When our Home Delivery clients open one of their boxes of groceries, the first thing they are likely to find is a cover of fresh collards or salad greens. Underneath that sits a colorful assortment of whole fruits and vegetables, bread, frozen meat, rice and pasta. Tucked to the side is a recipe that suggests how to combine several items from the box in one meal. Ultimately though, how to prepare the food is the clients’ choice.
Food For Free’s Home Delivery program serves low-income residents of Cambridge who are unable to access a food pantry because of illness or disability. Home Delivery started in 2001 when the city asked Food For Free to bring food directly to residents unable to access food pantries.
Deliveries are now reaching more people than ever. A few years ago, we were able to double the number of boxes each client received per month, and since then we have also doubled the number of clients. With a new van and dedicated volunteers working Friday, Saturday and Sunday every other week, this program currently serves about 140 Cambridge residents.
Volunteers pack boxes the morning they are to be delivered, which means we can distribute fresh produce and frozen food in addition to canned or dry nonperishables. In fact, at least half the contents of each 40lb box are fresh fruits or vegetables. All clients get the same food in a delivery, but from one delivery to the next the combination of food is never exactly the same. The produce ranges from seasonal vegetables, sometimes from farms in Massachusetts, to warm-climate fruits that can liven up recipes through the winter.
One client, Diane (name changed), found out about Home Delivery when she saw Simon Walsh, our delivery driver, bring food to one of her neighbors. Diane has difficulty walking and cannot use stairs at all, so she is especially appreciative of Simon’s door-to-door service and kind spirit. “This is a godsend,” she said. “I’m so happy I found Simon and this program.” Her favorite part of receiving a delivery is being introduced to new foods, citing a memorable frittata recipe that allowed her to use several ingredients from one delivery.
Another client, Kevin (name changed) had more specific favorites, namely pineapples and mangoes. “I’m all over the world, so I love the variety,” he said. He appreciates the independence that Home Delivery gives him to cook for himself, and said he likes to think that his chronic disease does not control him.
Limited mobility poses an additional challenge to food insecurity, but it shouldn’t limit someone’s ability to enjoy a healthy, varied diet. Home Delivery meets people where they are by bringing a box of food right to their doorstep. It’s important to us to leave our clients not just with a solution to food access, but one that prioritizes dignity, nutrition, and the diverse needs of those in our community.
