Food banks and free food pantries in Massachusetts
A number of non-profit food banks, soup kitchens, and distribution centers in Massachusetts may be able to give out free groceries or help people get something to eat. The locations will help the low income and people who are facing a hardship. Free or low cost food, groceries, and/or perishable items are provided and find details on a food bank in Massachusetts that may be near you, with links to centers and contact information below.
In addition to passing out free food (fresh or canned), other services may be offered too, such as referrals to government aid or benefits such as SNAP food stamps. Or they give out free seasonal items such as Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas meals and even many centers in Massachusetts have pet food banks. The main non-profits, such as Feeding America, also work with dozens of other local churches, non-profits, and charity organizations.
List of local Massachusetts food banks
In addition to the statewide centers listed below (scroll down the page) there are also county specific sites. Select a city/county to find information, phone numbers, and addresses of additional pantries for your town, city or county. These centers focus on helping feed people in those local communities. Or continue to scroll down the page for more free locations.
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Hampden County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County including the city of Boston MA
Worcester County
Additional programs in MA that give out free food
Greater Boston Food Bank is for the city as well as all surrounding counties. Call 617-427-5200. The non-profit will help people in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Middlesex, Essex and even parts of Plymouth and other communities in eastern Massachusetts get food. They help people in Boston find places for food, including dairy products, meats, nutritional drinks and more. The regional center serves all of the major metropolitan areas, including Boston, Cambridge, and the population centers in Massachusetts.
- In addition, the Feeding America center in Eastern MA (Greater Boston Food Bank) can help people apply for federal government and state of Massachusetts assistance, including SNAP food stamps, WIC, and summer meals for children. Baby formula and other support is offered for infants and pregnant mothers as well. There are even shopping / budgeting type services ranging from apps that help people save on groceries to coupon tips. The main site is at 70 S Bay Ave, Boston, MA 02118, and dial (617) 427-5200
Project Bread helps people across the state find a food distribution center. They operate the FoodSource Hotline. Counselors from the non-profit screen for SNAP, WIC, Summer Eats, school/elder meals, and other benefits. In addition to that, the staff will point callers to local free food pantries, including ones open the same day, anywhere in the Commonwealth. Read more about the service here https://projectbread.org/foodsource-hotline or call 1-800-645-8333.
Merrimack Valley Food Bank Inc. provides support across the northern part of the state. Address of pantry - 1703 Middlesex St, Lowell, MA 01851. Provides social services and food to locations across the northern part of the state. Perishable items, government commodities, and other aid is provided. Free boxes of groceries, canned goods, and other support is offered for the low income. Also, from the soup kitchen, hot meals may be served to the less fortunate. Main phone: (978) 454-7272
Department of Transitional Assistance, the official government site for MA, has a food pantry / soup kitchen locator too (website is: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/find-a-local-food-bank. In addition to that, they have information on programs such as Meals on Wheels, USDA backpack program that feeds kids on the weekend and so much more.
Summer Eats will help parents find food, hot meals, snacks and more for their kids when school is out. This can be during the summer or even a holiday break. “Summer Eats” (Summer Food Service Program in Massachusetts) provides free meals as well as boxes of groceries to anyone 18 and under. The distribution takes place at hundreds of sites statewide - no ID, no registration so even immigrants can use it. A search tool is at https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-prepares-for-summer-eats-child-nutrition-program.
Worcester County Food Bank is also part of the Feeding America service. They provide assistance for Worcester County (as well as other parts of central Massachusetts) and partner programs serving nearby communities. In addition to learning about local free food pantries and soup kitchens at charities, the center will help people apply for benefits such as groceries from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), surplus government commodities, and information on other government run food programs. The location is 474 Boston Tpke, Shrewsbury, MA 01545 and call (508) 842-3663.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is for residents of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties They non-profit will direct struggling households to places for free food, perishable fruits and vegetables, soups, and dairy items. They also have information on local pet food banks for free dog or cat food.
- Hot meals, lunches for the homebound, and free canned goods are offered from soup kitchens as well that partner with The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Call to get referrals to local food banks or a soup kitchen near you. The main address is 25 Carew Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The staff also have have information on government and public aid, such as WIC or SNAP food stamps. For emergency referrals, call 413-206-6276
Food Link of MA is an anti-poverty fighting organization. They focus on statewide hunger prevention programs in the state and help with access to fresh, healthy food. focus is on children from low income families and the elderly. In addition to emergency food, education such as information on cooking healthy and nutritional services are offered to income qualified families. Find a link to more Food Link resources here https://www.foodlinkma.org/resources.
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