Walk-In Or Drive-By Food Pantry To Pop Up In Waltham

WALTHAM, MA — A Waltham food pantry will be popping up Saturday, May 16, at Government Center for those in need, thanks to the mayor.

The effort is one of several in the city to help ease the hardship faced by an increasing number of residents amid the stay at home order and subsequent closures and layoffs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

At a Healthy Waltham pantry pop up at Government Center last month, hundreds of people showed up. Officials say based on that pantry and other pop up pantries, they expect to serve 400 people two bags of staple pantry items.

"I'm really proud of our community right now," said Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris.
The last time the City hosted a pop up pantry like this, the Boston Gleaners brought donated food and that was great, but it didn't consistently give everybody the same thing, Harris said.

"That stayed with the mayor, and she wanted to do something to give a sustainable pantry of a couple of days or more, things they could combine them with vegetables and be able to make nutritional meals," Harris said.

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy called on city officials to help with the event and reached out to the Waltham Lions Club and MA Rep. John Lawn for help sponsoring the event.

Ward 1 Counselor Anthony Lafauci is also working closely with the mayor and Market Basket to purchase the groceries.

The pantry be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Government Center Parking lot Saturday.

This is up the right alley for Waltham Lions Club, a service and philanthropic organization, which has been working to help those in need in several ways one member told Patch.

"We try to help out as much as we can," said Bob Malone one of about 100 Waltham Lions Club members.

City officials and volunteers will be packing bags the night before to hand out to those in need. Officials say those in need can either drive up or walk up and no registration is necessary.

According to the City, cars will line up at the St. Mary's parking lot and enter at the back of Government Center parking, where someone will load groceries into the car. If you are walking over, the City is asking that you gather on School Street and enter and exit the Government Center parking lot.

This just one of about a dozen options for residents in need of food right now. There are programs offered by the schools, Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA, the Middlesex Human Services Agency, the Community Day Center and Healthy Waltham.

There are also groups, such as Mutual Aid Waltham cataloging resources and connecting residents in need with those resources.

Read more:

Waltham Helping Waltham During Coronavirus Crisis

Waltham Grassroots Volunteer Group Offers Help Online

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).Have a press release you'd like posted on the Waltham Patch? Here's how to post a press release, opinion piece.