I agreed to be a Loader. A Loader, I was told, had to have the ability to lift at least 50-70…read morepounds for three hours. Naturally, I saw this as a challenge, and I accepted. The Greater Boston Food bank employs 14,500 volunteers and provides 19.5 million meals to 320,000 people in New England annually, not just Boston. Volunteers allow the GBFB to defer nearly $600,000 in payroll costs. Wow. Volunteers help in many ways, but mainly by inspecting, sorting and re-packing food at the Roxbury warehouse. Here is what my team accomplished in an afternoon shift: . Number of volunteers: 43 . Total pounds of food sorted: 10,412 (Ten Thousand Pounds!) . Total pounds of food salvaged: 8,330 . Pounds of food sorted per volunteer: 194 . Meals made possible per volunteer: 149 . Total meals made possible by NAIOP volunteers: 6,407 There are many ways to help. You can donate money. You can donate food. You can volunteer for a less physically demanding job. Just do something.

If you're looking for a place to volunteer, this is it. Good for singles or groups. Call ahead,…read moresign in, get ready to sort. Huge new clean place used to sort donated food. It's awesome. You get a rundown on food safety, what to look for, how the process works, then you're off to the main room to sort. It's actually kinda fun. And the facility is nice and new so it's definitely safe and good. Bonus - they feed you expired candy and crap after you're done! Yay!?

I had the wonderful opportunity of volunteering at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and it was…read moresuch a great experience! The staff was wonderful and I loved how they have tips for staying healthy and low budget recipes to try which I can't wait to share with my friends and family. Thank you for all you do!!

Quote from Main Page "The Rhode Island Community Food Bank…read moreworks to end hunger in Rhode Island by providing food to people in need. We envision a day when all Rhode Islanders have access to nutritious food and a healthy lifestyle." The amount of goodwill provided by this organization is amazing. Through programs like the Community Kitchen, Kids Cafe and the Express Pantry, Rhode Islanders in need have access to food and can work on learning critical skills for life. Volunteers are always welcome here. I could not think of a better organization to become a part of. From sorting in the food bank, to working in a community garden or even helping out in the Community Kitchen, there is something for everyone. Please go to the website if you are in need of assistance or are looking to become a part of the organization!

FFF is a local nonprofit org that delivers perishable food and produce to many smaller charities…read moreand nonprofits such as homeless shelters that serve meals or have meal programs. FFF solicits surplus or leftover food from local restaurants and farmers that would otherwise go to waste. FFF daily delivers this food to the needy people that need it usually within 24 hours of it being donated. FFF is a great nonprofit that does great things. I volunteered here once and helped them build a huge walk in refrigerator. Bravo to this fine local charity.

I second how awesome food for free is. I work with them to organize their pickups at the whole…read morefoods market that I work at, and I honestly look forward to seeing them every day. The drivers are really friendly, and it's such a badass cause. I know that this isn't such a yelp-ish business or place, but I can't pass up giving these guys their props for helping to bring a little charity to an increasingly conservative/uber-capitalist city as boston has become. I can't remember who said it but on the back of all their trucks reads: "When I feed the poor, they call me a saint; When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." I'm no communist but I can't say enough about this sort of thing.

This food pantry is a bit hard to find. You have to go to the last YMCA entrance on your left side…read more If you haven't been here before you have to fill out an online form on your phone but it only takes about 3 minutes and can be done right before you get food. You can park and go wait in the shade at the table next to the building or stay in your car in the car line and move up as the line moves. If it's your first time you have to park and go to the building to fill out the form. If you go wait at the table let the lady with the clipboard know so you can get your place in line on the clipboard. If you stay in the car she will come up to your window and take your name. Remember to bring bags to carry your food in. They have a good amount of pasta, rice, snacks and canned goods. They also have some juice, breads and desserts. No fresh meat but a small selection of frozen meat. Small selection of eggs, yogurt, salad mix, fruit, veggies and bathroom type items. Definitely worth going for sure.

