Food Programs
The YMCA of Greater Boston Hunger Prevention Programs plays an important role in fighting food insecurity for people living in Greater Boston. Every day we partner with others to provide nutritious, culturally appropriate meals to children and families to end hunger for the most vulnerable among us.
Donate See our Mobile Market Food Truck
YMCA BOSTON SUMMER EATS
When school doors close for the summer, the Y opens its doors wider and works with the City of Boston and other partners to make sure all children have access to nutritious meals all summer long.
Boston Summer Eats provides nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost to youth 18 and under. No ID or registration required.
Find a Summer Eats Location Near You
Year-Round and Afterschool Food Program
All children, but especially your youngest cannot learn, grow, or thrive when hungry. Our year-round and after school food programs make sure all children have access to nutritious foods while in our care.
The YMCA of Greater Boston is an active participant in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as a sponsor for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Nutrition.
CACFP YMCA Early Education centers include:
- East Boston
- Wang
- Roxbury
- Woburn (Sylvan Road)
The YMCA of Greater Boston’s Families in Transition (FIT) housing shelter participates in the CACFP program and after school programs.
Food Distribution Center
Food insecurity continues to be one of the biggest social determinants to health. The YMCA of Greater Boston is committed to partnering with others in the solution to end hunger.
YMCA Food Distribution Center
230 McClellan Highway
East Boston, MA 02128
In 2021 the YMCA of Greater Boston opened its first ever food distribution center in East Boston through a donation from Cargo Ventures. The distribution center is an active warehouse where fresh fruits, vegetables and pantry items are assembled and loaded on trucks for delivery to families. Over 4,000 grocery bags are made available daily through our work at the center and distributed to more than 45 sites across the city of Boston.
Volunteer Opportunity: Food Distribution Warehouse Volunteer
Help us pack groceries in our warehouse in East Boston to deliver to those in need.
Learn More & Sign Up
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-ED)
The SNAP-Ed program provides nutrition and physical activity education and other valuable resources to youth and adults who receive or are eligible for SNAP benefits. SNAP-Ed’s goal is to help SNAP eligible individuals make nutritious food choices on a limited budget and choose a physically active lifestyle. Our SNAP-Ed team offers education lessons at community partners sites, YMCA after school programs, and Early Education Centers. Administered lessons focus on topics such as reading food labels, eating local, healthy substitutions, and increasing physical activity. Activities for SNAP-Ed include food preparation demonstrations, cooking classes, recipe cards, taste tests, and physical activity routines.
Please note, the YMCA of Greater Boston currently does not enroll participants into SNAP (formerly known as food stamps/EBT). If you have questions on SNAP benefits, contact the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) by calling the DTA Assistance Line (877) 382-2363 or visiting their website. You can also call the Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.
To learn more about our Hunger Prevention Programs, contact Eilisha Manandhar at EManandhar@ymcaboston.org or 617-433-7532.
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
- Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
- Email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online
at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (833) 620-1071, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. Link to discrimination complaint instructions: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to:
mail: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA 1320 Braddock Place, Room 334 Alexandria, VA 22314; or
fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email: FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
