Massachusetts Food Banks >> Cambridge Food Assistance

Food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries in Cambridge MA

AIDS Action Committee of MA Inc. - Youth on Fire (YOF)
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.661.2508
Details: Youth on Fire (YOF), a program of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, is a drop-in center for homeless and street - involved youth, ages 14-24, located in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Over 3,000 youth have benefitted from YOF since the program opened its doors in the Spring of 2000.
Cambridgeport Baptist Church - Harvest Food Pantry & Clothing Closet
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.576.6779
Details: The Harvest Food Pantry has been nurturing the physical and spiritual life of the community since 1989. Housed at the Cambridgeport Baptist Church, we serve individuals and families in need of food and clothing. The Harvest is open the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month from 9:00 to 11:00am (closed only for major holidays or severe weather). We distribute free grocery items including: dry goods, canned goods, bread, and fresh produce. Gently used clothing in good condition for minimal cost ($.25 to $1.00 per item; $5.00 limit per session). There are no income restrictions to visit the pantry, but a personal identification card is required at the time of check-in. Customers are welcome to come both Saturdays; please do not arrive before 9 a.m., as a lottery system is used for queuing.
CEOC Food Pantry
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.868.2900
Details: The CEOC Food Pantry provides nutritious food for all Cambridge residents. CEOC offers breads, fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, canned products such as tomato sauces, tuna, fruits and vegetables and frozen meats. Volunteers staff the pantry. Individuals and families may utilize the services of the food pantry once each month. Participants must show proof of Cambridge residency to receive food regularly. Emergency referrals are handled daily 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. No one is turned away without food or a referral to a pantry in his or her community. CEOC also coordinates the twelve-member citywide Cambridge Food Pantry Network. CEOC Food Pantry hours are: Monday & Wednesday 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Tuesday 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Thursday 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
East End House Food Pantry
Cambridge, MA 02141
617.876.4444
Details: The East End House Food Pantry provides individuals and families in need with fresh fruits and vegetables, canned and dry goods, meats, and dairy products. Community members are welcome to come to the pantry two times per month. In order to address barriers to accessing the Food Pantry among elderly and disabled community members, East End House, in conjunction with CASCAP, holds monthly Free Farmer's Markets at Miller's River, Roosevelt Towers, and Harvard Place Housing Complexes in Cambridge. East End House brings fresh fruits and vegetables, canned and dry goods, meats, and dairy products to the residents in these buildings. A central part of our mission is strengthening the community fabric by providing relevant services for those who are struggling financially. As part of this effort we offer healthy and tasty foods that meet the nutritional needs of families and individuals in a respectful manner. A partnership with Pierce's Pantry allows East End House to offer gluten-free foods to those who need them. Increasing access for underserved groups is an important aspect of the program, which provides numerous supplemental services, including benefit screenings. The Food Pantry provides individuals and families in need with fresh fruits and vegetables, canned and dry goods, meats, and dairy products. Donations from Food for Free, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and numerous corporations and individuals make this possible. Community members are welcome to come to the pantry two times per month. We serve individuals and families in need in the Cambridge and greater Boston area with no residency restrictions. On your first visit, you will be required to fill out an intake form. Please bring your I.D. and a form of income verification. For income verification, we accept a paystub, a Medicare or Mass Health card, a DTA/EBT card, a referral, a benefit statement, or any other document that proves your income status. Lack of mobility and ability to carry groceries long distances prevents many elderly and disabled community members from using the Food Pantry. In order to decrease these barriers East End House, in conjunction with CASCAP, holds monthly Free Farmer's Markets at Miller's River, Roosevelt Towers, and Harvard Place Housing Complexes in Cambridge. These events are open to residents living in the housing units. We bring fresh fruits and vegetables, canned and dry goods, meats, and dairy products to the CASCAP-operated buildings. There is also entertainment at most Farmer's Markets. The Free Farmer's Markets are some of the most widely attended events at the housing complexes and provide residents with healthy and nutritious foods, as well as an opportunity to socialize with neighbors. Pantry Hours: Tuesday, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Friday, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Faith Kitchen
Cambridge, MA 02139
Details: Faith Kitchen prepares and serves a free meal on the second and last Tuesday of each month. Some of the people who eat the food also help cook it, and all involved (cooks, cleaners, hosts, and guests) eat the meal together. Meals are served at 6:30 p.m. on the second and last Tuesdays of each month. Cooking starts around 5:30, and anyone can help. You don't have to sign up ahead of time.
