Give Back This Season: Middlesex County Food Pantries

LEXINGTON, MA — As the holiday season kicks into full gear, it's easy to get caught up in the shopping madness and chaos, but at the center of season is being thankful and giving back. What better way to make holiday memories with your family than by getting together and making a difference in your community.

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the already big problem of food insecurity in Massachusetts. As families rethink their holiday plans to stay safe and socially distant, others in the Commonwealth are trying to secure where their next meal will come from.

Food insecurity isn't a new problem in Middlesex County. Before the pandemic threw millions of Americans into unemployment, 105,610 or 6.6 percent of residents were considered food insecure. And that number had been slowly decreasing from 123,870 or 7.9 percent in 2016. But the recent economic fallout from the health pandemic has swollen that percent to 11.1 percent who are on the brink of hunger.

While the holidays are a great time to give back and help, it's important to keep in mind that many food pantries need help and donations throughout the year — so keep the giving spirit alive long after the holiday lights go out.

Take a look at the list below and reach out to a Middlesex County pantry near you to see if they are accepting donations or volunteers:

Acton
Acton Community Pantry

978-635-9295

https://www.actonfoodpantry.org/

235 Summer Road Boxborough, MA

Arlington
>Arlington Eats

339-707-6757

https://www.arlingtoneats.org/services/hours-location/

Arlington EATS: 58 Medford Street Arlington, MA 02474

>Food Link
General Inquiries: 781-819-4225
Volunteer Coordinator: 781-985-2022
https://www.foodlinkma.org/contact-us

Mailing Address:Food Link, Inc. 17 Brattle Street Unit 17 Arlington, MA 02476
Operations Address: 17 Irving Street Arlington, MA 02476
Ashland
Ashland Emergency Fund

(508) 881-0140 x3

https://www.ashlandemergencyfund.org/get-assistance/food-pantry-assistance

Ashland Community Center: 162 West Union Street Ashland, MA 01721
Bedford
Bedford Community Table and Food Pantry

(781) 275-7355

http://bedfordfoodpantry.org/

12 Mudge Way # 1, Bedford, MA 01730

Belmont
Belmont Food Pantry
Email Address: belmontfoodpantry@gmail.com
https://sites.google.com/site/thebelmontfoodpantry/location-hours

Belmont Town Hall 455 Concord Ave, Belmont MA
Billerica
Billerica Community Pantry

+1 (978) 663-8433
https://billericacommunitypantry.com/home/volunteer/

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 70 Concord Rd, Billerica, MA 01821
Burlington
Burlington Food Pantry

(781) 270-6625
https://peoplehelpingpeopleinc.org/

10 St. Marks Road Burlington, MA 01803
Cambridge
>Cambridge Citywide Senior Center and Food Pantry

(617) 349-6060
http://www.cambridgema.gov/DHS...
806 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
>East End House Food Pantry
(617) 876-4444
http://eastendhouse.org/progra...
105 Spring Street, Cambridge, MA 02141
>Margaret Fuller House
(617) 547-4680
http://www.margaretfullerhouse...
71 Cherry St, Cambridge, MA 02139
>Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church Pantry and Meal Program
617-868-4853
http://www.massavebaptistchurc...
146 Hampshire Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

>St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church Pantry

http://www.st-paul-ame.org/cal...

(617) 661-1110
85 Bishop Richard Allen Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139
Concord
Open Table Food Pantry Concord

978-369-2275

http://www.opentable.org/

20 Lexington Road Concord, MA 01742
Dracut
Dracut Food Pantry

(978) 957-8600
https://dracutfoodpantry.com/
1934 Lakeview Ave # 11, Dracut, MA 01826
Everett
A Better Tomorrow Everett

(617) 381-0300

https://www.facebook.com/pg/abtiservices/about/?ref=page_internal

153 Main St Everett, MA
Framingham
>St. Bridget's Food Pantry

(508) 875-5959

http://www.stbridgetparish.org

830 Worcester Rd, Route 9, Framingham, MA - 01702
>Salvation Army/Framingham Food Pantry
508-875-3341

35 Concord Street, Framingham, MA - 01704
>United Way of Tri-County Pearl Street Cupboard & Cafe at Park
(508) 370-4921

https://www.uwotc.org/

46 Park Street, Framingham, MA - 01702
Holliston
Holliston Pantry Shelf

(508) 429-5392

https://www.hollistonpantryshe...

73 Charles St, Holliston, MA 01746

Hudson
Hudson Food Pantry

(978) 562-5280
https://hudsoncommunityfoodpan...
28 Houghton St, Hudson, MA 01749
Lexington
Lexington Food Pantry
(781) 861-5060
https://lexingtonfoodpantry.or...
6 Meriam St, Lexington, MA 02420

Lincoln
The Food Project

781-259-8621

https://thefoodproject.org/contact-us/

10 Lewis Street, Lincoln, MA 01773

Lowell
>Merrimack Valley Food Bank

http://www.mvfb.org/

(978) 454-7272
735 Broadway St. Lowell, MA
>Open Pantry of Greater Lowell
(978) 453-6693

http://www.theopenpantry.org/

13 Hurd St, Lowell, MA 01852

>Central Food Ministry Inc
(978) 454-7445
370 W 6th St, Lowell, MA 01850
Malden
>Malden Haitian Church of the Nazarine
(781) 321-4230
http://maldennazarene.comcastb...
529 Eastern Ave, Malden, MA 02148
>Bread of Life Malden
http://www.breadoflifemalden.o...

