Chelmsford Food Pantry

Serving everyone because financial difficulties and hunger have no boundary lines.

Our Location:

Physical Address:
50 Rear Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA
In Beige Trailer

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 394
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Email: office@chelmsfordfoodpantry.org
Phone: (978) 746-6914

Donate Today

Foods Needed (click here)

Non-Perishable Food:

Cooking oil
Flour
Sugar
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayo
Salad Dressing
Peanut Butter
Jelly
Ramen noodles
Spaghetti Sauce
Canned tuna
Canned Chicken
Canned Black, Garbanzo, and Kidney beans
Canned Corn
Boxed Cereal and Oatmeal
Pancake Mix and Syrup
Apple Juice
Shelf Stable Milk
Mac & Cheese
Corn Tortilla or flour tortilla
Fried Beans
Chili powder
Cake Mix and frosting.
Children snacks
Juice boxes

Personal Care Items:

Shampoo
Soap
Toothpaste
Toothbrush

Visit Us Weekly During These Hours

Wednesdays:

5:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Thursdays:

2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Fridays:

6:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Please, Pantry users only to protect confidentiality

Food Drop Offs

Thursdays:

10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
6:30 PM to 7:45 PM

Food donation boxes are also located at Market Basket and Stop and Shop on Chelmsford Street, Chelmsford and at the Chelmsford Public Library.

Free Emergency Home Delivery

If you live in Chelmsford, the Chelmsford Food Pantry can deliver Free to you.

Please give us a call or send us an email and we will do everything we can to help.

Contact Us

2024 Message From From The Board of Directors

In this era of too much negative news the Board of Directors would like to share some good news with our Chelmsford community.

The good news we share is the extent of support the Chelmsford community contributes to CFP’s weekly operation. We at the Pantry are humbled by this support. When we reflect on what it takes to operate a food panty its foundation of support comes from the community. In our case the Town of Chelmsford; the local businesses; town organizations; local schools; and our town’s residents. There are also other important contributors to our operation that include donors as far away as Hawaii, chartable foundations, and other businesses.

While the CPF is nonpolitical, it reminds us of President Kennedy’s inaugural address on that cold January 20, 1961 day, and his notable message to all… ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country. And so, our community has willingly and freely supported CFP in many ways without our requests.

Today, we have over 50 volunteers who work tirelessly every week to provide over 140 families with much-needed food. Among other things the Town provides us with a home. School children and town residents have food drives; provide donated food; and support us financially. We cannot say enough about the support from businesses, foundations, and organizations. All this activity is initiated by them. We at the Pantry are grateful for this support.

To say that 2023 exposed a food crisis would be an understatement. At the beginning of 2023 we were serving just under 100 families weekly. Today, we are serving over 140 families weekly. During the last three months of 2023 we have witnessed a spike in demand at the pantry. This is a partial result of increased grocery costs throughout the state. We have met this demand because of our community support and food provided by the Merrimack Valley Food Band and the USDA.

We at the CFP know that President Kennedy’s 1961 message have resonated in our town and to those who support us. Thank you all for your past and anticipated continued support in 2024. And to those families in need, we are here to support you throughout the coming year.

How You Can Help

Drop Off Food

Thursdays:

10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
6:45 PM to 7:45 PM

Food donation boxes are also located at Market Basket and Stop and Shop on Chelmsford Street, Chelmsford and at the Chelmsford Public Library.

Volunteer

Learn more about volunteer opportunities

Contact Us

Donate

Send a Check:

Chelmsford Community Exchange, Inc.

P.O. Box 394
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Donate

Our Mission

The purposes of the Corporation are to provide a resource for those in need:

To offer food, clothing, and resources for those in need, as well as to act whenever and however possible as advocates for the disadvantaged, and to engage in other charitable purposes lawful in this Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Chelmsford Community Exchange Inc is nonprofit and is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization (non-profit ID 043194006) . Our institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Chelmsford Community Exchange, Inc. / Non-Profit ID # 043194006

Sandy Donovan (1938-2020)

Sandy Donovan, founder of the food pantry, our director, and spokesperson passed on September 27, 2020.

She founded Chelmsford Community Exchange in 1993 in a small storage room in the back of the old Chelmsford Town Hall. Sandy expanded the operation over the past 27 years and was able to relocate the Food Pantry operation to its present location.

She provided support to many area residents who needed assistance over these past 27 years. Today’s operation is dedicated to continuing her legacy.

Serving the Greater Lowell Area

We are most appreciative and grateful for all your support – whether you volunteer, contribute to us thru monetary or food donations, or have the courage to come and get much needed food for your families or yourself.

Critical Home Repair Services

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell’s Critical Home Repair program offers assistance to qualified seniors, veterans and families to help alleviate health, safety and code violations. This program is part of an ongoing effort to meet Habitat’s mission that everyone should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety. As with all Habitat for Humanity programs, this offers “a hand-up, not a hand-out”.

Lasagna Love

Parents everywhere have been affected by the pandemic. Lost income, lost childcare, lost sanity – we’re here to help. If you’re a mom or dad and could use a hand with dinner one night in the coming weeks, sign up here.

The Office of the Community Services Coordinator is able to assist individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. Help is available for those who are isolating due to COVID-19 or just need a little extra support. Contact Community Services Coordinator, Jen Melanson, at 978-254-0446 or jmelanson@chelmsfordma.gov.

Legal Services:

Free legal services for eviction assistance is available thru:

COVID Eviction Legal Help Project – Legal Services, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Digital Outreach Materials

Make A Real Change In Someone’s Life

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