Allston Brighton Food Pantry & Thrift Shop

The Allston Brighton Food Pantry provides nourishing foods and services to all members of the community at no cost.

Services:

• Grocery Distributions – Staff distribute bags of groceries directly to clients every Wednesday and two Saturdays a month
• Weekly Community Suppers – Staff provide free hot, nutritious take-out meals to nearly 200 guests every Wednesday.
• Nearly New Thrift Shop – Onsite thrift store sells greatly discounted clothing, shoes, coats, household goods, kitchen appliances, and other items. Staff also offer “Thrift Store Dollars” to provide items for free to those in need, particularly those seeking gender-affirming clothing. (Open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays)
• Allston-Brighton Community Fridge – Free community fridge/pantry that provides 24/7 self-service access to food and supplies (hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, etc.) that clients can take and leave as needed.
• Community Support – Beyond food and clothing, staff provide guests with referrals to other social services in Allston Brighton. Our Trans BIPOC Pastoral Resident offers limited one on one counseling for those in crisis, and our trained volunteers connect with guests who are seeking community social connection.

Berea Seventh Day Adventist

Berea Seventh Day Adventist believes that food should not be a privilege but a basic human right and that no one should ever go hungry. The Berea Church food pantry is open on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 8:00am to 11:00am. However, if you have a food emergency, please call the Pantry at 617-427-2201.

Monday through Friday: 9:00am to 1:00pm

Please bring a photo ID to the food pantry for pick up, as well as bags for carrying food items.

Bethel Baptist Church

Bethel Baptist Church is open to all. Rev. Franklin Murray, Sr., is lead Pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church in Roxbury, MA and offers worship services on Sunday at 7:30am and 11:00am.

Other Services: Sunday School & New Member’s Class (9:30am), Bible study (Wednesday at 5:30pm and 6:30pm), Prayer Service (Wednesday at 7:30pm), and Free Meal and Food Pantry (Call for days, times and eligibility requirements).

Monday through Friday: 8:00am to 4:15pm

Boston Rescue Mission

Boston Rescue Mission offers a variety of programs and resources that prevent and end homelessness and support the recovery, health, faith, and independence of those who have a history of substance use disorder, incarceration, and homelessness.

Services:

• Preventing Homelessness: Outpatient Counseling, Sober Living Communities, Food Pantry, Job Readiness
• Paws for Serenity – Animal Assisted Therapy
• Ending Homelessness, One Person at a Time: Emergency Overnight Shelter, “Dry” Sober Deds and Support Services, Rapid Rehousing & Stabilization Program, Safe Haven Veterans Program 
• Veterans Programs
• Meal Programs: In House Meal Program, Saturday Morning Outreach

Catholic Charities Boston

The Catholic Charities of Boston operates a number of community service centers in eastern Massachusetts. Each center provides a wide variety of support services including basic needs, emergency assistance, education and training programs, transitional housing for families, childcare, and family counseling, and support.

Services: Basic Needs, Child Care, Children & Youth, Counseling, Community Interpreter Services, Education, Elder Services, Family Support, Nurse Assistant Training, Post Adoption & Search, Refugee Services, Shelter Services, Sunset Point Camp, Teen Center at St. Peter’s.

Catholic Charities Program Locations
Catholic Charities Labouré Center
275 West Broadway, South Boston
617-464-8500
Also home to Refugee and Immigration Services & Community Interpreter Services

Catholic Charities Refugee and Immigration Services
275 West Broadway, South Boston
617-464-8100

Catholic Charities North
117 North Common Street, Lynn
781-593-2312

Catholic Charities South
169 Court Street, Brockton
508-587-0815

Catholic Charities Yawkey Center
185 Columbia Road, Dorchester
617-506-6600

Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities
70 Lawrence Street, Lowell
978-452-1421

Catholic Charities Child Care Locations
Yawkey Child Care Center
185 Columbia Road, Dorchester
617-506-6600

Nazareth Child Care Center
19 St. Joseph Street, Jamaica Plain
617-522-4040

Lynn Child Care Center
37 North Federal Street, Lynn
781-598-5547 ext. 230

Malden Early Education and Learning Program
77 Salem Street, Malden
781-397-6055

Peabody Child Care Center
13 Pulaski Street, Peabody
978-532-6860

Labouré Child Care Center
275 West Broadway, South Boston
617-464-8500

Home Based Family Child Care
6 Pleasant Street, Suite 220
Malden, MA
781-605-3330

Common Cathedral

Common Cathedral works to serve the physical and spiritual needs of the community, welcoming anyone who would like to participate.

