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.
During the school year, free school meals are available to all families in all district schools in all towns in Massachusetts, so they are not included on this table.
You may be eligible for SNAP (also known as food stamps). SNAP recipients also receive the benefits of the HIP program, where your SNAP benefits are doubled when used to purchase food at farmer’s markets and some farmer stands. Find HIP vendors that are convenient for you using this tool from the state.
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 continue to offer home delivery or curbside pick-up options. 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 help. E-mail me at mindy.domb@mahouse.gov or call (413) 335-1362.
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 residents | (413) 259-3164 Bangs Community Center | Brown bag distribution: call the Senior Center for details (259-3060). Grab & Go Lunch: all Amherst residents age 60+ a free lunch each weekday. Please call Ben Orenstein for more information: 413-887-8147. Wednesday Market: Wednesdays 10:00am-11:30am (Bangs Community Center). Open to all for fresh fruits, vegetables, prepared foods, bread. Donations from Whole Foods. Bring your own bag(s). Home Delivery (meals on wheels): Access Care Partners (formerly Highland Valley Elder Services): hot lunches delivered to homes by volunteers with approval by HVES case managers. Call HVES at 413-586-2000 and ask for an evaluation. |
| Amherst Survival Center for Amherst and Granby residents, and residents of other towns | (413) 549-3968 Directions | Food Pantry: Groceries, fresh milk, diapers: M/F 12-3pm, T/TH 12-7pm Pantry delivery varies depending on location. Fresh food distribution: Daily fresh fruits/vegetables/breads: M/F 12-3, T/TH 12-7pm Lunch: M/T/TH/F In dining room 12-2:30pm, To-go 12-3pm Monthly Mobile Distribution: First Wednesday of the month from 1pm to 2pm at the Boulders Apartments parking lot, south Amherst, 156 Brittany Dr.). Please bring your own bags! |
| First Baptist Church (Amherst) for anyone | Directions | Food Pantry: Weekly groceries from 2:00pm-4:00pm at the First Baptist Church in Amherst. |
| 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 Call for assistance and information on your eligibility for SNAP: 413-992-6204 Monthly Outdoor Food Distribution, in partnership with the Amherst Survival Center: The first Wednesday of the month from 1pm-2pm, at the Boulders Apartment Homes parking lot, located at 156 Brittany Drive in Amherst. Bring your own bag! The distribution includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, and meat (when available). Every household is eligible, no documentation needed! No residency or income requirements! Bring your own bag(s). See this link to see a schedule for the mobile markets in western Massachusetts by county. Find a mobile market near you! |
| Granby Senior Center for Granby residents | Directions | Food Pantry: The Council on Aging Food Pantry is open M-F 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. 2 bags of groceries a month. Brown bag program: A free bag of groceries once a month. Contact the Center for more information. Groceries at food pantry. Details here. Lunch: Monday-Friday at 11:30am. Please call the Council on Aging 24 hrs in advance to reserve a meal 413-467-3239 Home delivery: Access Care Partners (formerly Highland Valley Edler Services). Call 538-9020 ext. 500 for information and referral. Amherst Survival Center: the Center’s food pantry (in Amherst) is open to residents of Granby and the Center has started a new program of delivering pantry to the Granby Senior Center for pick-up. Contact the food pantry for more information. |
| 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 available to Granby residents. |
| Not Bread Alone (Amherst) for anyone | First Church, Amherst | Community meal: 3 times/week prepared by volunteers (Wed/Sat/Sun) |
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. All are welcome. More information on the monthly mobile market here.