Marblehead Community Charter School Aids North Shore Food Access

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Food-insecure families on the North Shore are getting some help this spring from a collaboration between the Marblehead Community Charter Public School and the Cambridge-based Food for Free's Just Eats grocery box program.

The Just Eats Grocery box program, which launched in December of last year, fills in the gap left by a distribution problem with the USDA's Farmers to Families food box program, which now has very limited availability in Massachusetts.

The Marblehead Community Charter Public School's assistance will amplify food delivery efforts by 40 boxes weekly in Marblehead, Nahant, Lynn, Salem, Peabody and Beverly.

"This is wonderful what Food For Free has done. Stepping up and helping these communities with the Just Eats program when the current distributors that were awarded the USDA bids would not," said Danette Russo, Director of Food Services for Marblehead Community Charter Public School.

Each box will include pounds of produce and pantry items such as rice, beans or lentils, potatoes, onions, carrots, apples, oranges, kale and other produce options.

"The pandemic is stretching the emergency food system to a breaking point. One in five children in Eastern, Massachusetts are now facing food insecurity," said Sasha Purpura, Food For Free's Executive Director. “"Children are especially vulnerable to food insecurity. Childhood hunger is linked to negative health outcomes and disparities that can persist into adulthood. Our Just Eats Grocery Boxes are filled with fresh produce and wholesome pantry staples like rice and beans. Not only are these the foods that our community partners request but they also are more culturally appropriate to a wider group of people.

"We're thrilled to expand the program and support the Marblehead Community Charter Public School’s students and their families."

Since the onset of the pandemic, the non-profit has responded swiftly when food pantries and schools closed by creating a free grocery delivery service for those in need, working with local public schools to provide meals and groceries, and helping local housing developments create their own free food markets.

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 54 million Americans did 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.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)