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Merrimack Valley Food Bank describes programs, mobile pantries and school feeding expansion
Summary
Debbie Callery of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank told the Lowell nonprofit subcommittee the organization moved to a new single‑level facility and runs school pantries, a mobile pantry for seniors and summer feeding; she asked for donations and volunteers.
Debbie Callery, representing the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, briefed the Lowell City nonprofit organization subcommittee on the food bank’s distribution programs and recent facility move.
Callery said the food bank serves local partner organizations and operates direct service programs, including a mobile pantry that provides monthly grocery deliveries to roughly 300 seniors in Greater Lowell and another monthly distribution serving about 250 individuals at the Lowell senior center. She said the food bank’s children’s feeding initiative, Operation Nourish, now serves all 27 Lowell schools with in‑school pantry support at middle and high schools and weekend grocery bags for elementary students. “Right now, those bags we’re distributing a little over 3,000 monthly,” she said.
Callery described a summer lunch program that served 12 sites and prepared roughly 16,000 meals in a six‑week period, a community market program (a free farmers‑market style distribution at public housing sites), and an expanded food rescue and repurposing effort that collects surplus from farms and vendors.
The food bank moved in February 2024 to a new single‑level facility after more than 30 years at 735 Broadway, Callery said, and she invited councilors to tour the site. She described the organization’s main sources of food as USDA and state distributions, supplemented by supermarket and donor contributions.
Councilors asked about funding streams and how residents can help. Callery said the food bank accepts online donations at mvfb.org, accepts mailed checks to 1703 Middlesex Street, and regularly seeks volunteers; she also confirmed the food bank distributes USDA and state food in bulk to partner agencies.
Councilors including Robinson and Mercia praised the food bank’s work and suggested further public promotion; Mercia offered to mention the food bank on radio to solicit donations. The subcommittee discussed coordinating volunteer projects with the food bank and arranging a council visit to demonstrate packing and distribution operations.
A motion to adjourn the subcommittee was made by Councilor Noon and seconded by Councilor Robinson at the meeting’s close.
