Hunger Commission

The Hunger Commission provides food and logistical support free of charge to programs that support families and individuals in need. Program partners include established pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and Council on Aging centers. 

Nearly all of the food distributed by the Hunger Commission is rescued from local food institutions that have overages of product they are unable to utilize or sell. We pick up food daily from these business and distribute to our program partners. If you are a vendor, farmer, or distributor looking to donate food, please contact Victoria at 508-994-9625 ext. 210.

We also increase the availability of a variety of healthy, fresh foods to vulnerable populations by distributing food grown at Sharing the Harvest Community Farm – a program of YMCA Southcoast, Dartmouth.  

Annually, the Hunger Commission distributes hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, and in 2020 due to the increased need and increased support for the program, the Hunger Commission distributed over 1.3 million pounds of food across the region.

The Hunger Commission has expanded its work in the last decade by leading initiatives to increase the access to food.

Click here for a list of food pantries on the SouthCoast.

Mobile Market

mm 2021The Mobile Market was launched in 2015 to provide low-income, working families with free, fresh produce. Since its’ launch, Mobile Market has served over 1,000 families. The market is nearly all-volunteer run from July through October. The produce distributed is donated primarily by Sharing the Harvest Community Farm, a program of YMCA Southcoast, Dartmouth.

This past summer, Mobile Market distributed produce in New Bedford and Wareham. BankFive & Southcoast Health not only sponsored Mobile Markets, but also volunteered to help with distribution each week.

 

 

Hunger Heroes

hhOn National Family Volunteer Day, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, volunteers gather to package 1,000 Thanksgiving meals for families in need through the Hunger Heroes Project. Packaged meals are distributed through by the Hunger Commission to local partners in Greater New Bedford.

Due to the increased need and a growing interest from volunteers, the Hunger Commission launched Hunger Heroes: Spring Edition. The Spring Edition focuses on hunger related to children in Greater New Bedford, specifically over the spring break from school. Packaged meals consist of kid-friendly food and snacks and are delivered to school departments in our service area.

Hunger Hero events are built to provide families with food, while promoting family volunteerism and engaging the community as a whole.  

Ways to Get Involved

Volunteer at Hunger Heroes, Mobile Market, or with Sharing the Harvest Community Farm. Visit www.volunteersouthcoast.org to find volunteer opportunities.

Donate to the United Way’s Hunger Commission to further our work by clicking here.
Host a food drive at your business or with your friends & family! Click here to get started.

Donate food that your company or business isn’t able to use. Contact Victoria at 508-994-9625 ext. 210 or vgrasela@unitedwayofgnb.org to talk more about how your company can support our work.

Partnerships

  • Blount Fine Foods
  • Copicut Farms
  • FiveWay Foods
  • Sharing the Harvest Community Farm, a program of YMCA Southcoast, Dartmouth
  • Sid Wainer & Son  
  • Southcoast Health
  • Stop & Shop

Acushnet Council on Aging
Catholic Social Services
Citizens for Citizens (FR)
Damien’s Family Pantry
Dartmouth Council on Aging
Department of Children & Families
Fairhaven Council on Aging
Fall River Housing Authority
Full Plate Project/ YMCA Southcoast
Greater Fall River Food Pantry
Harbour House
Harmony House
Marion Council on Aging
Mattapoisett Council on Aging
My Brother's Keeper
MO Food = Life Pantry
P.A.C.E.
Rochester Council on Aging
Sister Rose’s House
Salvation Army (NB)
Salvation Army (FR)
St. Anthony’s Church
Vets Association (FR)
Wareham Council on Aging
Westport Food Pantry

 

 

Need Assistance?

If you are in need of food, here are some resources that can help you access food in the region:

  • Food Pantries - click here for a list of local food pantries and their hours
  • Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) - If you receive SNAP benefits in MA, you are automatically enrolled in HIP. HIP puts money back on your EBT card when you use SNAP to buy healthy, local fruits and vegetables from HIP farm vendors - click here to find a local vendor.
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - SNAP can help you expand your healthy food budget. Click here to learn more or to see if you are eligible.

Contact

Interested in learning more? Contact Victoria Grasela at vgrasela@unitedwayofgnb.org or 508-994-9625 ext. 210.