 meals through a network of over 270 community partners serving more than 100 cities and towns across Massachusetts.
Stanley highlighted the organization’s tailored approach to distribution, ensuring foods meet the specific needs of recipients. “If it’s an after-school program, we send cut fruit, sandwiches, milk, and juice boxes. For domestic violence safe houses, we provide easy-to-eat prepared meals,” she explained. Dietary restrictions and cultural preferences are also taken into account to ensure food is both appropriate and meaningful to those receiving it.
Stanley’s path to founding Spoonfuls was unplanned. After a career in fashion and retail, she became involved in hunger relief by volunteering and asking questions within the hospitality community. Recognizing gaps in food recovery efforts, she set out to expand the scale of work being done, starting what has grown into a major contributor to hunger relief in the region.
The organization is preparing to host its annual ultimate Tailgate fundraiser on October 29 at Roadrunner in Brighton, featuring food donations from local restaurants such as Bar Volpe, Flour, Formaggio Kitchen, Myers + Chang, and Willie’s. Funds raised support Spoonfuls’ ongoing operations and food recovery missions.
Addressing broader systemic issues, Stanley identified eliminating restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and instituting federally and statewide prioritized living wages as crucial steps toward reducing hunger. She contended that while hunger relief organizations play an important role, they are not substitutes for robust government support.
Stanley also shared perspectives on the local hospitality scene, expressing support for the expanding “sober curious” and mocktail movements as ways to increase inclusivity. However, she cautioned against conflating personal choice with addiction, reflecting on her own 25 years of sobriety.
As she continues leading Spoonfuls, Stanley emphasizes the nonprofit’s role as “the safety net to the safety net,” striving to ensure that fresh, healthy food reaches those most in need amid a challenging economic landscape.