October 28, 2025 By Susan Kiernan, Co-Founder The Hingham Food Pantry
More than 1 million Massachusetts residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) anticipate loss of benefits in early November due to the federal government shutdown. As it has since 1991, Hingham Food Pantry will be available to support local families, identify ongoing needs and connect with community members who are looking to help. The pantry is housed at Second Parish Church, 685 Main Street, and will be open on Tuesday, November 4 from 9:00-12:00. It is not necessary to make an appointment; any Hingham resident in need of food is welcome. The pantry provides dairy, meat, produce, bakery, canned and boxed goods as well as paper products. Should you have questions please call 781-740-8180 and leave a message in the general mailbox (Option 0). We will return your call. Alternatively, please email hinghamfood@gmail.com
Hingham Food Pantry regularly works with the Center for Active Living, Thaxter Park and the Hingham public schools to provide for residents who may be interested in receiving food. We will continue to do so during these difficult times. Hingham Food Pantry also alerts the families we serve to other community resources such as the Hingham Farmers Market HIP and SNAP programs.
Most of this would not be possible without the support of our amazing community. Your donations this year: food drives and/or funds from schools, clubs, churches, the temple, fraternal organizations, businesses, neighborhoods and individuals have been an extraordinary help to so many. Many of you have reached out to offer help. Today we ask for your patience as we assess how many additional individuals and families will need food. We should have this information after the food distribution on November 4.
We will be able to provide for all the people who come to the pantry on November 4 without a problem.
Following our November 4 food distribution, we will be in a better position to reach out to the community with lists of most needed items for donation. This will avoid collection of items we already have in adequate supply and can focus on the emerging needs of our neighbors. The Hingham Food Pantry Instagram and Facebook pages regularly post our most needed items as well as donation and distribution dates and times. We will continue to keep them updated. Please note the next time the pantry will accept donations on site is Monday, November 3 from 2:30-4:00. There are alternative donation spots at Stop & Shop, Coldwell Banker, Jack Conway and Sotheby’s International Realty.
It is our greatest wish to support our neighbors and together we can do this. Let’s make it happen!