Harvard Square Churches Meal Program
Cambridge, MA 02138
617.876.0200
Details: The Harvard Square Churches Meal Program operates a community supper each Thursday evening. Our mission is to provide a nutritious meal in a hospitable environment to anyone who needs a meal. We are always looking for volunteers! The Harvard Square Churches Meal Program is a project of ten churches in Harvard Square. It began in June 1982, and has served a weekly meal since that time. Our staff has a cumulative experience totaling 46 years with many volunteers serving our guests for 10 years or more. Volunteers come from the churches, local schools (Harvard, Babson College, Cambridge Rindge & Latin High) and the neighborhood. We serve restaurant style (taking the meal to the guests) and encourage interaction with our volunteers and our guests. We typically serve around 100 meals for the evening and always try to have second helpings. Food preparation begins at 2:00 p.m., meal service at 6:00 p.m., and cleanup to 8:00 p.m.
Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House - Food Pantry
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.547.4680
Details: Our Emergency Food Pantry provides food to 3,500 people each year - nearly three times the number of people served in 2006. Each month we give out over 20,000 lbs. of high quality, healthy food to more than 1200 individuals, families and children. Every person receives 9 meals when visiting the Pantry. We purchase low-cost food from the Boston Food Bank and receive donated fresh foods from Food for Free and Lovin Spoonfuls. Each person receives a variety of healthy vegetables, fruits, grains, and protein (meats, chicken, fish and tofu) and canned goods when visiting the pantry. Each year our pantry provides over 500 holiday baskets and feeds thousands of people each Thanksgiving. The pantry is open four times each week and relies on more than 30 volunteers to ensure the best available food reaches residents in need. Pantry Hours: Wednesdays 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Thursdays 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church Food Pantry
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.868.4853
Details: Food Pantry: 3rd Saturday of each month (Please call for summer hours). Registration - 7:00am -10:00am
St. James's Episcopal Church - Helping Hand Food Pantry
Cambridge, MA 02140
617.876.4381
Details: Helping Hand Food Pantry provides groceries and referrals to individuals in need of assistance. We serve between 300 and 400 households each month. The pantry does not have a residency requirement on Thursdays or Saturdays, and serves people living throughout the Greater Boston area. People wishing to use the pantry must bring an MA Identification Card or License. T-passes and EBT cards will not be accepted. During our redevelopment, the Food Pantry will be held at Fresh Pond Apartments, 362 Rindge Avenue, Cambridge. The pantry is open during the following hours: Tuesdays: 4 to 6 PM (Cambridge, Somerville and Arlington residents only), Thursdays: 11 to 1 PM, Saturdays: 10 to 12 PM
St. Paul's AME Church Food Pantry
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.661.1110
Details: Hours of Operation: Wednesday 12:00 PM 2:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM 12:00 PM
The Salvation Army Cambridge
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.547.3400
Details: Community Feeding Program: In addition to serving meals daily to participants at our Drop-In Shelter, The Lodge, Senior Citizens, and the children of Our Place, we also are joined by Cambridge residents every Wednesday night for a community dinner. Anyone in need of a warm, nutritious meal is welcome.
The Tuesday Meals Program
Cambridge, MA 02138
Details: A program of First Parish in Cambridge, the mission of the Tuesday Meals Program is to offer warm hospitality and an evening meal in a safe, dignified environment to anyone in need of nourishment. In 1987, responding to a growing need for hunger relief programs, a coalition of Cambridge churches committed themselves to offering a meal to those in need every night of the week; First Parish in Cambridge was chosen to provide a meal on Tuesdays. What started as a group of First Parish members making a meal to serve 15 men and women on Tuesday evenings has evolved into a program serving 95 to 140 people each week with a number of professional staff and drawing on volunteers from all over the Greater Boston Area. We gladly welcome you to be a part of this continuing history. The Tuesday Meals Program (TMP) strives to: Approach our service as an extension of the mission of First Parish in Cambridge; Provide healthy, nourishing, delicious meals; Ensure that guests and volunteers are in a safe and welcoming environment; Uphold sanitation and health standards for food preparation and service; Solicit and respond to suggestions for improvement from guests and volunteers; Empower staff to make daily decisions within the scope of their job responsibilities; Recognize program and financial oversight from the TMP Advisory Group.
Union Baptist Church - Project Uplift
Cambridge, MA 02139
617.864.6885
Details: Project Uplift’s mission is to feed the the hungry and the homeless. It also serves to bring people together. We turn no one away Project Uplifts doors are open every Thursday, serving from 5:00PM – 6:00PM. PROJECTS: Feed people weekly; Distribute food baskets throughout the year; Distribute gifts