Our Mobile Market provides monthly supplemental boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, butter and lean meat.
The Mobile Market began out of an increased need for access to fresh produce, dairy and lean proteins. During an annual food pantry survey, our clients expressed that these were the items they most benefited from when using the food pantry and having increased access to them would benefit their overall health and lifestyle.
Clients may visit the Mobile Market once per month, in addition to shopping in the Heart Healthy Food Pantry. Clients receive a pre-packed box which includes a variety of fresh produce. They are able to have choice of lean proteins including chicken, beef or fish as well as a selection of dairy products including 1%, 2% and whole milk, eggs and butter.
Through a generous grant from the MetroWest Health Foundation, NSC launched (March, 2013) the MetroWest region's first Heart Healthy Food Pantry. There is a clear need to improve the heart health of Natick residents, particularly families and individuals who cannot afford the high cost of healthy foods.
The Vi Tutuny Heart Healthy Food Pantry is a choice pantry and our clients are able to shop for foods they prefer and are provided with up to two weeks of nutritious foods, including fresh fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products, lean meats and personal care items. We are able to staff the food pantry because of our wonderful volunteers - over 400 of them - who facilitate approximately 3,915 client visits a year.
Information courtesy of Lovin' Spoonfuls
Food Rescue Program
Since our partnership with Spoonfuls began in 2016, the Natick Service Council has been able to significantly increase the availability of fresh produce in our food pantry.
Spoonfuls is a local food rescue organization that collects fresh food that would otherwise be discarded by grocery stores, produce wholesalers, and farms. Through their efforts, unsold and uneaten food is redistributed to community food pantries like ours, ensuring our neighbors have access to nutritious, fresh food.
Thanks to Spoonfuls, we're helping bridge the gap between food waste and food insecurity in our community.
Who Does the Pantry Serve?
We offer food to those individuals and families in Natick that need help by providing food.
Our Food Pantry provides approximately:
Each family is required to make an appointment for a specific date and time each month. Appointments are scheduled in 10-minute shopping blocks.
Am I Eligible?
All Natick Service Council clients are eligible to use the Food Pantry once a month.
Other resources
If you need more resources, or you are not a Natick Resident visit: https://www.
What’s the Process?
Once you become a Natick Service Council client (through meeting with a Case Manager), you can make your first appointment. You are responsible for making your own monthly appointments either by phone or in-person at the Natick Service Council office.
Approximately 24-business hours before your appointment, someone from the Natick Service Council will call, email or text to remind you of your appointment date and time. We ask that you arrive promptly for your monthly appointment and be finished shopping within the 10-minute appointment time.
We provide assistance with food selection and bagging.
We will verify your income once a year during our annual client updates.
How to Donate to the Food Pantry
The Vi Tutuny Heart Healthy Food Pantry only accepts donations of non-expired, non-perishable food items. We respectfully ask, on behalf of our clients, that you not to donate any open or expired items as we have to dispose of them.
The following collection bins are currently open for donations:
The food in these collection bins is collected each week by volunteers and delivered to our Food Pantry.
For a list of foods needed in the Pantry for this time of year, please check below.
RESTOCK THE PANTRY
Top Food Pantry Items Needed:
- Pretzels
- Goldfish
- Pirates Booty
- Peanut Butter Crackers
- Juice Boxes
Every once in a while we run low on specific pantry provisions. Please consider donating these much needed items this week!
Through our Target Wish List, you can have your items shipped directly to us.
To learn more contact us at info@natickservicecouncil.org