Services:

• Sunday Worship: Located at Brewer Foundation on the Boston Common
  Every Sunday at 1:00pm
• Common Art: Provides space, materials, and caring support staff to unhoused and low-income individuals as they develop their artistic abilities; breakfast and lunch are served. Every Wednesday from 10:00am to 2:00pm (Located at Emmanuel Church Parish Hall, 15 Newbury Street, Boston)
• BostonWarm: Day warming center, located at Emmanuel Church Parish Hall on Newbury Street. Available Fridays 8:00am-12:00pm
• CityReach: Overnight urban outreach program for youth. The program provides young people with the opportunity to learn about homelessness from people who experienced it and participate in street ministry to offer hospitality food and clothing to those in need.

Faith Kitchen at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church

Faith Kitchen serves fresh, healthy, made-from-scratch meals every second and last Tuesday evening of the month at St Peter’s Episcopal Church.

Faith Kitchen is a cooperative effort of Faith Lutheran Church, Temple Beth Shalom, When Pigs Fly Bakery, and other members of the Cambridge community.

Serving meals every second and last Tuesday of each month, starting at 6:00pm - 7:30pm. You may arrive as early as 5:30 if you'd like to enjoy hot coffee or tea.

First Church in Cambridge

First Church in Cambridge is a congregation living their calling of radical welcome and abundant grace to serve the needs of their community.

Services:

• Homeless Ministries
• The First Church Shelter: Their 14-bed men’s shelter operates 365 days a year and makes a long-term investment in individuals, including a full spectrum of support services to assist in residents’ specific needs as they seek stable housing. The Shelter opens at 4:00 every afternoon and guests depart by 8:00 in the morning. On weekends the shelter is open all day. (Contact: Jim Stewart, jstewart@firstchurchshelter.org or 617- 661-1873)
• The Friday Café: A weekly daytime drop-in program, offers a welcoming space where homeless and housed adults can gather and get to know each other. The Cafe is open Fridays from 12:00-3:00pm. (Call 617-851-5074 or Email fridaycafe@firstchurchcambridge.org for more information)

The First Church Shelter accepts referrals from credible service providers in the greater Boston area, including hospitals, other shelters, and social service agencies. Must be 18+; drug and alcohol-free; not able to admit guests who are experiencing an acute psychiatric emergency; no registered sex offenders.

Freedom Hill Community Church

Freedom Hill Community Church serves many communities around Boston’s North shore with resources like food, clothing, immigration assistance, after-school programs, children and youth programs, Christian education, prayer and worship services.

Services: Children, Youth Group, Women, Food Pantry, LifeGroups.

Food Pantry Hours: Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:00pm

All are welcome.

Friday Night Supper at Arlington Street Church

The mission of the Friday Night Supper Program is to serve a hot nutritious meal in a safe and dignified environment every Friday to anyone who wants one. Each guest is served a nutritious three-course meal consisting of soup, dinner, and dessert at their table by their courteous volunteer servers. They also provide clothing, shoes, toiletries, and other essential items to their guests following meal service. Twice per month, the Friday Night Supper Program provides basic essentials to its guests through a request and need-based system.

Services:

• Clothing Closet: On the second and fourth Friday of the month, from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, guests can put in their request for clothing at the table near the piano. The clothing closet opens up at 6:30pm.
• Resource Cards: The FNSP has a series of “People Cards” that provide information on free resources in Boston. They have one for Food and Shelter resources, Health care resources, and useful resources (employment/education services, legal assistance, etc.).

