Projects

www.MVFB.org

Contact Us :

Physical/Mailing Address
Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc.
735 Broadway Street
Lowell, MA 01854

Telephone: Food Bank (978) 454-7272
Mobile Pantry and Summer Lunch Programs (978) 454-7174
Fax (978) 454-1717

Click here to donate your used vehicle to benefit the Food Bank

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In January 2004, the Merrimack Valley Food Bank merged with M/A-COM Food share, Inc., to continue an important program in Greater Lowell, the Mobile Pantry. This terrific service that delivers groceries to low income elderly and disabled, has continued operating to serve our most vulnerable low-income populations. The program currently serves 201 households, and 261 people benefit from this food.

Check Presentation

Local Dunkin Donuts Franchise presents a check for $10,000 to the Food Bank in December 2007. Left to right: Tom Aide and Dick Conway present a check to MVFB Board President Jimmy Good and Executive Director Amy Pessia.

Current Projects and Programs of Involvement
Our agencies include soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and group homes. The staff and volunteers from our agencies visit the food bank on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to select food for their clients' specific nutritional needs. Below is a partial list of agencies served by the Merrimack Valley Food Bank:
ACORD Food Pantry All Saints Parish - Haverhill Alternative House Beverly Bootstraps Bridgewell-Gr. Lynn Mental Health-Pathfinder Catholic Charities Food Pantry - Lowell Central Food Ministry Chelmsford Community Exchange Columbia Park (Greater Lynn Mental Health) Community Action, Inc. Community Christian Fellowship Community Teamwork, Inc. GRIP Project Lazarus House Lifelinks	Lowell Adult Day Treatment Ctr Lowell Community Health Center Lowell Alliance for Families Lowell Council on Aging Lowell House, Inc. Transitional Living Ctr. Methuen Church of God My Brother's Table Neighbors in Need Open Door/Cape Ann Pantry Open Hand Pantry Open Pantry Our Neighbors Table People's Pantry Pettengill House Pregnancy Care Ctr. Of Merrimack Valley	Psychological Center (Daybreak Shelter, Women's View, Pegasus, Berkeley Program) Recovery House Red Cross Food Pantry Renaissance Club St. Mary's- Tree of Life Salvation Army - Haverhill Salvation Army Lawrence Salvation Army - Lowell Salvation Army - Lynn Salvation Army of Greater Newburyport Team Coordinating Agency Tewksbury Comm. Pantry Tri-City Mental Health Center United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) Westford Food Pantry Veterans NE Outreach Ctr. YWCA Lowell
We are happy to provide food for our agencies through our programs:
Food Distribution Program member agencies shop 2 days per week to select nutritious, ethnically appropriate food for individuals and families in the communities we serve. The food is donated by supermarkets, wholesalers, local farmers/gardeners and members of the community. MEFAP - Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program Through the MA Dept of Education -provides food to the MVFB and we redistribute the food to emergency feeding programs. USDA is a federally supported food program providing food commodities for the low - income population. Guy Francesshelli Food Rescue Program enables us to pick up donated food from Hannaford Supermarkets in Lowell and Chelmsford and deliver directly to local emergency feeding programs. Cooperative Initiative allows us to purchase high demand food at cost to have available at the Food Bank for agencies who would otherwise have to buy directly from local stores at market value. Mobile Pantry delivers groceries to a client base of over 250 elderly and disabled who are homebound and unable to get to a food pantry Summer Lunch serves nutritious lunches to Lowell children who would otherwise not eat a midday meal due to lack of financial resources in the home Fundraising events and individual donations Local Charitable Agencies distribute the food provided by the Food Bank to the individuals in need. Local Food Distributors supply donated food, capital equipment and warehouse expertise. Private Citizens volunteer time in the warehouse and at fundraising events. They also provide monetary and capital donations. Business and Community Leaders assist in the management and direction of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank by serving on our Board of Directors. Local Schools conduct food drives throughout the year and donate these non-perishables to the food bank. Red Cross Food Pantry of Boston provides transportation of food for our agencies on the North Shore
We value our partnerships with all of our member agencies, as well as with the following Hunger and Human Service Organizations:
GE Employees Good Neighbor Fund Elder Services of Merrimack Valley Hunger Homeless Commission of Lowell	Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce Jericho Road Project Project Bread-The Walk for Hunger	Merrimack Valley Hub Community Services Directory Haverhill Hunger Roundtable North Shore Hunger Network MA Public Health Association Lynn Hunger Network