I will never go here again. That should start to explain things…read more If it makes it a little confusing, then let me go into detail. We, myself and one other person, came in early on a Wednesday morning. It was the 13th, to be specific. And we came in at approximately 8:56 am. What we didn't know however, was that it was Senior hour from 9:30 am to 10:30. That isn't what I'm complaining about though. Sure, we were a bit miffed that this wasn't on the website when we came but we didn't have any problem with it. We just sat there and waited for our turn. Then, at exactly 10:26, did the rest of the people who weren't 60+ started coming and we were at the front of the line. By now, we were just happy to be getting our turn. Then, a man, whose name I will not disclose, asked if he could move forward with the last people from the line for the 60+. They asked his age, from which he respectfully replied that he was 59. They let him in. But, now you see, this is where the plot thickens. He had someone with him. A woman who was clearly disabled in a walker who needed help to move around. They didn't let her in. This was a conundrum. Why? Let me go back. Before, there was another woman in the 60+ line who pulled along with her a young woman who was clearly in her 30s and very capable of staying behind and waiting her turn. So then, I ask you, was it fair that this 30 yr old was allowed access, while this poor, disabled woman was forced to wait outside, uncomfortable, like a common stray dog? I think not. Hence, the other person that I was with, started asking the guy who was at the front door, why they didn't let the woman in. She, the other person, was very respectful, and tried her best to be understood, because she had a bit of an accent and some words ran together occasionally. The guy looked a bit affronted. Then a woman who worked there came out and the whole thing started all over again. Then, he came out. I believe his name is Will McGovern. The pantry manager. This guy had to be 6'3 maybe, with a beer gut, blond, blue eyes, and holding a shake from McDonalds. He came out with fury in his eyes. He then started spewing, and pardon my language, bullshit about how she was disrespecting his employees, and a whole bunch of other shit. I swear, the guy was on a rampage. The people behind us were shocked. And angry. She looked shocked as well. She vehemently denied this, stating that she had only been asking. Anyone with eyes could see this. Literally anyone. The guy just kept saying "I dunno. I only know what I heard." In this namby-pamby little prissy boy voice. I was shaking by this point. Not from fear though. Oh no, not from fear. Rather, from anger. Anger that this incompetent little overgrown brat called this other person, who happens to be a close family member of mine, a liar. He then proceeded to pluck the card, the card that you use to get in, right from her hand and said that he would permanently take this away from her if she continued to disrespect his employees. I had enough of this by this point. I got right up in his face and told him off. I said, "Sir, I apologize for whatever you think you heard, but clearly, you are not listening. She told you what happened but you just wan't to live in your own little world of denial. I can vouch for this woman. She is trustworthy and she has never lied a day in her life. Never. She is painfully honest." I then started to say MY piece because he had his turn. It was my turn now. He was silent. Shocked in fact. I don't like causing trouble with people. I'm usually pretty easy going. But, this man, no wait, this Lounge Lizard, this social parasite, insulted us, disrespected us, and treated us like we were nothing. Like we were less than nothing. My grandparents didn't come here, to this country, to be treated like some bothersome parasite. We did not fight for our freedom, to be treated like crap. So that, when we need a little help, a little helot get back on our feet, to be treated like a common slave. So, if you, Lounge Lizard, social parasite Will McGovern, are reading this, I hope you feel ashamed of your actions. Will McGovern is a racist man who hates woman and Latinx people!

Excellent organization! Great people! Working for the less fortunate. Love their work and kindness.read more

This women owned pantry never fails to support the community around them. Although only established…read morein August 2019 they have successfully provided Thanksgiving, Christmas dinners and Adopt a Child(50) . They are now heading into trading 40 kids and their families during the Covid-19 crisis. Please check out what they do and donate.!

I am Blessed to have the privilege of being both a client and a volunteer. It is truly an…read moreenlightening experience to witness the diligence being performed on a daily basis that the general public will never get a chance to witness for themselves. From piles of paperwork to back-breaking labor this machine is a beacon of Hope if for nothing else but to feed the hungry. Critics certainly have a right to their opinion however if every soul was identical this would be a boring world to live in. A special shout out to Jen and Rachel - I will never be able to repay your kindness.

This is a great place to save a little money while helping the community. The volunteers are…read morefriendly and the place is ran smoothly. The place is clean and the food is not out of date. Shopping carts are also provided which is extremely helpful. Overall this is a great place and the volunteers really put their dedication into making your trip a pleasant experience. Every time I check out I get a thank you for supporting their business.

Great market, great prices, fresh produce and really friendly volunteers there to help. Description…read morefrom their website. "Hope Market is stocked with donations from our partners in the retail food industry and is open to anyone who needs to stretch their weekly grocery budget. All proceeds from Hope Market help Feed RI deliver up to 150 pallets of food every month (free of charge!) to nonprofit organizations and community groups who feed their communities."

My first time last night was easy and helpful. even in the cold. Things went well surprise me. they…read morehad guys help with the food going into the car .the food was surprise in how must I got. Thank you so much. William Cohen

I have been doing some pro bono consulting work with this group and I am wholly impressed by them…read more Their programs take a holistic approach to helping kids and young adults achieve their potential through one on one support. The wide range of services provide much needed assistance for many different situations, acting as a true community resource for under-served communities.