Local Food Program Receives Grant from Anti-Hunger Organization

Open Table, which offers weekly community supper programs and food pantries in Concord and Maynard, was one of several non-profit organizations across the Metro West to receive grants from Project Bread recently. 

Founded in 1989, Open Table has a variety of guest programs -- including dinners, food pantries and other resources -- in two locations to support area residents in need. 

Last week, Project Bread, a statewide anti-hunger organization, announced the distribution of $1.79 million to 365 food programs across the state, including $54,000 to programs at non-profit organizations in the MetroWest region.

“Hunger is a very real, chronic condition in our state,” Ellen Parker, executive director of Project Bread, said in a press release announcing the awards. “There is no typical hungry person. And we know that it takes more than one solution to solve a problem as complex, and yet as personal, as hunger. Each of the organizations we funded provides a critical role in helping to solve hunger in the community.”

Among the 16 programs receiving grants:

• Ashland Youth and Family Service’s Food Pantry – Ashland
• Acton Community Supper and Food Pantry, Inc. – Boxborough
• Open Table, Inc. – Concord
• Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center’s Framingham Food Assessment and Voucher Disbursement Program – Framingham
• The Salvation Army’s Miracle Kitchen and Food Pantry – Framingham
• South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc.’s MetroWest Harvest – Framingham
• St. Bridget’s Food Pantry – Framingham
• United Way of Tri-County’s Pearl Street Cupboard & Café – Framingham
• Project Just Because’s Hopkinton Food Pantry – Hopkinton
• Agape Café – Hudson
• Food Project’s Food Donations – Lincoln
• United Way of Tri County’s Marlborough Community Cupboard – Marlborough
• Millis Ecumentical Food Pantry – Millis
• A Place To Turn – Natick
• Stow Food Pantry – Stow
• Sudbury Community Food Pantry – Sudbury

The supper/pantry in Concord is held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays at First Parish Church on Lexington Road. In Maynard, it's held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Mondays at the Clock Tower Place cafeteria.