Originally born out of the pandemic, Just Eats has been a way for Food For Free to address safe access to food by limiting close physical interactions while still providing nutritious food. Today, Just Eats is a flagship program of Food For Free’s innovative food distribution strategy. Thanks to the continued support of our partners, like Yawkey Foundation, Just Eats has continued to expand and adapt to the changing needs of our community. 

Tom and Jean Yawkey spent their lifetime quietly and generously supporting programs and organizations serving youth, people with disabilities, and struggling families. The Yawkeys were passionate and committed individuals, engaging in unwavering dedication to those most in need, and the Yawkey Foundation carries on their legacy. Food For Free is grateful for the support of Yawkey Foundation, whose generosity helped us start Just Eats, and today enables us to expand and adapt our Just Eats program to ensure we serve our communities more efficiently and effectively.

In response to the pandemic in December 2021, Food For Free began a pilot for our “Just Eats Grocery Box” program which provides food boxes – filled with 25 pounds of fresh, healthy food – to organizations in Eastern Massachusetts for safe food distribution. Since then, Just Eats has come a long way since its pilot, distributing over 5 million pounds of food during the 18 months since its inception.

As the pandemic shifts, Food For Free recognizes the ongoing value of this model and the benefits of making this program more flexible to better serve our community members. 

And we are able to make these changes with the generous support of the Yawkey Foundation, who recently awarded Food For Free with a $50,000 grant for Just Eats!

Flexibility for this program means Food For Free can provide recipient agencies with options regarding the food they receive. We can check in with our partner agencies to ensure we are meeting their unique needs. Some agencies prefer to continue receiving the pre-assembled Just Eats boxes of groceries. Other organizations we work with are interested in receiving mixed pallets of bulk foods that typically make up the boxes to distribute in a way that works best for them and their community members. 

Food For Free’s Just Eats mixed pallets include bulk vegetables, such as cases of sweet potatoes and onions. These mixed pallets might better fit agencies’ distribution needs, especially ones that are preparing food for their community, or offering more opportunities for choice. On the other end, the housing sites we work with throughout Greater Boston prefer pre-made boxes for people to take because they do not have the infrastructure to allow for a different distribution model at this time.

This continued commitment to the well-being of our community, as exemplified by the Yawkey Foundation and the Yawkey family legacy, is the solution to ending hunger NOW. As the landscape of hunger in Massachusetts continues to grow and the gap widens, we are grateful for the support that allows us to continue adapting to the needs of the most vulnerable. 

We encourage you to make a gift in support of our Just Eats program and give a box of fresh, delicious groceries to a family in need. Together, we can make a difference. ❂