Weymouth, MA – Mayor Hedlund and the Weymouth Food Pantry (WFP) announced today a collaborative project to launch the first pantry bus in Massachusetts, a next-level expansion of the mobile pantry model. The Town of Weymouth, in partnership with WFP, will outfit a former school bus to operate as a transportable walk-in pantry. The new bus will provide nearly limitless capacity to reach households in need, regardless of distance or isolation. Mayor Hedlund has committed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for implementation of the project.
“The Weymouth Food Pantry is the gold standard for providing food assistance. With the need for food access on the rise due to COVID, this mobile pantry project will help us reach even more Weymouth residents and families,” said Mayor Robert Hedlund.
“Food access is an important piece of food security. This bus gives us the opportunity to build out specialized programs that expand how we meet the needs of our community,” said Pam Denholm, Executive Director of Weymouth Food Pantry. “It is a big commitment to ensuring Weymouth is a place where everybody can thrive.”
Town officials anticipate that buildout of the bus will be complete by summer 2022. Amenities will include wall-to-wall shelving, fridge and freezer units, and storage for at least 3,000 pounds of fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable food. Once complete, the bus will be operated and maintained by WFP.
The pantry bus represents a long-lasting investment in the future of Weymouth. Not only will the bus address transportation as a barrier to food assistance, but its multidimensional uses will better position the town to respond to future needs and emergencies.
“From day one, flexibility in our delivery model has been critical to addressing the staggering need for food assistance produced by COVID-19,” said Nicholas Bulens, Chair of the Weymouth Food Pantry Board of Directors. “This bus is the next level in flexibility. It’s an investment not just in the town’s recovery but in greater food security and in a more resilient Weymouth. We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Hedlund for making this project a reality.”
According to the Greater Boston Food Bank, Massachusetts saw the greatest percentage increase in food insecurity in the country in 2020, with a 47% increase over 2019. Based on projections from Feeding America, one in 10 individuals in Eastern Massachusetts were also expected to remain food insecure through 2021. The current rise in food costs, as well as the impending end to boosted federal nutrition and economic benefits, are anticipated to impact food insecurity into 2022.