Building Impact Summer Food Drive

Boston Medical Center Preventive Food Pantry

The Preventive Food Pantry at Boston Medical Center works to address nutrition-related illness and under-nutrition for their low-income patients. Individuals with special nutritional needs are referred to the Food pantry by BMC primary care providers who write “prescriptions” for supplemental foods that best promote physical health, prevent future illness and facilitate recovery. The Pantry is often used by patients with cancer, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other chronic conditions. 

A key feature of the Pantry is the provision of perishable goods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables and meats all year round – items that are often costly and therefore often lacking in a low-income family’s diet.

People Helping People

People Helping People provides assistance to residents of the town of Burlington, Massachusetts who have a need for food, medicine, heat or utilities. PHP is the umbrella organization overseeing the Burlington Community Food Pantry and the Burlington Covenant for Basic Needs. Their Food Pantry operates as a drive-thru, where food is largely custom packed according to each family's food preferences. Currently, the pantry serves between 150 to 200 Burlington families per month, or around 550 people. Since COVID-19, they have seen a 30% increase in requests. While a slight majority of those served are adults, 40 percent are children and 15 percent are seniors.