Food Pantry
The Burlington Community Food Pantry is here to help.
We currently serve an average of 175 households each month, or around 500 individuals. We provide weekly food assistance to registered clients. Our pantry distributes non-perishable foods, fresh produce, dairy and meat products, prepared foods (when available,) and bread. During the summer and fall months, much of our fresh produce comes from our own Victory Garden.
What is required to receive food from the food pantry?
*Burlington residency - you must show proof that you reside in Burlington. This can be in the form of a recent utility or tax bill mailed to you at your home address.
*Income - you must self declare that your income is within our guidelines, which match those for the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund*, and are based on number of people in your household. See the current guidelines here: Income Guidelines
*Some residents may qualify for other assistance based on income. We recommend that you contact Burlington Youth & Family Services at 781-270-1961 to be screened for other assistance.
For Registered Pantry Clients*
Clients may visit our food pantry every week without an appointment during any of our distribution hours.
- Distribution Days & Times -
Tuesday: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
*PLEASE arrive no later than 20 minutes before the end of the distribution. (we are closed on federal holidays)
Burlington Food Pantry
21-23 Murray Ave • Burlington, MA 01803
Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Unexpired, non-perishable food can be dropped off at donation bins at our Burlington location at 21 Murray Avenue.
Holiday Program
The People Helping People Holiday Program was established to help Burlington, MA families in need during the holiday season. There are two parts. One is giving out complete Thanksgiving meals. The second is the Wish Tree Program which provides clothing and gift wishes for children of pantry clients.
Thanksgiving In-Gathering
Each year, the United Church of Christ, Congregational, located at 6 Lexington Street in Burlington, organizes a Thanksgiving distribution for People Helping People, known as the Thanksgiving In-Gathering. Faith communities from all around Burlington have food drives to collect traditional Thanksgiving foods such as stuffing mix, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Cub Scouts collect fresh pies from the public at Shaw’s, LaMarca & Sons Bakery in Malden donates fresh rolls, and fresh vegetables and frozen turkeys are delivered from the Greater Boston Food Bank. The Sunday before Thanksgiving, families are invited into the church to shop for their Thanksgiving foods. In 2023, Thanksgiving meals were given to 177 families through the In-Gathering program.
Wish Tree Program
If you’ve been to the Burlington Mall in December over the past 20 years, you’ve probably seen our Wish Tree. Our Wish Tree table and tree, situated on the upper level of the Burlington Mall, are filled with wishes for over a hundred Burlington kids in need. The program provides basic needs for each child (pajamas, underwear, a sweatshirt, and shoes,) as well as three wishes - these could be toys, gift cards, etc. Shoppers at the mall are invited to pick wish cards from the table, purchase them, and return them to the volunteers at the table. Once the wishes are fulfilled, the gift tag is added to the tree. After the basic needs and wishes are collected, each family’s gifts are organized and bagged up to be given to them, along with rolls of wrapping paper, in mid-December. In 2023, we gave out over 3,000 gifts to 276 children through our Wish Tree Program.
Covenant for Basic Needs
How to Access Basic Needs
Our Basic Needs fund was originally started and managed by a group of clergy in Burlington - the Interfaith Council. Eventually, People Helping People took over funding and management of the Covenant for Basic Needs and it was enveloped into PHP as one of our programs. The fund is meant to act as part of a social safety net, paying for rent or utilities to help residents avoid shut-offs or eviction. The fund is administered by Burlington Youth & Family Services a town-funded agency which provides counseling services and helps residents connect to available resources.
Christine Shruhan
CONVENANT FOR BASIC NEEDS DIRECTOR
Human Services Building
33 Center Street | Burlington, Ma.
781-270-1961
cshruhan@burlington.org
Victory Garden
People Helping People Victory Garden is located behind the Francis Wyman Elementary School soccer fields. This 8,300 square foot garden complex contains an educational plot used by the elementary school, several rentable community garden plots, and the Food Pantry’s own production garden, along with a pollinator garden and composting center. The garden was installed in 2013, and growing began the following year. The garden is managed by Master Gardener Peter Coppola and tended to by a small team of very dedicated volunteers. In 2014, the Food Pantry garden produced around 500 pounds of food. Over time, the amount of food the volunteers have been able to grow and harvest has increased significantly. During the 2023 growing season, the garden produced over 3,500 pounds of fresh produce, and it is on track to produce 4,000 pounds in 2024. All of the food grown and harvested at the garden is brought directly to the Burlington Food Pantry and distributed to clients.