
ENDING FOOD INSECURITY, TOGETHER
United Way of North Central Massachusetts addresses critical needs in the region including food insecurity, housing, and other basic needs through a number of ways including funding, convening stakeholders and working with partners. Combat Hunger was the UWNCM’s flagship program for many years, but since the pandemic things have changed and new ways of addressing food insecurity has evolved. In September 2022, the UWNCM brought together stakeholders from the region to discuss what food insecurity looks like today, what needs addressing and how our organization can assist.
Since that first meeting, the group of over 25 food pantries, many local nonprofits and other stakeholders have mobilized to fight food insecurity in our region. This initial roundtable discussion has led to “United to Feed North Central Massachusetts,” a regional approach.
This approach includes working together to collect food throughout the year including a major food drive for the holidays. We are working on ways to establish a transportation hub system and shared resources. Education programming is also a focus area. One area we plan to address first is educating our local food pantries and others as to how utilizing SNAP benefits can not only benefit their clients but also their pantry.
Two significant working groups were set up as part of this initiative to address different problems in our region. The Food Drive and the Shared Resources Working Groups.
The Food Drive Working Group undertook their first food drive for the 2022 December holiday season. That drive resulted in collecting over $20,000 in in-kind donations of food, socks, mittens, and more. These donations came from local businesses, banks, churches and people in the community. To supplement this drive, the UWNCM purchased over $6,000 worth of food and fresh organic produce from local farms. We were able to feed 450 families (1,100 individuals) during the December holiday season.
Our Shared Resources Working Group developed and implemented a survey that went to all the local food pantries. Twenty-four pantries responded to questions regarding when they go to the food bank, how often do they go, is their schedule flexible and other questions that will help this working group develop a transportation hub system.
If you are interested in donating, organizing a food drive, volunteering, or need more information about the work this regional initiative is doing, please contact Judy Tomlinson at 978-345-1577 ext. 303 or by email at Judy@uwncm.org.

DONATION LOCATIONS:
ATHOL
Athol Area YMCA
545 Main St.
Athol Public Library
568 Main St.
Kimball Cook Insurance
312 MainSt.
Market Basket
147 Tower Road
AYER
IC Federal Credit Union
72 Park St.
FITCHBURG
Action Community Health Center
130 Water St.
Enterprise Bank
420 John Fitch Hwy
Fitchburg Public Library
610 Main Street
Hey Good Look’n Salon and Spa
70 Summer Street
IC Federal Credit Union
300 Bemis Road
IC Federal Credit Union
520 Electric Ave.
Market Basket
399 John Fitch Hwy.
Market Basket
130 Water St.
Rise and Grind Café
805 Main Street Suite 103
Rollstone Bank
529 Electric Ave.
Rollstone Bank
486 John Fitch Hwy.
St. Bernards School
25 Harvard St.
Webster First Credit Union
65 North Street
YMCA of Central Mass
55 Wallace Ave
GARDNER
Faith Lutheran Church
627 Green St.
Gardner City Hall
95 Pleasant St.
Greater Gardner Community Health Center
175 Connor St.
South Gardner Community Health Connection
529 Timpany Blvd.
GROTON
Hollingsworth and Vose
219 Townsend Road
Rollstone Bank
788 Boston Rd.
HARVARD
Rollstone Bank
Rt. 110, 283 Syer Rd.
LEOMINSTER
Enterprise Bank
65 Main St.
IC Federal Credit Union
400 Mechanic St.
Lanza Auto
1233 Central Street
Leominster Community Health Center
165 Mill St.
Leominster Public Library
30 West St.
Market Basket #16
71 Sack Blvd.
Rollstone Bank
24 Monument Square
Rollstone Bank
721 Central St.
St. Leo School
120 Main St.
YMCA of Central Mass
108 Adams St.
LITTLETON
Market Basket #77
301 Constitution Ave.
LUNENBURG
Arrive Apartments Office
1 Carousel Lane
CVS
545 Electric Ave.
Lunenburg Public Library
102 Massachusetts Ave.
Workers Credit Union
603 Massachusetts Ave.
SHIRLEY
Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce
2 Shaker Rd., Suite B200
STERLING
M3Pro AutoBody
287 Leominster Road
TOWNSEND
Rollstone Bank
225 Main St.
WESTMINSTER
High Ridge Harmony Farm
83 Overlook Rd.
IC Federal Credit Union
71 Main St.
WINCHENDON
Fidelity Bank
1 School Sq.
Not Just Produced
290 Central St.
Town Hall of Winchendon
109 Front St.
The Winchendon School
172 Ash ST.
The Cornerstone Church
122 Gardner Rd.
Wendell Clarke Memorial YMCA
155 Central St.
WORCESTER
Girl Scouts of Central & Western Mass
15 Century Drive