What is a Food Pantry?
A food pantry is a community driven resource that can provide emergency assistance with food. Most towns in the North Central Massachusetts offers at least one resource to assist individuals and families in need.
Project Bread food resource hotline: 1-800-645-8333
Ashburnham
Ashburnham Community Church (978) 827-5553
84 Main Street Ashburnham, MA
- Distribution: Third Wednesday of every month 5:30 pm -7:30 pm
- For Ashburnham & residents of any town within 25 miles that does not have its own food pantry
Ayer
New Hope Community Church 978-772-1755
139 Sandy Pond Road Ayer, MA
- Form must be filled out before
- You will be contacted for pickup time
Stone Soup Kitchen Ministries – Food Pantry 978- 772-6055
Shepherd of the Valley Church 21 Washington Street, Ayer, MA 01432
- Distribution: Saturday 10 am to noon
- Email: stonesoupkitchenministries@gmail.com
Berlin
Berlin Family Food Pantry 774-245-8320
23 Linden Street Berlin, MA
- Distribution: Hours: 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month 7AM-12PM (by appointment only)
Clinton
Wheat Community Connections 508-370-4943
272 High St Clinton, MA
- Distribution: Mon,Tues, and Thurs 10 am – 1 pm, Wed: 3 pm – 6 pm
- For Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Lancaster, and Sterling residents
Devens
Loaves and Fishes 978-772-4627
234 Barnum Road, Devens, MA
- Distribution: call or go on their website
- Available to residents of Ayer, Devens, Dunstable, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley residents
Fitchburg
Highland Baptist Church 978-342-9646
19 Cedar Street, Fitchburg, MA
- Distribution: 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month 8 am – 11 am
Salvation Army 978-342-3300
739 Water Street, Fitchburg MA
St. Vincent DePaul Society at St Joseph’s Church 978-345-7997
49 Woodland St, Fitchburg MA
- Distribution: Saturdays 9:00am – 10:30am
Gardner
Gardner Community Action Committee 978-632-8700
294 Pleasant Street, 2nd Floor, Gardner, MA
- Distribution: Mon, Wed, Thu, 10am to 1pm. Tues 2:00pm – 4:30pm. 3rd Wednesday of every month for seniors 60+ only (9 am – noon)
- Available to residents of Gardner, Ashburnham, Hubbardston, & Westminster
Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center, Inc. 978-632-9601
268 Central Street, Gardner, MA
- Distribution: monthly food box delivered directly to home
St. Vincent DePaul at Annunciation Parish 978-632-0253
135 Nichols St, Gardner, MA
- Must call 9 am-5 pm any day of the week to schedule pickup. Gardner Residents Only
Lancaster
Adventists Community Service Center 978-365-7152
129 Bolton Road, S. Lancaster, MA
- Distribution: Tuesdays 9 am-noon
- Available to Lancaster residents
Leominster
Catholic Charities-North County 978-840-0696
196 Mechanic Street Leominster, MA
- Distribution: By Appointment only. Mon – Fri, 9:00am – 3:00pm
Food Cupboard at the First Baptist Church 978-537-2685
23 West Street, Leominster, MA
- Distribution: 2nd Saturday 9 am -11 am **Food & Clothing but clothing by appointment only
- Call for Emergency
Ginny’s Helping Hand 978-537-1387
52 Mechanic Street Leominster, MA
- Distribution: Tues – Fri, 10 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 4 pm
Ruth’s Harvest Pantry at Leominster United Methodist Church 978-537-1356
77 Hall Street, Leominster MA
- Distribution: 4th Saturday, 8 am to 10 am.
Spanish American Center 978-534-3145
112 Spruce Street, Leominster 01453
- Distribution: Mon. 9:00am – 11:00am, Tues – Fri 8:30 am – 12:30pm
- Call to make an appointment
SVDP– St. Leo’s Church 978-786-7637
108 Main Street, Leominster MA
- Distribution: Monday, 4:30pm – 5:30pm, call in between 10am-2pm to schedule pickup for 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Our Lady of the Lake 978-342-2978 x118
1400 Main Street, Leominster, MA
- Distribution: Tuesdays 10:00 am -1:00 pm
- Must make an appointment
St. Anna’s Parish 978-537-5293
199 Lancaster St. Leominster, MA
- Contact the Rectory if in need or for more information
Pilgrim Congregational Church 978-534-5164
26 West Street, Leominster 01453
- Distribution: Wednesday 10 am – 2 pm
First Church Unitarian – Grains and Greens Food Pantry 978-537-0310
- 15 West Street, Leominster, MA 01453
- Tuesdays 10:00AM-2:00PM, Thursdays 3:00PM-5:00PM
- Community Meal second and fourth Saturday 1:00PM-2:00PM
Lunenburg
Lunenburg Lions Food Pantry 978-660-8074
1025 Massachusetts Ave (at TC Passios)
- Distribution: Tuesday and Thursday evening 5:15pm-7pm, Sunday 8:15am – 10:30am (Must schedule an appointment to shop by 9am on the day prior to the day you want to shop)
- Must be a Lunenburg resident. Call ahead or fill out this form to make an appointment.
Pepperell
PACH Outreach 978-925-9770
66 Hollis St Pepperell, MA
- Distribution: Tues 5 pm – 7 pm. Thurs 2 pm – 4 pm, 5 pm – 7 pm
- Pepperell and Dunstable residents
Rutland
Rutland Food Pantry 508-507-8521
St. Patrick’s Church, 9 Pommogussett Rd, Rutland MA
- Serving the communities of Rutland, Oakham and Hubbardston.
- Call for details
Sterling
Saint Richard of Chichester 978-422-8881
4 Bridge Street, Sterling, MA
- Distribution: Thursday 10am-noon
Wachusett Food Pantry 978-563-1064
50 Worcester Road Sterling, MA
- Senior day: 3rd Friday of the month 9-11 AM
- General Distribution: 3rd Saturday of every month 9-11 AM
- Available to residents of Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, or Sterling
Templeton
Templeton Food Pantry 508-826-4258
16 Senior Dr. back entrance (GPS search for 79 Bridge St) Baldwinville, MA
- Distribution: Tuesday 9 am- noon, Thursday 12-3 pm and 5-7pm, Saturday 10am-noon
Townsend
Townsend Food Pantry (978) 877-6002
82 Bayberry Hill Road West Townsend, MA
- TEO serves Ashby, Pepperell, and Townsend directly. Groton and Lunenburg residents are accepted on a referral basis (child in school in the NM District, someone works, goes to church, has a doctor in a primary town, or similar circumstances).
- Call or email (info@teo-ma.org) to become a member or for any questions
- Food shopping and distributions require registration.
Westminster
Westminster Community Food Pantry (978) 874-7970
138 Main Street Westminster, MA
- Distribution: Wed 12PM-1PM, Thurs 6:30PM-7:30PM
- Westminster residents only and must bring proof of residency
Winchendon
Winchendon CAC Food Pantry 978-297-1667
273 Central Street Winchendon, MA
- Distribution: Wed – Fri: 10 am – 3 pm, Sat 10 am – 2 pm – by appointment
Disclaimer: This resource comes as a courtesy from ASNCM. You are hereby notified that Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts does not recommend, guarantee, or assume liability for the performance or lack thereof, for any of the resources listed.
Compiled by the Information & Referral at Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts. (Updated annually 10/2025)