As of Aug. 1, the Newton Food Pantry will be located on the basement level of Newton City Hall. The pantry entrance is on Homer Street side of building and is elevator-equipped and handicap-accessible.
Donations may be delivered outside the pantry’s basement door any time City Hall is open, or while the pantry is staffed: Wednesdays 9:30 – 1:30 and 2:30 – 5, third Saturdays 10 – Noon.
Although housed in a city-owned building, the Newton Food Pantry remains an independent, all-volunteer nonprofit organization and receives no direct funding from the city, state, or federal government. More at newtonfoodpantry.org.
This is a terrific move for the Newton Food Pantry, from the basement of the Waban Library Center, which volunteers and patrons could only access by a steep set of stairs, to the fully accessible basement at City Hall. The Newton Food Pantry serves some of the neediest families and individuals in Newton, and has been a fully independent, privately funded, all-volunteer organization since it was founded by members of the First Unitarian Society in Newton back in 1983. Whenever I have volunteered there, a steady flow of families and individuals, young and old, come to pick up food and other necessaries that most Newtonites probably take for granted.
While the Newton Food Pantry gladly accepts donations of food, they can always use money, especially in times of particular need, which allows them to continue their mission. You can donate online to the Newton Food Pantry here.
Since the Waban Area Council was formed nearly three years ago, we have encouraged donations to the Newton Food Pantry by including a message each month on our meeting agendas and reminders to the community (and to “pleasepost” at City Hall) asking our attendees to bring items for the Food Pantry to the Waban Library Center. We will miss the Pantry, but wish them continued good works in their new home at City Hall.
In best practices – why was the Metro Credit Union forced to move from the Hall’s basement?