Dracut Food Pantry – For Those Who Need Assistance and Those Who Want to Help
- How did the pantry get started?
- Who can visit the pantry ?
- Who runs the pantry?
- How can I get food assistance?
- When is the best arrival time?
- Where does the food come from?
- How can I help?
- I have some food I want to donate. Where can I drop it off?
- What about monetary donations?
- How can I volunteer?
- Can my children help?
- How can I do a food drive?
- What are the types of items you need?
How did the pantry get started?
In 2006, a committee to form the Dracut Food Pantry was established by three Dracut churches – St. Francis Parish, St. Marguerite D’Youville Parish and Christ Church United. Town representation was added, and the committee underwent several months of groundwork. The pantry opened at Beaver Brook Mills in October 2007 with just six families, but the demand grew quickly to over 100 families – or nearly 300 people of all ages.
We welcome any Dracut resident (or any non-Dracut resident referred by a Dracut church) who is among those struggling in this difficult economy to put food on the table. We are aware that it takes courage and humility to ask for help, and we applaud anyone who takes that step. One of the goals of the pantry is to not only send client families home with an emergency supply of non-perishable food, but also to make the experience of going to a pantry a less difficult one.
Treating our clients with kindness and compassion is important at the Dracut Food Pantry.
We are located in Beaver Brook Mills on Lakeview Avenue, the lower level, behind Owen & Ollie’s Restaurant. Look for Dracut Food Pantry signs. In case of inclement winter weather, call the pantry first about our status. Telephone: 978-957-8600.
Please note that the Dracut Food Pantry cannot deliver food or provide transportation.
The pantry is run by a Board of Directors consisting of 11 volunteers from each of the three churches and the town. No one is paid to work at the pantry. From the Board of Directors to the volunteers, from stocking shelves to collecting food, from welcoming clients on Saturday to restocking the shelves for the next opening, Dracut Food Pantry is a 100% volunteer organization.
How can I get food assistance?
Come to the pantry on the fourth Saturday (please check our schedule for date changes due to holidays) of every month between the hours of 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM Due to USDA regulations, you will be asked for a form of identification (license) and proof of residency in the form of a utility bill. Once all your paperwork has been filled out, you can return each month or whenever needed without doing additional paperwork.
When is the best arrival time?
With many clients arriving early, the wait has increased during the early morning hours. The wait is shorter (or none at all) for anyone coming in between 10:30 AM and 11:00 AM. Each client shops individually with a volunteer, which creates more of a wait than if the pantry simply handed out pre-boxed food. However, clients are able to shop for exactly what they need, eliminating waste.
Where does the food come from?
Dracut is a community that has a history of taking care of its own during difficult times, and we are blessed with people who truly care and want to help. Food is provided through food drives at schools, businesses and organizations; monetary donations from the community.
Between 9AM-5AM during the week, you can drop non-perishable items at the collection spots at the Moses Greeley Parker Library and Town Hall.
I have some food I want to donate. Where can I drop it off?
We are not open during the week, so our main drop-off points are the Moses Greeley Parker Library and the Dracut Town Hall. The pantry is located at Beaver Brook Mills, 1934 Lakeview Avenue, Building 7, First Floor, Dracut, MA 01826.
What about monetary donations?
Monetary donations are always welcome. We are a non-profit organization so your donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made out to Dracut Food Pantry and mailed to: Dracut Food Pantry, 1934 Lakeview Avenue, Dracut, MA 01826
The Dracut Food Pantry is blessed with an incredible crew of volunteers who take their roles very seriously and also enjoy their work at the pantry, serving those in need. We have a crew that works at the openings on Saturday morning and Monday evening on the 4th weekend of the month.
Currently we only have volunteers working at the pantry on Saturdays who are ages 18 and over (due to privacy for the clients).
We do want to encourage our youth to get involved in collecting food for the pantry through schools, churches and youth groups (with adult supervision). We discourage informal door-to-door food drives.
There are endless creative ways to collect food, and the amount collected does not matter. Every little bit helps. We’ve had several children request non-perishable items at birthday parties in lieu of gifts, and many adults celebrating milestone birthdays are doing the same.
The Christ Church United Youth Ministry has raised money at several church events, shopped for the most needed items, delivered them to the pantry and stocked them on the shelves – a great way to complete the cycle.
Several groups have held holiday and family parties and asked guests to bring food for the pantry in lieu of a hostess gift or gift swaps. All of these efforts help us tremendously, and those contributing feel good about it.
What are the types of items you need?
It varies each month, depending on how many food drives have been organized, but the non-perishable basics are always welcome. They include canned vegetables – canned fruit – canned meat – jelly/jam – peanut butter – pasta sauce – rice & pasta – sugar/brown sugar – shampoo/soap – coffee/tea – 100% fruit juice/juice boxes – soups – snacks – vegetable oil – flour – cake/brownie mix – cereal – pancake mix – syrup – tuna – oatmeal (regular or instant) – baked beans – canned pastas – macaroni and cheese – tomatoes and tomato paste – Jell-O and puddings – paper products.
