Posted on: Friday, October 18th, 2024
Food Access – Feeding & Caring For All
Our YMCA is a local non-profit organization committed to addressing public health challenges, such as food insecurity, in our communities. The Food Access Program partners with food pantries, schools, regional public health hubs, and community organizations to increase equitable access to nutrition. This collaborative effort—largely born from the depths of the pandemic—continue to help our neighbors of all ages and demographics to ensure access.
We have distributed more than 102,000 bags of food and served over 550,000 meals to those in need in our communities.
We are a proud partner of the Greater Boston Food Bank, dedicated to ensuring that no one in our community goes to bed hungry. To learn more or if you are in need of support, please contact foodaccess@hockymca.org or call 508-643-5277.
IF YOU ARE FACING FOOD INSECURITY, THE Y IS HERE TO HELP
Below is information on how the YMCA acts as an extension of the food pantry. Further down the page, you will also find details on how to volunteer and what pressing items we’re in need of from anyone who can donate. Food distribution is provided to all with no financial statements required.
** COMPLETE THIS INTAKE FORM FOR GROCERY BAGS **
FOOD DISTRIBUTION LOCATIONS
Food insecurity has grown in our communities and to address that, the Y is distributing food to people in need.
All that is required is the completion of this intake form.
GROCERIES ARE PROVIDED EVERY WEDNESDAY AT THESE BRANCHES FROM 12:30pm – 1:30pm:
- at the Foxboro Y (67 Mechanic Street)
- at the Franklin Y (45 Forge Hill Road)
- at the North Attleboro Y (300 Elmwood Street)
Pantry hours are available at the North Attleboro Y from 12:30pm-1:15pm and 5:30pm – 6:30pm.
FUEL FOR THE WEEKEND PROGRAM
Our North Attleboro Y offers a Fuel for the Weekend program which provides weekend food bags for students (or children ages 3-18) to help fill the gap between school lunches on Fridays and school breakfast on Mondays. For more information, please email fuelfortheweekend@hockymca.org.
DONATE TO HELP US
We welcome donations including the following: oatmeal cups/packets, macaroni & cheese boxes/cups, granola bars (nut free whole grain preferred), applesauce or mandarin orange cups (no added sugar), whole grain crackers, tuna pouches in water (low sodium), Progresso chicken soup (low sodium), rice boxes/cups, Barilla Ready Pasta and pasta boxes.
Needed baby products include: size 4, 5 and 6 diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, and toddler puffs/snacks. All items can be dropped off in bins located inside the YMCA or for large donations please contact us if arranging a pickup is preferred. Click to see our food drive flyer
Other ways to help…
- Donate the amount needed to fill a family-sized bag of groceries. Each bag given to prevent hunger is valued at $50. Visit hockymca.org/give.
- Become a Volunteer – Join our team as a volunteer to help with food distribution, delivery or pantry operations. For more information, please email stephanieb@hockymca.org.
- Run a food drive in your neighborhood. Take on the role of a “neighborhood captain” by adopting a street or neighborhood to mobilize a food collective drive. Select a pickup time a week or so in advance and ask neighbors to leave a bag or two of nonperishable food items outside their home or drop them at your residence — which you can bring to the Y.
- Donate by shopping online from our Amazon wish list, click here.
- Inquire about sponsorship opportunities by contacting Katie Moore at katiem@hockymca.org.
WE OFFER FREE SUMMER LUNCHES
Along with our many partners in our local communities, we offer free meals to kids ages 18 and under during the summer months at the following locations. This program is designed to help close the hunger gap children face during the summer and also includes activities, arts and crafts and special visitors throughout the summer. There is no sign up or registration required and the program is open to children in any community.
- MILFORD’S MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Monday through Friday from 11:00am-12:30pm. (12 Walnut Street in Milford, MA)
- THE FOXBORO Y: Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30am-12:30pm. (67 Mechanic Street in Foxboro, MA)
- NORTH ATTLEBORO’S TOWN POOL: Wednesday from 5:00pm-6:00pm. (43 S. Washington Street in North Attleboro, MA)
Includes an adult meal per family to enjoy while children enjoy their meals, too.
CLICK BELOW TO SEE OUR FOOD DRIVE FLYER AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE YMCA FOOD ACCESS PROGRAM:
Food Drive Flyer – please share
While working with school nutrition departments and community partners such as senior centers and councils on aging in the 15 communities we serve, the Hockomock Y Food Access Program aims to ensure that the most vulnerable children, families, and seniors among us are taken care of. Thank you to everyone involved in not only making food available, but ensuring it’s as nutritious and healthy as possible.
We have strong partnerships with Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts, Baby2Baby, Greater Attleboro Stronger Together, Bristol County Savings Bank, Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation, Jeff & Julie Kinney, Dave & Anne Doran, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Foundation for Metrowest, The Albertsons Companies Foundation, Greg & Kathy Spier, Harvard Pilgrim Health Foundation, and Eastern Bank to support our program. Thank you to everyone involved in not only making food available, but ensuring it’s as nutritious and healthy as possible.
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027,USDA, can be obtained online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or email:program.intake@usda.gov
