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Basic Needs: Food, Clothing, Hygiene, Household Goods

Published

July 6, 2022

| Social Worker
| Updated

November 7, 2024

Basic Needs:  Food, Clothing, Hygiene, Household Goods

Food Resources

  • Sudbury Food Pantry – shoppers receive prepackaged grocery bags which includes perishable and nonperishable items, pre-made grocery bags, and toiletries/household products
  • Maynard Food Pantry – provides food assistance to residents of Maynard and surrounding cities. Traditionally only Maynard residents can visit twice a month, while residents from surrounding cities can visit once a month
  • Project Just Because – provides information on gluten-free food bank. No longer accepting new clients unless they are Hopkinton residents.
  • SNAP (a.k.a. Food Stamps) – provides a debit card for food purchases for low-income individuals and families
  • SNAP’s Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) – website provides information on how to receive free produce
  • SNAP & Grocery Delivery –provides information on how to use SNAP benefits to take advantage of the online purchase program
  • SNAP Info for Gig Workers (Uber drivers, artists, housekeepers, & other self-employed workers) – this website of Mass Legal Services explains how “gig workers” can most easily use SNAP benefits for buying groceries
  • Open Table Food Pantry & Free Prepared Meals – explains food programs & services offered by this food pantry. Pantry distribution is through drive-thru or walk-up. Volunteers will bring prepackaged groceries to your vehicle or you can visit the table in front of the building. Open: Tuesdays 1:00 – 3:00pm (Seniors 65+), Tuesdays 3:00 – 6:30pm, Thursdays 11:00am – 4:30pm
  • CIC Food Pantry, Wayland: Register online of show up during operating hours and sign up. No specific requests or shopping, given prefilled box/bag of groceries. Open: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month 7pm-9pm, Saturday following the 3rd Thursday from 9am-10am. 
  • A Place to Turn – Emergency food pantry. Can be used once every 30 days, without referral. Can access the pantry every 60 days. Need to bring proof of address that isn’t a license (bill, anything from the mail, bill on phone). Hours: Monday and Wednesday 4-6pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30am-12:30pm
  • The Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) – Reimburses participants up to a certain amount each month when purchasing fruits and vegetables from participating farmer’s markets and farm stands.
  • WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) – Free nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare to pregnant women and mothers of young children.
  • Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program – Provided vouchers to purchase fresh produce at farmer’s markets o Available to WIC recipients & through local senior centers
  • Meals on Wheels – Home delivered meals to seniors over 60, Monday through Friday – Nutrition education and counseling is also available. Services is provided through Bay Path Elder Services, eligibility for the program is on an individual basis
  • Food Source Hotline – Please call for a referral to food resources and information about school meals, summer meal sites for kids, elder meal programs, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • The Good Shepherd Parish, Wayland – Food Pantry is open one Thursday morning a month from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
  • Community Servings: Provide home-delivered meals and nutrition services to individuals and families living with critical and chronic illnesses at no cost

Clothing

  • Dress for Success (DFS) – Provides women with professional outfits to secure employment and programming to help women achieve success in reaching their personal goals.
  • Global Thrift – For-profit thrift store that offers free clothing, furniture, and household goods
  • Local Thrift Stores (i.e. Savers, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc.) – This is a great way to save money on new and used clothing as well as household goods while supporting a charitable cause.

 

Hygiene Resources

 

Clothing & Household Goods

  • Household Goods in Action – referral by a social worker is required in order to access these services, which include basic furniture & small household goods, provided at no charge.
  • Fresh Start Furniture Bank in Hudson –Provides free used furniture and household goods for those in need. People can only visit once and provide their own transportation
  • Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Provides emergency short-term financial assistance for essential needs, access to furniture, and referrals to other resources. Society of St. Vincent de Paul representatives require a telephone interview.
  • Gifts of Hope Unlimited – Provides emergency short-term financial assistance, basic household goods, clothing, toiletries, furniture, and more to survivors of domestic violence.
  • Local Thrift Stores (i.e. Savers, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc.) are also a great way to save money on new and used clothing and household goods while supporting a charitable cause.
  • Facebook Groups*:
    • *As with any communication online or with people you have just met, please be cautious about sharing personal information and consider meeting in a safe public location
    • Lincoln Sudbury Mutual Aid Network-Neighbors can ask for items they need or post items they have to give
    • Sudbury Bulletin Board-A general community bulletin board to ask questions, post information and post requests
    • Buy Nothing Sudbury/Maynard MA-Going green by upcycling. Neighbors post what they have to share or what they need to avoid buying new

 

General Resources

  • South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) –outlines the many things this multi-service agency provides for those in need, including assistance with behavioral health care, education & employment training, energy & financial assistance, housing, food, & small business assistance
  • Neighbor Brigade: Neighbors Volunteering to Support Those Coping with Temporary Crises –provides information on the non-financial temporary crises with which this organization may be able to help (such as cancer treatments, recent death in the family, accident, fire, etc.) and how to request help.
  • Emerson Health findhelp: Enter your zip code below to search and connect to local support. Find information about financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost services.