(781) 397-0404
54 Eastern Avenue, Malden, MA 02148
>Freedom Hill Community Church
https://freedomhillcommunitychurch.org/food-pantry/

(781) 321-2121

77 Kennedy Dr, Malden, MA 02148

Marlborough
>Marlborough Community Cupboard

(508) 481-4080
https://www.uwotc.org/MCC
255 Main St, Marlborough, MA 01752
>Marlborough Resource Center
(508) 460-9699

57 Mechanic St # 1, Marlborough, MA 01752

Medford
> Unitarian Universalist Church Food Pantry
(781) 396-4549
https://uumedford.org/connection/food-pantry/

147 High St, Medford, MA 02155

>St. Raphael Church>
(781) 488-5444
http://www.saintraphaelparish.org/community-service/food-pantry/
512 High St, Medford, MA 02155
>St Francis of Assisi
(781) 396-0423
http://www.medfordcollaborative.org/friends-of-francis-food-pantry.html
441 Fellsway W, Medford, MA 02155
Melrose
> Saint Mary of the Annunciation Parish

781-665-3082

https://stmarysmelrose.org/food-pantry

46 Myrtle StreetMelrose, MA 02176

> A Servant's Heart Food Pantry
(781) 662-8226
200 Franklin St, Melrose, MA 02176
Natick
>A Place to Turn

(508) 655-8868
http://www.aplacetoturn-natick...
99 Hartford St, Natick, MA 01760
>Natick Service Council
(508) 655-1791
http://www.natickservicecounci...
2 Webster St, Natick, MA 01760

Newton
>Centre St. Food Pantry
(617) 340-9554
http://www.centrestfoodpantry.org
11 Homer Street, Newton Centre, MA
>Newton Food Pantry

(617) 796-1233

http://www.newtonfoodpantry.org/

Newton City Hall (Basement Level) 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton MA 02459

>Arabic Baptist Church Food Pantry
(617) 723-9766

187 Church Street, Newton Corner, MA 02458

Reading
Reading Food Pantry

(781) 944-8486

https://www.readingma.gov/elder-human-services/pages/food-pantry
6 Salem St, Reading, MA 01867

Somerville
>Elizabeth Peabody House Food Pantry
617-623-5510

http://teph.org/

277 Broadway Somerville, MA 02145

>International Ministry Food Pantry
617-625-1692
9 Cummings Street, Somerville, MA 02145

>Somerville Homeless Coalition/Prjct SOUP
617-776-7687

165 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145

Stoneham
First Congregational Church in Stoneham
(781) 438-0097
http://www.firstchurchstoneham...
1 Church St, Stoneham, MA 02180
Stow
Stow Food Pantry

(978) 897-4230
http://stowfoodpantry.com/
509 Great Rd, Stow, MA 01775
Sudbury
Sudbury Community Pantry
(978) 443-7725
http://sudburyfoodpantry.org/
160 Concord Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776
Tewksbury
Tewksbury Community Pantry
(978) 858-2273
http://www.tewksburypantry.org...
999 Whipple Rd, Tewksbury, MA 01876
Townsend
Townsend Food Pantry
Townsend Ecumenical Outreach
(978) 597-2209
82 Bayberry Hill Road
West Townsend, MA 01474

Wakefield
Wakefield Food Pantry

(781) 245-2510
http://www.wakefieldfoodpantry...

467 Main St, Wakefield, MA 01880

Waltham
> Sacred Heart Parish

781-899-0081

350 River Street, Waltham MA

>Bristol Lodge Food Pantry,
781-894-6110
545 Moody Street, Waltham MA
>Grandma's Pantry at Christ Church
781-891-6012
750 Main Street, Waltham MA
>Community Outreach Market
781-899-2403
Cherry and Crescent St., Waltham MA
>Mobile Market
50 Prospect Street, Waltham MA
>Salvation Army Food Pantry
781-894-0413
33 Myrtle Street
Watertown
>Watertown Food Pantry
(617) 972-6490
http://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/...

Grace Vision Church, 80 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472

>St. Patrick - St. Vincent de Paul’s Food Pantry
(617) 926-7121

https://www.ci.watertown.ma.us/322/Food-Pantries

St. Patrick School 26R Chestnut St. Watertown, MA 02472

Wayland
>Celebration International Church

508-653-6864

http://www.cicalive.org/

6 Loker St Wayland, MA 01778

>The Parmenter Foundation
(508) 358-3001
http://parmenterfoundation.org...
3514, 260 Boston Post Rd #5, Wayland, MA 01778
Westford
Westford Food Pantry
(978) 692-5523
http://www.westfordfoodpantry....
20 Pleasant St, Westford, MA 01886
Wilmington
Wilmington Food Pantry
(978) 658-7425
http://www.commfund.org/food-pantry.html

142 Chestnut Street, Old South School House Wilmington, MA 01887

Woburn
Woburn Council of Social Concern

781-935-6495

http://www.socialconcern.org/?q=node/9

Council of Social Concern, 2 Merrimac Street, Woburn, MA 01801

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.