The Margaret Fuller
    Neighborhood House
            . . . Community Building Community

Emergency Food Pantry

Are you in need of food for you or your family? Established over 20 years ago, The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House (MFNH) Food Pantry is the second largest pantry program in Cambridge. We can provide you or your family with a three-day supply of emergency food once each month. Our Pantry is open three times each week!

Please come around to the back of the Margaret Fuller House (71 Cherry St.) and enter the Pantry down a few steps off Eaton St. Don’t forget to sign up for holiday baskets in November and December

Hours of Operation

Wednesday 5-7 pm
Thursday 9am-12pm
Friday 9am-12pm
Saturday 9am-12pm

Please bring ID and membership card!

Lč yo bay manje

Mčkredi 5-7 pm
Jeudi 9am-12pm
Vendredi 9am-12pm
Samedi 9am-12pm

Pote Identifikasyon ak kat memb-ou!

Horario

Miercoles 5-7 pm
Jueves 9am-12pm
Viernes 9am-12pm
Sabado 9am-12pm

Favor traer identificacion y tarjeta de membresia!

Eligibility

To be eligible for food pantry services, you must be a resident of Middlesex County and you need to bring the following documents at your first visit.

Proof of Identity

1. A State issued picture identification (ID) card or valid passport. The document must contain you date of birth. You do not need a social security card if the number is on your Massachusetts license or ID.
2. An actual Social Security Card (copies or handwritten numbers will not be accepted).

Proof of Address

1. A phone, utility bill, or other recent document that lists your name and current address. If the bill is in a relative’s name, you must present their identification as well.

Proof of Family

If you are claiming for a family larger than yourself, you must present the following information:

1. Birth certificate for each member of the family under the age of 18 you wish to claim and/or
2. Picture ID for each person in the household you are indicating.

Proof of Financial Need

You must declare all earnings and benefits that you receive:

1. Weekly earnings, monthly earnings, etc.
2. Social Security, SSI, child Support, etc. (Please ask if you would like a complete list.)
3. If you are currently unemployed or not earning income, you must provide a notarized letter stating the reason you currently do not receive income.
   
   The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House accepts referrals from other agencies, which must be renewed monthly.
   
   If you have any questions please feel free to contact Bryan Hewitt,  Food Pantry Director at (617) 547- 4680 ext. #227 or leave a voice message for the food pantry. Thank you.

What we provide

The MFNH Food Pantry has four basic food choices:

• Fresh Fruit and Produce
• Grains (rice, beans, flour, etc)
• Canned foods (tuna, salmon, fruit, soups, juice, beans, etc.)
• Frozen Meat (Fish, Chicken, Beef)

Upon arrival you will be able to select from the food available and leave whatever you do not wish to carry. We encourage you to bring your own bags whether they are paper or plastic. Also, if you are traveling a long way, bring a cart of suitcase to carry our food home.

About the MFNH Emergency Food Pantry

Our Pantry Goal is to help reduce hunger in Cambridge by providing expanded hours of services and greater quantities of food for our poorest families. Established over 20 years ago, the MFNH operates the second-largest pantry in Cambridge. We provide food to over 1,400 families and individuals each year on a very limited budget. The Pantry is open for different days each week.

The MFNH Pantry provides 12,000 lbs of food each month to over 370 families, children, adults and elders. We give a three-day allotment of nutritional food and our participants of our program may only use the pantry once a month. The Pantry currently provides food to over 1400 Cambridge area residents each year.

We purchase food weekly from the Greater Boston Food Bank and several local shops at greatly reduced prices to supply the food for the pantry. We also receive free vegetables and fruit from Food For Free each week. The American Red Cross generously donates pick-up and delivery of our food. The Pantry encourages good nutrition by participating in a Recipe Program sponsored by the Food Network Program. We also provide special food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas to over 300 families.

Staff and Volunteers: our Food Pantry Director, Bryan Hewitt, supervises the food pantry. We also have 15 to 20 regular weekly volunteers. Several are elders who frequently provide translations for clients, as well as help maintain the Pantry operations. Volunteers include local community residents, individuals needing community work-site placement, and many area students. Our Pantry Director purchases foods, supervises the distribution of food, coordinates Pantry volunteers and also helps solicit volunteer support.

We have many Volunteer opportunities at the food Pantry! To set up an appointment or for more information you can call the Food Pantry Director,  Bryan Hewitt at 617.547.4680, ext. #227 or email Bryan at bhewitt@margaretfullerhouse.org.

Please visit our volunteer opportunities on this Website and discover how you can feel great helping others in the MFNH Emergency Food Pantry!