Every Friday between the hours of 5:00pm-7:00pm. Guests can begin to line up in the public alley off Arlington Street at 4:30pm.

No registration or sign-up is required, no questions are asked.

Friends Meeting at Cambridge

Friends Meeting at Cambridge is a faith-based organization made up of Quaker residents who volunteer to run several community groups where all are welcome.

Services: Groups available to community members include –

• Ad Hoc Disability and Accessibility Awareness and Coordination Group
• Family Worship Group
• LBGTQ+ Community Group
• Prayer Circle
• Sharing Circle is comprised of formerly incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. Begins at 6:00 accompanied by a home cooked meal.
• Young Adult Friends Monthly Potluck (members must between 18 and 35) Occurs every 4th Sunday at 6:15 pm

Sharing Circle: Every Wednesday at 6:00pm
Young Adult Friends Group: The fourth Sunday of every month at 6:15pm

Greater Love Tabernacle, Inc.

The Greater Love Tabernacle (GLT) is an inner-city ministry in Dorchester that began in 1989.

Services:

• Prison Prevention Ministry: supports members of the congregation with family and friends who were incarcerated. Members of the clergy and volunteers provide one-on-one mentoring for justice-involved youth and adults. As part of this program, the Future Hope Apprenticeship looks to assist with job opportunities in the construction trade, along with life skills, education, and job readiness training for a sustainable future.
• HIV/AIDS Ministry: Their mission is to increase HIV & AIDS awareness in the Christian community while empowering them to serve people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. As an outreach ministry, they are particularly interested in reaching those with little knowledge about the disease to better assist in prevention and treatment.

Harvard Square Churches Meal Program

The Harvard Square Churches Meal Program hosts an evening meal every Thursday night at Christ Church in Cambridge. The program also offers access to a marketplace which includes canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, toiletries.

Doors open at 5:00pm with the meal served at 5:30pm

Harvest on Vine, Charlestown Catholic Collaborative

Harvest on Vine distributes a variety of household items and food twice a month to families in need.

Food distributions take place on the second Saturday at 10am, and the last Tuesday of each month at 2pm.

Proof of residence

Loaves and Fishes Meal Program

Loaves and Fishes is a food service and relief project led by the Korean Church of Cambridge. Food preparation is made through the cooperation of nonprofit organizations including the Greater Boston Foodbank, donations from nearby stores, and the church’s charitable donation budget. For the past 35 years, the Loaves and Fishes program has consistently served 80 to 160 people every Saturday afternoon, acting as a place of service where individuals can enjoy warm food with dignity rather than just filling your stomach.

For the most up-to-date information visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Loaves-and-Fishes-Meal-Program-136515539846968/.

MANNA Community, Cathedral Church of St. Paul

The Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s MANNA (Many Angels Needed Now and Always) Community is a ministry of and with the unhoused community in downtown Boston. Through MANNA, the church welcomes unhoused folks of all different backgrounds.

Services: The Monday Lunch program has been serving a freshly cooked lunch for anyone who desires it every week for thirty years. MANNA volunteers now join their long-standing partner parishes to welcome the broader homeless community. Lunch is served every Monday from 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. in Sproat Hall.

The Cathedral offers additional services, including weekly masses, a micro library, meditation groups, and more.

Lunch Service: Mondays, 11:30am to 12:45pm

Open Door Soup Kitchen at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church

The Open Door Soup Kitchen and the St. Bridget’s Pantry are ministries of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Allston. They serve warm, nutritious, homemade meals every Monday to community members facing food insecurity, including families with children, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness. See their website for additional details and volunteer opportunities.

Serve Allston, Brighton, and neighboring communities. 

Open Door Dinner: Mondays 6:00pm to 7:00pm

Paulist Center

The Paulist Center aspires to be a welcoming community, open to all, including those searching for a spiritual home and those alienated from the Catholic Church. Social justice and supporting those in their community is central to their mission, providing various services dedicated to different issues and projects.

