Centre Street Food Pantry expands services for Waltham families

Centre Street Food Pantry served approximately 400 families at Healthy Waltham’s community pantry on Cherry Street during a three-hour event on Aug. 28. The pantry, which ran from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., also distributed information to attendees about additional food resources available through Centre Street.

In collaboration with Healthy Waltham, Centre Street offered foods featured in its “Kids Club” program – an ongoing initiative that provides grocery bags containing shelf-stable breakfast and lunch items to families with children. During the summer, the Kids Club “Fresh” program adds bags with sandwich rolls, deli meats, cheese, milk, yogurt and fresh fruit. By season’s end, Centre Street estimates it will have supplied 12,000 lunches to local children.

About 55% of families served by Centre Street are Waltham residents. Executive Director Rose Saia noted increased need amid high food and housing costs and said growing collaborations are essential to meet demand.

Centre Street has also announced new and expanded partnerships this fall. It will provide shelf-stable foods to the on-campus pantry at Brandeis University, serving students — including many graduate students and their families. The organization continues its partnership with Family Access in West Newton, assisting working parents in Newton, Waltham and surrounding communities with food for families and home visits.

Every month, Centre Street Food Pantry serves about 1,100 households — over 4,000 people — across Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown and Wellesley.