March 16, 2026 By Carol Britton Meyer
The Hingham Food Pantry – which began as a small effort and has grown into a “sustained, compassionate response to neighbors in need” – has served the community for 35 years.
The all-volunteer pantry currently provides support to more than 160 families over the course of the year – more than 1,100 bags per month on average.
“The pantry is an amazing resource to help feed your family and receive assistance with other things you might need,” is how one mother described her “pantry experience.” “The people who work there are very welcoming. Anyone who needs any help should go, and you don’t have to worry, because everything is confidential. It’s a happy place!”
The pantry supplies meat, dairy products, bakery, and non-perishable items to members of the Hingham community in need of a helping hand in addition to full dinners for Thanksgiving and the December holidays.
Donations come from community food drives, food support from the Greater Boston Food Bank, South Shore Food Bank, Hingham Farmers Market, Fresh Market, and Atlantic Bagel as well as private donations.
Food pantry has long history
Director Susan Kiernan has been involved since the beginning. Before its creation, St. Paul Church – like so many other churches and temples — collected food for those in need and donated it to Wellspring Multi-Service Center and the Weymouth Food Pantry, which served Hingham residents at that time.
In addition, “families would stop by the rectory looking for assistance in putting food on their tables,” Kiernan recalled. “The church continued to donate to both pantries, but we set aside some non-perishables for people who came to the rectory door seeking help – with some of them returning.”
At that point, under the direction of then-Pastoral Associate Denise DiCenso, a small group approached Project Bread for assistance.
“They guided us in doing a needs study and then continued to guide us once we had the results, which led us to taking steps to establish a food pantry in Hingham because the need appeared to be present,” Kiernan said.
The group then reached out to the Hingham Hull Religious Leaders Association, which offered to provide “some volunteers, financial backing, and prayers,” she recalled.
Following a small community meeting to determine where the pantry could be located, Second Parish at 685 Main St. offered a dedicated space, and it has remained there ever since.
Over 100 volunteers keep the pantry going
There are more than 100 volunteers who work at the pantry in various capacities who come from the community at large. “They are remarkable,” Kiernan said. “Most of them never meet the families they serve, but their commitment to their specific roles is steadfast as they work together to serve our neighbors in need as their selfless goal. Their efforts are what make the food pantry work.”
When asked what has inspired her to continue in her role for so many years, Kiernan explained “it’s because of the gifts I have received over these 35 years from meeting fellow volunteers and the families [and individuals] we serve . . . . Although we live in the same town, our paths may never have crossed otherwise. I feel fortunate and blessed to have these people in my life and to be part of this [effort].”
The Hingham Food Pantry can be reached at 781-740-8180 and hinghamfood@gmail.com. Anyone needing help with food is encouraged to call or email anytime or visit the pantry at Second Parish Church, 685 Main St., on Tuesday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. The pantry will accept donations on Monday, March 23, from 2:30-4 p.m. and Wednesday, March 25, from 12:30-2 p.m. Additional dates and information can be found on Hingham Food Pantry Facebook and Instagram.
A Letter From Susan Kiernan:
“Thirty-five years ago, a small group of concerned Hingham residents came together with a simple hope: that hunger in our town would one day be eradicated and a food pantry would no longer be needed. This month, the Hingham Food Pantry marks its 35th anniversary — a milestone that reminds us both how far we have come and how much work remains.
Guided in its early days by Project Bread, supported by the Hingham Clergy Association (now the Hingham Hull Religious Leaders), and welcomed by Second Parish Church, the pantry opened its doors to 14 families on its first day. Today, we support more than 160 families over the course of a year.
Over the decades, we have provided hundreds and hundreds of individuals and families with fresh produce, meat, dairy and bakery products; canned and boxed foods; paper goods; personal care items; diapers; and food for beloved pets. Even beautiful summer bouquets! Beyond groceries, we have helped with back-to-school supplies, holiday gifts, and referrals to additional community resources. What began as a small effort has grown into a sustained, compassionate response to neighbors in need.
This work is only possible because of you — the generous people of Hingham. Hundreds of you have donated money, food, time, and expertise. You greet our neighbors who come to the pantry. You order and pick up supplies. You check dates and stock shelves. You assemble bags, load cars, deliver groceries, and haul away trash and recycling.
Some of you first volunteered as students and are now teaching your own children the importance of service. The enthusiasm of young volunteers, the dedication of longtime helpers, the generosity of donors, the hospitality of our hosts at Second Parish, and the courage and resilience of the families we serve all shape who we are. The pantry is a place where neighbors who might never otherwise meet spend time together, united by shared purpose. The families we welcome don’t just receive support; they remind us, again and again, what strength, gratitude and community truly look like. The pantry is, in many ways, a joyful place.
We have not eliminated hunger in Hingham. But we have created something powerful: a welcoming and compassionate space where neighbors give and neighbors receive — and often, those roles change over time. Together, we continue the work.
The impact of this community is best expressed by a local family who shared: “This year has been a year of recovery for us — the most challenging we ever faced. As we continue to heal physically, emotionally, and financially, it is wonderful to know that if we need help, we have such a fabulous community.”
A fabulous community indeed!
As we begin our 36th year, we are deeply grateful for every volunteer, donor, partner, and family who walks through our doors. Thank you for standing together for 35 years — and for ensuring that in Hingham, no one stands alone.”