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Looking for a food bank instead? See food banks in Massachusetts.
What are Food Banks?
Food Banks acquire large donations of food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. They solicit, store and distribute large donations of food. Food banks distribute the donations they receive to a large number of member agencies, such as food pantries, soup kitchens, meal programs, drug treatment centers, and senior care centers.
What are Food Pantries?
Food pantries often provide food packages meant to last a few days to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals.
What are Soup Kitchens?
Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them. Most soup kitchens serve a full, balanced meal, and some prepare and deliver meals to the homebound as well.
Drive-thru Food Pantries
Drive-thru food pantries are a convenient and efficient way to distribute food to neighbors in need. Many are open to anyone who needs help with food, but rules vary by location, so call ahead if you can.
Who can visit a drive-thru pantry?
Drive-thru pantries are generally open to anyone who needs help getting food. Requirements vary, so check with the pantry before you go.
You may be asked to provide:
- Your zip code, and
- Number of people in your household.
You usually do not need an appointment. Drive-thru pantries are generally first-come, first-served, so plan to arrive early because lines can fill quickly and popular items may run out.
How do drive-thru pantries work?
Volunteers and staff manage the distribution line. Here is how most drive-thru pantries operate:
Staff and volunteers direct visitors to the distribution area.
Visitors pull up in their car and are guided into a clearly marked queue. Staff move cars forward to keep the line moving quickly.
Check-in.
You may be asked about your zip code, household size or income for the pantry's records.
Food is loaded into your car.
Pre-packed bags of food — typically including shelf-stable items like pasta, canned fruit, and peanut butter, as well as fresh produce and meats — are loaded by volunteers directly into your trunk.
Pet Food Pantry
Some pet owners give up their pets because they cannot afford to care for them. Pet food pantries help fill a gap left by assistance programs such as SNAP, which cannot be used to buy pet food.
Pet food pantries may provide free pet food for a limited time to pet owners who cannot afford to feed their pets in Massachusetts.
Who is eligible for a pet food pantry?
Rules vary by pantry, but many help people who are:
- All ages, races and marital status
- Unemployed or underemployed
- Retired, living on social security or other limited income
- Physically or mentally disabled
- Experiencing homelessness or housing instability
Salvation Army Food Pantry
The Salvation Army is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity.
The Salvation Army offers free food help through local centers. Contact your local branch to confirm hours and requirements. The charity organization is involved in feeding millions of families each year, with a large percentage of those assisted being children as well as the elderly.
The charity operates in almost every major county, city, and town across the nation. In general, the Salvation Army will try to provide assistance to anyone in need, but their programs do rely on both donations and volunteers.
Find a location of a Salvation Army food pantry in Massachusetts.
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches have food pantries for those in their neighborhoods who are in need of food items.
Church pantries often rely on food donations gathered through food drives.
Some churches also deliver food items to older adults who are unable to drive to a nearby community food pantry. Please contact your local church directly.
Find a local church food pantry in Massachusetts.
Catholic Charities Food Pantry
Resources provided by Catholic Charities organizations can include help with food, holiday, and immigration needs.
Families of all religions, backgrounds, and cultures can contact Catholic Charities centers for help.
Catholic Charities locations may offer groceries, food boxes, and items to prepare a meal. Hours and walk-in rules vary, so call before you go.
Some of these food pantries work like grocery stores, letting clients choose the items they need from the groceries available on site.
First-time clients may need to fill out a short application with basic household information.
Because demand is high, some locations limit how often you can receive free food, so ask about any limits when you call.
Find a local catholic charities food pantry in Massachusetts.
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Some independent food pantries use the Helping Hands name.
Food supplies, hours, and services differ from one pantry to the next, so call before you go.
These pantries often rely on donations and volunteers from their local communities.
Find a local helping hands food pantry open in Massachusetts.
Mobile Food Pantry
The mobile food pantry programs distribute food directly to families in need during large-scale one-day distributions.
The mobile food pantry program expands the capacity of the Feeding America network to make food items more accessible in underserved communities where people with limited financial resources may not be able to access food through traditional grocery stores or food pantries.
Mobile food pantries usually visit churches, community centers, schools, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. They usually go to areas where there aren't grocery stores or other food pantries.
Some mobile pantries hand out pre-packed boxes, while others let you shop market-style.
Mobile Food Pantry Schedule
Unlike traditional food pantries where you go to them, mobile pantry trucks come to you. Food banks sometimes have an online mobile food pantry schedule.
Mobile food pantries often visit a community once a week or once a month. There may be last-minute cancellations or changes, so recheck the mobile food pantry schedule before you plan to go.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost.
You may be able to get food assistance from a local TEFAP organization in Massachusetts in two ways:
1) Getting foods from a place like a food pantry to take home or
2) Eating a meal with a group of people at a place like a soup kitchen.
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
Some St. Vincent de Paul food pantries may operate much like a grocery store, where people in need can choose their own food.
Services vary by location, so call the pantry near you to ask what is available.
Gift Cards & Vouchers: Some local St. Vincent de Paul groups may offer food gift cards, food pantry vouchers, or financial aid for food.
Emergency Food Boxes: Some locations may provide snack bags to people experiencing homelessness and food boxes to individuals and families.
Weekend & Summer Meals: Some locations may support weekend or summer meals for school children.
Find a local St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry open in Massachusetts.
Rural Delivery Program
Feeding America reports that 9 out of 10 counties with the highest food insecurity rates are rural.
Some food banks run rural delivery programs that bring food and other products to partner agencies in more remote areas. Ask your local food bank or food pantry whether delivery is available near you.
Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry
Show up early.
This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.
You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.
Remember all documentation.
Some food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.
This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.
This is often a photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.
Use several food banks.
Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.
For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.
Eligible for other programs?
Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.
They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Ask about extras.
If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.
Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.
Go on different days of the week.
Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.
Be polite to workers.
Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?
Food pantries typically provide shelf-stable items such as:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to a food pantry?
Rules vary by food pantry. Many ask only that you say you need help, while others may ask for ID, proof of address, income information, or a referral. Call ahead to find out what to bring.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry often provides food packages meant to last a few days to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.
5. How does a food pantry work?
Food banks acquire large donations of food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Those organizations then provide this food directly to families in need.