In response to the needs of our community, the Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry was started in 1992 by the parishioners at the First Baptist Church. Since then, our services have grown tremendously to meet the ongoing needs of the community.
Food Pantry
To allow us to limit the number of people in our building and to focus all of our attention on providing food to those in need in our community, we have made the following changes to our Food Pantry process:
• Prepared bags of food will be given to individuals/families in need based on family size. Each pantry client will receive two bags of food; one perishable and one non-perishable. By going to this model clients will spend less time in the building and will not be touching any of the food as they had in the shopping model that had been in place prior.
• We have extended our daily Food Pantry hours in an effort to keep people moving through our space and eliminate congregating in the lobby.
Existing Food Pantry clients are asked to bring their re-useable bags. Food will be given to clients in paper bags, however clients may want to reinforce the paper bags with the stronger reusable bags that they typically use when visiting the Food Pantry.
Extended Hours of Operation
Monday, Thursday and Friday – 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Tuesday – 2:00 pm – 6:00pm
Wednesday – 10:00 am – 6:00pm
New Client Registration
For any new clients to our Food Pantry we will do an abbreviated intake form, eliminating the need for new clients to come earlier than distribution times and avoid meeting with a member of our staff in a one-on-one meeting.
Donations
We are asking the community to not bring us food or supplies at this time, given that we are able to secure food through our strong partnership with Greater Boston Food Bank. In the spirit of social distancing we would like to limit the number of people coming to the building and we encourage the community to follow all local, state and federal guidelines in regards to interacting with others.
If you would like to help during these challenging times, we ask you to consider making a monetary donation.
Kids Eat Healthy Initiative
Overview
No kid should go hungry or worry about where their next meal is coming from. Sadly, right here in Essex County, 11.5 % of kids are faced with these challenges every day. Through the Kids Eat Healthy initiative, we are committed to supporting local children in need of food.
We do this through our Summer Food and Weekend Food programs which are designed to provide increased access to the Food Pantry and to provide healthy snacks for children when not in school.
Summer Food Program
During the summer months when there is less access to food through the schools’ free and reduced lunch programs, families are encouraged to sign-up to visit the pantry every week instead of every 14 days. By coming every week, we are able to increase the amount of food available to children and their families.
2019 Summer Food available June 17-August 30 and registration is required.
Beverly Public Schools Food Service also provides free lunches at some park programs and the high school. See schedule here.
Weekend Food Program
During the school year we partner with Beverly Public Schools to provide food to elementary age children that are at extreme risk and do not have access to enough healthy food on days they are not in school such as weekends and vacation weeks. Depending on the needs of the family, either pre-packed bags of healthy snacks are provided or additional Food Pantry visits are offered.
Food Assistance
College Pantry
To help fight food insecurity at Beverly colleges, there is a pantry time specifically for current Montserrat College of Art and Endicott college students. These students, with a current school ID, are welcome to visit the Food Pantry on Wednesdays from 3:00pm-4:00pm throughout the academic years so they no longer have to choose between eating and paying tuition.
Mobile Markets
Our Mobile Markets are free, fresh farmers markets that promote better health and nutrition by providing eligible households with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Participants choose free, fresh produce and have access to nutrition education, SNAP information, chef demonstrations, food samplings and youth activities.
Through these markets we serve residents of local housing complexes, senior citizens and local college students.
Nutrition Education
The benefits of healthy eating on a budget are taught through cooking classes that show how to shop for and prepare healthy meals. Each session’s menus are based on suggestions and input from the students. Each recipe used makes a meal that costs under $10 and can feed a family of four.
Students come away from this class with the skills to help them eat healthier that will last a life time.
Priority is given to families that have utilized other services offered by Beverly Bootstraps and can prove financial need.
Community Meals
The Beverly Community embraces those in need of a meal by providing a free dinner every night of the week. We support the local churches and groups hosting and preparing these meals by providing Food Safety Training and, when possible, access to the food needed to prepare meals.
“What a lot of people don’t understand is that it can happen to anyone.”
– Pamela, who never anticipated needing to use the Food Pantry