Mystic Community Market Opens In Medford

MEDFORD, MA — The Mystic Community Market opened Friday in Medford as the city works toward becoming "hunger-free" by 2028. The market is a collaboration between the Greater Boston Food Bank, Malden YMCA and Walnut Street Center. It is funded by the Wolk family and their company, Agero.

The opening came a week after Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, the City Council and the School Committee pledged to eliminate hunger in Medford by 2028. The market places an emphasis on nutrition and community health, focusing on increasing capacity and accessibility to healthy, nutritious foods.

The food distribution center will also serve the surrounding communities of Malden and Somerville. In addition to Medford, the Greater Boston Food Bank has set a goal of making eastern Massachusetts hunger-free by 2028.

"The key to our City's success in ending hunger by 2028 can be summed up in one word: partnerships," Lungo-Koehn said during Friday's event. "Partnerships within our City, with individual residents, non-profit organizations, houses of worship, and city departments, as well as those with neighboring communities and regional organizations."

The center plans to distribute 200,000 meals to community members in need in its first year of operation.

"Each of us has to be involved to truly put an end to hunger," Congresswoman Katherine Clark said. "Collective efforts like our new food pantry here in Medford, led by our incredible local leaders, are key to ensuring that no one in our community goes to bed hungry. By working together and leading with compassion, I know we can make Eastern Massachusetts hunger free by 2028!"