Services: 

• Emergency Food Pantry: Located on the first floor, open every non-holiday Tuesday afternoon (1:30pm-3:00pm) for those with an immediate, critical need for food.
• Wednesday Night Supper Club: Volunteers host a meal for individuals facing food insecurity. Offered weekly in the Paulist Center Auditorium at 6:00pm.
• Advocacy Groups: Racial Justice Advocacy Group, Immigration Advocacy Group

Pilgrim Church

Pilgrim Church provides various services to members in the community including community lunches, food pantries, and flea markets. See their website for additional details.

Services: Thrift Shop, Food Pantry, unCommon Outreach, Free Community Lunch, Saturday Flea Market 

Project MANNA, Massachusetts Ave. Baptist Church

Mondays only 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Saint Cecilia Parish

Saint Cecilia Parish welcomes people of every age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic condition, family structure, and physical or mental ability.

Services: Nonprofit Partnerships, Hunger and Homelessness Ministry, Saint Cecilia CARES

Mass Schedule
Saturday: 5:00pm (In-person)
Sunday: 8:00 a.m (In-person); 9:30 a.m. (In-person & Livestream); 11:30 a.m. (In-person); 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
Wednesday through Friday: 8:00 a.m. (In-person)

Salvation Army Family Thrift Stores – Boston Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center

Salvation Army Boston Kroc

Experience all that the Boston Kroc has to offer. Enjoy access to classes and state-of-the-art equipment where you can focus on your fitness goals. Or explore how our arts, science and education, youth leadership, ministry, culinary arts, and other programs are helping our communities grow stronger. The Boston Kroc offers something for everyone.

The Salvation Army South End Corps
Annually, over 3,400 individuals are served through their emergency assistance programs

• Emergency Utilities Assistance/Good Neighbor Energy Fund
• Emergency Furniture Assistance
• Emergency Clothing Assistance
• Emergency Rent/Mortgage Assistance
• Food Pantry Assistance
• Energy Efficiency Funds Assistance
• Christmas Assistance

For more information on these services, please contact the South End Corps at 617-536-5260 or visit them at 1500 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118.

The Salvation Army also runs Family Thrift stores where you can score great deals on clothing, home goods, and electronics.

• Somerville Store
  • 487 Broadway
  • Somerville, MA 02145
  • 800-728-7825
  • Bosadm@use.salvationarmy.org

Somerville Store
487 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02145

St. James Helping Hands Food Pantry

Helping Hand Food Pantry operates on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 9:00-11:00 am at the church, 1991 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge (2 blocks from Porter Square). Donations of unexpired canned and packaged food goods, cleaning supplies and personal care products, including period products (maxi pads are particularly requested), can be dropped off at our location.

Drop-off hours are on the second and fourth Fridays of each month from 10am-12pm.

Second & Fourth Saturday of each month: 9:00am - 11:00am

Proof of residency in Cambridge or Somerville is required. Proof includes a tax bill, rent statement, utility bill, phone/cable bill, car registration or driver’s license.

Unhoused individuals are welcome.

Straight Ahead Ministries

Straight Ahead Ministries is a faith-based organization that supports and connects justice-involved youth with available resources in their community. They operate several youth reentry programs in Massachusetts that offer a variety of services for youth alongside the support of case managers, mentors, and peer leaders.

Services: 

• Ready4Life Intensive Seminar: Interactive event designed to empower justice-involved youth to make positive, lasting changes.
• Straight2Work: Job readiness program, providing youth with opportunities for hands-on work experience.
• Connect & Train: Resource guide of every youth justice facility in US in need of volunteers.

Weekend Emergency Food Pantry – Church of the Covenant

The Weekend Emergency Food Pantry program offered by Church of the Covenant provides free groceries and other necessities to Boston residents in urgent need. It operates out of the back entry at Church of the Covenant. The building is located at the corner of Berkeley and Newbury Streets in Boston’s Back Bay and the food pantry entry is down the alley off of Berkeley Street.

Saturday and Sunday: 10:00am to 12:00pm

People seeking assistance should bring photo identification. Visits are limited to once per month.