The Salem Pantry To Enhance Food Recovery Efforts During Winter Months

SALEM, MA — The Salem Pantry is working with partner organizations across eastern Massachusetts to augment food recovery efforts from local wholesalers, grocery stores and farms during a very cold and snowy winter.

The Salem Pantry is collaborating with Food Link of Arlington, the Boston Area Gleaners of Acton and Spoonfuls of Newton to redirect potential food waste to the 32,785 individuals that the organizations collectively serve on a regular basis.

• 160K Stuck In Dark As More Snow Falls Across MA: Blizzard 2026 Latest

"We are grateful to work closely with Food Link, The Boston Area Gleaners, and Spoonfuls to keep food out of the waste stream and into the hands of our neighbors," said Robyn Burns, Executive Director of The Salem Pantry. "As families face additional challenges in accessing food during the winter months, these options serve as a lifeline for so many."

"Every pound of food we recover is a pound kept out of a landfill and a pound that nourishes a family," said Erin Ash, Senior Director of Programs at Spoonfuls. “Our partnership with The Salem Pantry ensures surplus food reaches people who need it most, and we're proud to be part of that effort."

The Salem Pantry recently distributed 5,200 donated prepared meals from HelloFresh and Factor, facilitated by Food Link.

"The Salem Pantry is one of those rare partners who can take large, time-sensitive rescues and move them fast," said Rachel Albert, Executive Director of Food Link. "That capacity helps Food Link say yes to more bulk donations, and it keeps our cold storage turning over so we can keep taking the next delivery."

The Salem Pantry works with The Greater Boston Food Bank, local farms, grocers, and wholesalers to distribute 3,133,000 pounds of food in 2025. As a regional distribution hub, it stores and redistributes food from The Greater Boston Food Bank and recovery partners to more than 20 organizations across the North Shore.