The Salem Pantry Extends Mass General Brigham Community Care Van Pact

SALEM, MA — The Salem Pantry and Mass General Brigham have reached an agreement to extend Community Care Van service to the Pantry's The Market location.

This collaboration increases access to essential healthcare services for residents of Salem and neighboring communities.

"Our work with Mass General Brigham is an important part of our commitment to creating an overall healthier community," said Director of Programs and Partnerships Mike Lilley. "It allows us to address both the immediate need for food and the long-term health needs of our neighbors."

The Community Car Van is stationed in front of The Market location at 47 Leavitt Street and provides health services that include blood pressure screenings, diabetes screenings and care, and health education.

These services are provided to all residents with no appointment necessary.

"Community Care vans extend the front door of our hospital into the neighborhoods we serve, providing place-based care," said Priya Sarin Gupta, MD MPH, medical director, Clinical Community Programs at Mass General Brigham. "Our efforts aim not only to deliver clinical care but also to address social risks, such as food insecurity, which significantly impact health.

"Community partnerships like these at food pantries are essential to the care we strive to deliver."

Mass General Bringham has also been a financial supporter of The Salem Pantry since 2022.

The Market currently hosts an average of 1,350 weekly visits from residents of Salem and surrounding areas, including Lynn, Peabody, and Beverly.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)