WHAT IS JUST EATS?
Food For Free's Just Eats program is the embodiment of our belief that access to healthy food is a fundamental right.
Through Just Eats, Food For Free delivers individual grocery boxes and bulk pallets of assorted fruits, vegetables, grains and protein to food pantries and low-income housing sites.
We offer our recipient partners the choice between grocery boxes or bulk deliveries depending on their operations and the specific needs of the communities they serve. Each delivery contains pantry staples such as rice or pasta, protein such as beans or lentils, and a wide variety of produce, like potatoes, onions, plantains, carrots, apples, oranges, and kale.
By packaging and delivering custom-built, produce-focused Just Eats deliveries for our partners, we provide consistent access to healthy foods while helping our partners streamline their operations and reach as many of our neighbors as possible.
Grocery boxes facilitate nutrition-focused, grab-and-go distribution, while bulk allows for more customization and client choice.
Through Just Eats, Food For Free distributes 1,000 grocery boxes and up to 27,000 pounds of bulk produce and shelf-stable food across Eastern Massachusetts per week.
That’s enough food to make 43,500 meals!
WHY JUST EATS?
Food For Free's Just Eats program was created in response to a growing need for consistent access to fresh produce at food pantries and community programs across Eastern Massachusetts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just Eats was originally designed to fill the gap left by distribution problems with the federal government's Farmers to Families program and address the ongoing issue of food insecurity in Eastern Massachusetts.
The pilot for the program began in December 2020 with 500 grocery boxes being delivered to our partners to replace and improve upon the USDA’s pandemic response.
Community food pantries, a critical resource in fighting hunger, often lack cold storage, space, and transportation infrastructure to maintain a variety of fresh produce for their patrons, particularly because food banks distribute these items in bulk.
Stocking food pantries with fresh fruits and vegetables is an important tactic in supporting the health and dignity of our communities, since food insecurity increases people’s risk for obesity and other chronic diseases.
HOW JUST EATS WORKS
The food used in the Food For Free Just Eats program is sourced through donations from the Greater Boston Food Bank and the Boston Area Gleaners, as well as purchased local produce from the Boston Food Hub. Food For Free purchases a small percentage of the food to ensure that each box is well-rounded with various produce and pantry staples.
Fighting hunger is a team effort and we’re grateful for the support of our community to make the Just Eats program happen. Food For Free Just Eats grocery boxes are packed by individual and group volunteers at our Packing and Distribution Center in East Somerville, where the boxes are then placed in cold storage until ready for delivery. Our logistics team delivers both grocery boxes and Just Eats bulk food to our community partners in Cambridge, Somerville, Boston, Chelsea, and Revere each week.
We are immensely grateful to Takeda, Biogen Foundation, and Cambridge Community Foundation for their sponsorship of this program.
Please note that we do not distribute directly to individuals. All distribution takes place through our community partners. Please contact your nearest food pantry or visit this page to find resources near you.
FAST FACTS
- We distribute 2.9 million pounds of healthy food through Just Eats per year.
77% of the food distributed through Just - Eats was fresh produce in 2024.
- In 2024, 70% of Just Eats grocery box recipients stated that receiving the Just Eats box reduced their concern about their household having enough food to eat.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
- If you represent a food pantry or community organization interested in distributing Just Eats boxes or bulk food, please contact Alex Gladwell.
- If you are interested in corporate sponsorship for the Just Eats program, please contact our Development team.
- Want to volunteer for the Just Eats program? Visit our Volunteer page to find out more!
- Are you a member of the media interested in learning more about Just Eats? Contact our Marketing team to find out more.
"We're extremely satisfied with the quantity and quality of food received. Thank you for your focus on providing culturally relevant food—it's truly appreciated. Everyone at Revival Chelsea and in our community is deeply grateful for Food For Free's support."