The Merrimack Valley YMCA is committed to fighting food insecurity in the communities we serve as part of our mission to make healthier lives achievable for all.

About the Merrimack Valley YMCA Food Program

In the city of Lawrence, 84% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch – meaning more than three quarters of our students and their families face food insecurity. At the YMCA, we aim to fill this gap and increase access to healthy foods while the children are not in school.

Your support will provide increased access to healthy food choices to our kids and their families by allowing us to purchase more food and personal items and increase outreach and serve more families. To make a financial contribution, please click here or mail to the Lawrence YMCA at 40 Lawrence Street. Thank you for your support.

To learn about how you can volunteer in any of our food programs, visit our Volunteer page. For more information on how you can support MVYMCA Food Programs, please contact Cathy Redard at credard@mvymca.org or 978-725-6681 ext. 121.

On behalf of the children and adults we serve, thank you for your support of the Merrimack Valley YMCA.

Food Pantry

Thursdays 3:00-4:00 pm
Lawrence YMCA
40 Lawrence Street
Lawrence

Bags of groceries are distributed on Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. This resource, offers between 3,000-5,000 lbs of food each week, including shelf-stable food, produce, and proteins, that we distribute to our community and is offered in partnership with the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.

You can continue to drop off donations at the following locations:

• The Andover/North Andover Welcome Center any day or time during normal business hours
• The Lawrence YMCA branch where the food pantry is located: 40 Lawrence Street in Lawrence, MA
• MVYMCA Administrative Offices at the Riverwalk Properties: 280 Merrimack Street, Suite 500 (if you are visiting, use Main Entrance M under the Catwalk, take elevator up to the Fifth Floor)
  Lawrence, MA 01843

Proud Partner of the

Food Items

high-need items:

Pasta
Pasta Sauce
Canned Vegetables
Boxes of rice or small bags of rice
Dry Beans
Canned tuna
Peanut Butter

More Food Donation item options:

Juice (Cranberry & Orange)
Canned Fruit
Black Beans
Spaghetti O’s
Oatmeal
Coffee/Tea
Canned Chicken
Fruit cups
Granola bars
Chicken Noodle Soup (No tomato or cream of… )
Boxed meals
Ramen Noodles
100% juice

Personal Care Items

Diapers (all sizes)
Shampoo/ conditioner
Deodorant
Toothpaste
Soap
Toothbrushes
Baby wipes
Feminine care products

Or please consider making a monetary contribution.

Organize a Neighborhood Food Drive

Another great way to help our MVYMCA Food Programs is to host a Pop the Trunk Neighborhood Food Drive in your neighborhood.

• Choose a day and time that works for you
• The Y will provide you with a flyer that you can pass out to friends and neighbors
• Ask neighbors to bring food and pop their trunks
• YMCA volunteers can set up our Mobile Food Pantry in your neighborhood and help you collect food or you can do it yourself
• All food collection can be done safely by wearing masks and ensuring social distancing
• Drop your donations at the Lawrence Y or volunteers can come pick them up

For more information on how you can organize a food drive for your neighbors, contact William Hernandez at whernandez@mvymca.org.

Each month, the Methuen YMCA hosts the Greater Boston Food Bank Mobile Market. This resource, which provides fresh, healthy food is open to all in the community. Participants simply drive up and volunteers will place bags of groceries in their cars. Each month, the BFB delivers 15,000 lbs of food in a tractor-trailer and offloads it at our Y Branch. Our Team and Volunteers then create food pantry bags and/or boxes from these pallets of dry goods, proteins, and produce, to distribute directly into vehicles, serving an average of 360 households.

If you would like more information about this free community resource, visit the Greater Boston Food Bank website or contact Cathy Redard at credard@mvymca.org.

Merrimack Valley YMCA food programs now include food trucks to help get healthy food to residents who are unable to travel to the Lawrence YMCA Food Pantry. Check back often for updates on schedules and locations for our Mobile Food Pantry.

For more information, please contact William Hernandez at whernandez@mvymca.org