Updated Nov 2017
During the holiday season, our thoughts naturally turn to ways that we can help others who may be struggling. Local food pantries have experienced large increases in the populations they serve over the last few years and need donations of basic non-perishable items year-round and holiday items during the holiday season.
Why not take the kids on a special grocery store trip just for your local food pantry? Gather holiday meal items and include some year-round essentials too and drop off your donation at one of the local food pantries listed below. Your donation will make a world of difference to a local family that is struggling.
Below are lists of items that local food pantries are collecting during the holiday season and year-round:
Holidays:
Pre-packaged baked goods
Boxed potatoes
Canned vegetables
Coffee & tea
Cranberry sauce
Gravy (packets, can, jar)
Fresh & frozen turkeys, hams, chickens
Supermarket gift cards
Year-round:
Beans (dry and canned)
Soups, stews, chili
Ravioli & spaghetti (canned)
Cereal & oatmeal
Condiments & marinades
Gluten-free foods
Peanut butter & jelly
Tuna & chicken (canned)
Pasta & rice
Fruits & vegetables (canned)
Baby food
Juice
Powdered milk
Macaroni & cheese (boxed)
Spaghetti sauce
Local food pantries:
Billerica Community Pantry
70 Concord Rd
Billerica MA 01821
The pantry has distributions once a month and does not have space to store food between distributions. Contact them at billericapantry@gmail.com to learn the best way to donate food items.
Chelmsford Community Exchange
50 Rear Billerica Rd
Chelmsford MA 01824 (in beige trailer)
(978) 250-3818
Call for this year's Thanksgiving donation hours (usually Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week)
Dracut Food Pantry
1934 Lakeview Ave
Dracut MA 01826
Donations can be dropped off any time at the Dracut Central Fire Station, 488 Pleasant St, Dracut
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry
234 Barnum Rd
Devens MA
Thanksgiving donations can be dropped off at Loaves & Fishes on Saturday 11/18 and Sunday 11/19 from 1-3 PM. General donation times are Mondays & Wednesdays 7-8 PM and during pantry open hours. They also have many donation boxes throughout Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton & Shirley.
Merrimack Valley Food Bank
735 Broadway St
Lowell MA 01854
(978) 454-7272
Call for donation hours
Navigators Food Pantry (for UMass Lowell food-insecure students)
University Crossing Suite #200 (for donations)
Lowell MA
Donations of non-perishable items only
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell
13 Hurd St
Lowell MA 01852
(978) 453-6693
Open Monday to Friday 9 AM to 12 PM and Wednesdays 5:30-7 PM for donations
Tewksbury Community Pantry
999 Whipple Rd
Tewksbury MA 01876
(978) 858-2273
November Food Drive on Saturday, November 18, 2017 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Westford Food Pantry
Cameron Senior Center
20 Pleasant St
Westford MA 01886
(978) 692-5523
Donations hours Monday to Friday 9 AM to 12 PM
