We’re Lovin’: Worcester County
In May, we expanded our operations to Worcester County, where – warmly welcomed by our new partners – we’ve been able to provide an additional source of fresh, healthy food for programs and people who need it!
We rescue from food retailers like grocery stores and farms in the region and partner with food pantries and educational, health, recovery, and housing programs to provide the food we rescue to people facing food insecurity. Together with those named below, the food Lovin’ Spoonfuls rescues and distributes is enough for 5,000 meals (and counting!) each week. We’re grateful for these partnerships – together we’re feeding more people.
Shout out to the funders who helped make this expansion possible: The Jack & Kathy Shields Family Foundation, Digital Federal Credit Union, Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts, Massachusetts Medical Society & Alliance Charitable Foundation, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, and Fred Harris Daniels Foundation.
Below, get to know the organizations we’re working with in Worcester County. And stay tuned – in just a few weeks Lovin’ Spoonfuls is expanding again with a second route in MetroWest!
Vendors in Worcester County
Community Harvest Project is a nonprofit farm that engages and educates volunteers to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for hunger relief. We look forward to beginning to work with them in the coming months as they begin harvesting.
Committed to increasing local food access and consumption and recruiting, retaining, and incubating local food entrepreneurs, collectively building healthy, sustainable, and just communities. We’re excited to work with them to minimize wasted food and feed people.
We are excited to continue our many years of working with the Big Y to rescue food at their locations in Worcester, Southbridge, Spencer, and Holden.
Previously on our MetroWest route, we’re excited to continue rescuing food from the Roche Bros. in Westborough and now distributing it to folks in Worcester County.
After about 5 years of rescuing from Shaw’s locations in Sudbury and Waltham, we’re excited to be adding their Worcester location to the mix!
Nonprofit Partners in Worcester County
AIDS Project Worcester (APW) provides services to those who are HIV+ and are at high risk of becoming positive. Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ food deliveries help to meet the nutritional needs of APW’s clients.
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester is one of the largest youth development agencies in Central Massachusetts. Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ food deliveries go to their small pantry available to families of the club.
Since 1991, El Buen Samaritano has operated with a team of volunteers to distribute food, some of which will now come from Lovin’ Spoonfuls, to people in need. In addition to providing food, our agency is also a resource center for government programs, clothing, furniture, and other administrative services.
Eliot Community Human Services (ECHS) – Harvard House
ECHS provides community-based services to more than 50,000 individuals and families throughout Massachusetts. In Worcester, Spoonfuls is currently delivering food to Harvard House, which provides housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Founded in 1920, Friendly House seeks to help families in Worcester access food and other services. Currently, Spoonfuls is making deliveries to three Friendly House-operated food pantries: Friendly House, Green Island Neighborhood Center, and Quinsigamond Village Community Center.
Latin American Health Alliance – Hector Reyes House
The Hector Reyes House is a new model of residential substance use treatment. It offers in-house medical treatment, along with intensive cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing, for up to 25 Latino men. Spoonfuls’ supports the people in their treatment by helping to make fresh, healthy food accessible.
Operating out of Ministries of St. Joseph – St. Pius X, the Leicester Food Pantry is open to any resident of Leicester in need of food assistance. Lovin’ Spoonfuls deliveries will contribute to their offerings.
LIFT is committed to ending sex trade through the Equity Model. Currently, Spoonfuls delivers to two LIFT locations: HARBOR™, an expansion of their drop-in center with a 15-bed low barrier-maximum vulnerability shelter for survivors, and Jana’s Place™, a recovery home for women who are or have experienced prostitution with substance use and mental health disorders.
Mary Queen of the Rosary Pantry
Mary Queen of Rosary operates a weekly food pantry out of their church in Spencer, MA. Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ deliveries will now be a part of their food offerings.
Net of Compression operates a food pantry, clothing closet, hot meal program, mobile shower unit, and homeless shelter to serve those experiencing homelessness, poverty, and substance use disorder in the City of Worcester. Spoonfuls’ deliveries support food access through their food pantry.
For more than sixty years Pernet has been part of Worcester’s Kelly Square, supporting the physical, social, psychological, and spiritual development of individuals and families by providing home-based health and social services that lead to the long-term strengthening and enhancement of community life. Spoonfuls supports their Emergency Assistance Program, which helps families access food.
It’s Roca de Salvacion’s mission to address and provide the services needed by their community. Comprised of marginalized groups, low-wage workers, and others, the organization recognizes that there is work to be done. Spoonfuls’ food deliveries help Roca de Salvacion’s community members in need of food gain access to it.
Supporting those vulnerable to food insecurity, Salvation Army serves breakfast and lunch at their day shelter Sally’s Place, and maintains an emergency food pantry. Spoonfuls’ deliveries of fresh, healthy food will now be available in their pantry.
This program connects seniors in Spencer with resources like health services and access to healthy food, some of which will now come from Spoonfuls’ deliveries.
St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral – Orthodox Food Center
A Worcester-area nonprofit that provides residents with access to an emergency supply of food, supported by Lovin’ Spoonfuls deliveries, on the weekends when traditional social service agencies are closed.
Trinity Management – New Orchard Hill Estates
New Orchard Hill Estates, located south of Worcester, works with residents in securing/creating programming opportunities that meet the health and education needs and values of the housing community. Partnering with Spoonfuls has enabled them to offer food assistance as well.
Worcester Adult Learning Center
Offering English Second Language and Adult Basic Education classes, the ALC is able to help some students access food, too, through distributions from Lovin’ Spoonfuls.
Worcester Families Feeding Families
In efforts to help their Worcester neighbors, Worcester Families Feeding Families was formed to help put food on the tables of those in need while supporting local chefs and restaurants. Food deliveries from Lovin’ Spoonfuls’ helps them achieve that goal.
A large-scale food pantry in Worcester, Yes We Care has seen an increased need in the past several months. Deliveries from Lovin’ Spoonfuls has allowed them to get more food, and healthier food, to more people.