About Us
The First Parish Newbury Food Pantry has grown from serving a single person in December 2015 to feeding over 750 people each Friday. We are the largest all-volunteer food pantry in the Greater Newbury/ Newburyport area serving our neighbors who live or work in the seven communities of Newbury, Newburyport, West Newbury, Salisbury, Rowley, Ipswich, and Georgetown.
Our Mission
The mission of the First Parish Newbury Food Pantry is twofold; alleviating hunger in the greater Newbury/ Newburyport area and providing residents with opportunities to help their neighbors. We supply nutritional food at no cost to families who need food assistance. Each week, over 250 volunteers welcome their neighbors with compassion and respect and help provide the food families have requested.
In 2024, we filled 14,324 requests for food assistance and distributed over 539,000 pounds of food.
Find Us
First Parish Newbury Food Pantry
20 High Road
Newbury, MA 01951
Contact Us
Phone: 978-358-1077
Email: info@newburyfoodpantry.org
Community Support
The First Parish Newbury Food Pantry is grateful to have wide support throughout the seven communities we serve.
Our Volunteers
Every week, over 250 volunteers assist the pantry, donating more than 675 hours of their time. They deliver food every Friday to over 170 households that have issues with transportation. To accommodate our guests who do not have internet access or are not comfortable with ordering online, our staff of volunteers calls over 130 households each week. Many of our seniors are socially isolated and our weekly call is a welcome opportunity to talk to a friendly and non-judgmental neighbor who is there to help them.
Food Drives
In 2024, 31.8% of the food we provided was donated by the community. Together, 17 service organizations and churches have held food and gift card drives and raised money to support our work in alleviating hunger in our community. Our many supporters include:
-
Newburyport Lions Club
-
Newbury Police Department
-
Triton High School
-
Byfield Post Office
-
First Religious Society,Unitarian Universalist
-
Yankee Homecoming Committee
-
Hanover Street Hangout Block Party
-
Old South Church Bubble Drive
-
Olives' Coffee & Bakehouse
-
Immaculate Conception School
If you are interested in hosting a food drive, please call 978-358-1077. Our Food Drive Coordinator will be happy to answer any questions.
Our Guests
The people we served in 2024 resided in Newburyport (36.9%), Newbury (16.1%), Rowley (9.9%), Salisbury (17.4%), Ipswich 7.0%), Georgetown (6.6%) and West Newbury (2.0%) as well as 4.0% in surrounding towns. 49.0% of all households who use the pantry have a senior living in their household.
Partnerships
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) provides 60.7% of the food we distribute either free or at a very low cost.
Nourishing the North Shore (NNS) provides the pantry with fresh, locally grown produce. In the summer months, they host an outdoor market at the pantry where guests can select their own produce.
The Elder Pet Fund enables us to provide free dog and cat food. We know from experience that given limited resources, some of our guests have chosen to feed their pets rather than themselves. Partnering with the Elder Pet Fund prevents our guests from having to sacrifice their needs to feed their pets.
Our Neighbors Table allows us to use their box truck and van for deliveries as well as their cross dock to receive orders from the Greater Boston Food Bank.
.jpeg){kind=logo}
School Pantries
Beginning in 2023, we partnered with the Triton Regional School District and opened school pantries in nine local schools, including River Valley Charter. Teachers no longer need to use their own funds to make food available to students so that hunger will not impede their learning.
Food Recovery
Our volunteers visit local grocery stores, bakeries and other businesses seven days a week and schools on Friday to pickup food that would otherwise be sent to a landfill. We make that food available to our guests who need food assistance.
In 2024, our volunteers recovered 16,710 pounds of food that would have been discarded.
Reusing Paper Grocery Bags
Our volunteers and members of the community donate over 1,000 lightly used paper grocery bags and reusable bags each week so we can use them to pack orders, reducing our costs which can then be used to buy additional food.