May was a banner month for The Salem Pantry as it was honored with the Community Partner of the Year Award by the Greater Boston Food Bank, and it was also selected as a Cummings Foundation grant recipient.
The Community Partner of the Year Award is given to an emergency feeding program that has gone above and beyond in fulfilling GBFB’s mission, serving as a role model for other agencies, employing an innovative approach to meeting their clients’ needs, and assisting GBFB in food distribution and education around nutrition and the issue of hunger. The pantry serves as a reliable strategic hunger-relief partner for Salem and its surrounding communities. Its warehouse also serves as a shared delivery site, allowing nearby agencies to pick up deliveries in one centralized location. In 2023 they also opened The Marketplace, the new permanent home for the food pantry, while continuing to offer weekly mobile markets at several sites throughout the city. The new pantry location enables clients to access nutritious food through a client-choice model.
“The Salem Pantry is a shining example of the impact that our food distribution system can have at a community level,” said GBFB’s Vice President of Community Impact and Operations Jonathan Tetrault. “Beyond serving as a shared food delivery location for neighboring communities, the Salem Pantry consistently goes above and beyond to advance hunger-relief through education, responding to clients’ unique needs, and advocating for additional funding and food sources. We hope this award conveys our deep appreciation for the efforts of its staff and the measurable impact they have on their community.”
In addition, The Salem Pantry is one of 150 local nonprofits that will share in $30 million through Cummings Foundation’s major annual grants program. It will receive $750,000 over 10 years. The funding will support programs like The Market, The Salem Pantry’s brick-and-mortar location designed to feel like a small grocery store, and The Truck, a mobile pantry vehicle that brings food directly into the community.
“With this grant, The Salem Pantry is positioned to continue innovating our efforts to provide fresh, nutritious food in the community to reach even more families and individuals in a manner that upholds dignity and fosters a sense of community,” states Executive Director, Robyn Burns. “This funding will allow us to make a bigger impact in Salem and throughout the North Shore.”
Congratulations to The Salem Pantry on these well-deserved recognitions of its outstanding efforts and innovative programs.