Many of residents are struggling to afford food. In our community there are programs that offer free food and meals, our schools offer free lunches for our children, and the SNAP program gives us extra funds every month to use to purchase food.
The following are programs that provide free groceries and/or free meals to residents of Amherst and Granby.
This table does not include free school meals which are available this year to all families in all district schools in all towns.
You may be eligible for SNAP (also known as food stamps). The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has skilled volunteers available to help you complete the SNAP application, submit it, track it, and if needed appeal any decision. You’re not alone.
Some of the programs that offer groceries now deliver or offer a curbside pick up option. You can get more information on their specific website or by calling them.
Please reach out to my office if we can be of any assistance. E-mail me at mindy.domb@mahouse.gov or call (413) 335-1362.
FREE MEALS FOR KIDS IN SCHOOL THIS YEAR! (2022-2023)
Local HIP Locations here.
All of these programs provide services for FREE and rely on donations of funds and volunteers.
| ORGANIZATION | CONTACT INFORMATION | KIND OF ASSISTANCE |
| Amherst Senior Center for Amherst & Pelham residents | (413) 259-3164 Bangs Community Center | Brown bag distribution Community meal (lunch) |
| Amherst Survival Center for Amherst, Granby and Pelham residents | (413) 549-3968 Directions | Groceries, fresh milk, diapers, personal care items from its Food Pantry, Daily fresh fruits & vegetables Lunch: M/T/Th/F In person 12pm-2:30pm, Lunch To-go 12pm-3pm Senior Mobile Pantry – groceries Monthly Mobile Distribution (1st Wednesday of the month 1pm-2pm in the Boulders Apartments, 156 Brittany Drive (in south Amherst), parking lot) |
| First Baptist Church (Amherst) for anyone | Directions | Weekly groceries from its Food Pantry |
| Food Bank of Western Massachusetts for anyone | Help with SNAP (food stamps) Mobile Food Bank Brown bag (food) for seniors | SNAP assistance fresh vegetables and fruits |
| Granby Senior Center for Granby residents | Directions | Groceries at food pantry Lunch |
| Granby To Go for Granby residents | (413) 467-7104 X5200 Directions | Granby school-based food pantry |
| Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry for Granby residents | (413) 437-7593 Directions | Groceries from food pantry |
| Not Bread Alone (Amherst) for anyone | First Church, Amherst | Community meal 3 times/week prepared by volunteers (Wed/Sat/Sun) |
Affordable vegetables and fruit are available at community mobile markets that are scheduled in four convenient locations across Amherst every week thru the month of October. Sponsored by the Amherst Mobile Market, you can see their schedule here. In addition, all year on the first Wednesday of the month from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Amherst Survival Center host a mobile market at the Boulders (in south Amherst), where free vegetables and fruits are distributed. More information on the monthly mobile market here.