According to the Greater Boston Food Bank's 2025 Statewide Food Access report, 34% of households in Essex County experience food insecurity. This percentage will grow as the government shutdown drags on and large-scale cuts to essential programs mandated by the Big Ugly Bill are implemented. The cost of everyday goods will continue to rise thanks to Trump's reckless tariffs, and energy prices are surging at a time when the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is under threat from the Trump Administration.
During this crisis, food pantries, community meal programs, mutual aid groups, and food recovery organizations need your support urgently. Below are local organizations that need volunteers and donations.
Food Pantries & Community Meal Programs
Anchor Food Pantry
- Website
- Donate Money
- Food donations must be pre-approved. Contact: theanchorfoodpantry@gmail.com
- Volunteer
Beverly Bootstraps Food Assistance
Lifebridge Community Meals Program
- Website
- Donate Money
- To donate food, contact Karen Andrew: k.andrew@lifebridgenorthshore.org
- To volunteer, contact k.holmes@lifebridgenorthshore.org
Salem Food Pantry
Mutual Aid
Lynn Community Fridge
The Lynn Community Fridge is a mutual aid project with a goal to combat food insecurity. The fridge is managed by Lynn Family Resource Center. The fridge is located in the parking lot of Centerboard at 16 City Hall Square in Lynn.
Sign up to donate food, clean fridge, pick up donations and other volunteer tasks. Additional queries: lynncommunityfridge@centerboard.org.
Salem Survival
Salem Survival Program distributes meals to our neighbors in Salem every Saturday around 11:30 AM at the Riley Plaza flagpoles. Sign up to cook (scroll down to current slots). Additional ways to get involved.
What Is Mutual Aid?
We will have more coverage on mutual aid groups in our area and how to create new mutual aid initiatives. In the meantime, we recommend these resources to learn more:
- "Mutual Aid 101: Solidarity, Survival, and Resistance", Sharable
- "How to Create a Mutual Aid Network", American Friends Service Committee
- "Creating Mutual Aid and Community Response Teams", Indivisible
- "Caring for Each Other: Mutual Aid & Protection", Red, Wine & Blue
- "Mutual Aid 101: History, Politics, and Organizational Structures of Community Care", CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute
- "Toolkit: How to Reduce Food Insecurity + Support Basic Needs in Your Local Community", Mass 50501
Food Rescue/Recovery Organizations
Despite the prevalence of food insecurity in the United States, 30-40% of our food supply is wasted. This problem isn't just wasteful; it's also bad for the environment. Food waste in landfills produces methane and accounts for 8-10% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions. That's nearly five times the total emissions from the aviation sector, according to the United Nations. These local organizations recover unused food and redistribute it to food pantries and community meal programs.
Pet Food Pantries
No one should have to surrender a beloved companion animal because they cannot afford to feed them. Pet food pantries enable companion animals to remain in loving homes.
We are working on expanding this list. Please contact us if you are aware of pet food pantries on the North Shore that are not listed below.
Northeast Animal Shelter hosts pop-up pet food pantries in local towns and also provides pet food assistance to locals upon request. Donate food by dropping off items in the large yellow bin outside the shelter entry doors. For questions, contact neasoutreach@mspca.org.
The Salem YMCA is collecting grocery store gift cards to help local families from November 1st through November 7th. Individual gift cards cannot exceed $25 each, but there is no limit on the number of cards to donate. These gift cards can be used to purchase pet food sold in grocery stores. For details:
Government Websites by CivicPlus®
