United Way Reopens Framingham Pearl Street Cafe, But Volunteers Needed

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The United Way of Tri-County's Pearl Street Cupboard & Cafe has reopened for in-person, sit-down meals for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the accommodate those seated hot meals, the organization is seeking volunteers.

On March 1, the Pearl Street Café will re-open for sit-down evening meals. Closed since March of 2020 due to COVID, the Café has been providing hot meals five nights a week for take-out only.

Volunteers will be needed from 4:45 to 7:15 p.m. at the cafe, which can accommodate up to 115 guests.

“There are so many more families needing help due to the current economy, and, with expanded services at Pearl Street Cupboard & Café, additional volunteers are needed to support the volume. We cannot do what we do in the community without our dedicated volunteers,” said Barbara LaGrenade, Director of Volunteerism.

Daily breakfast is served Monday through Friday from 9 to 10 a.m., and lunches are available seven days a week from 12 to 1 p.m. These meals will remain as a take-out service only while staff and volunteers begin ramping up for sit down meals again.

The Pearl Street Cupboard & Café at Park began serving residents of Framingham in 2012 and
has expanded programming steadily, now including all MetroWest communities and beyond.

On average the program serves more than 3,800 hot meals from the Café and 2,800 individuals at the food pantry each month, distributing over 229,000 pounds of food.

Volunteers must register for a shift online at www.uwotc.org/volunteer and click the “Framingham Direct Services” button. Then select the date and shift that works best. If you can only work a 2 to 3-hour shift, make that notation in the comments section.