Free meal sites expanded to serve adults

Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the City of Boston is now serving adults, in addition to children and youth, at six meal sites in East Boston, Dorchester, South Boston, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Brighton.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency in Boston, the City has distributed over 461,000 free meals across 65 meal sites. Residents can visit boston.gov/COVID19food to find food resources for all residents, including youth meal sites, food pantries, and more.

"We are working every day to meet the needs of Boston's residents: our young people and our seniors; our homeless and vulnerable residents; our essential workers and first responders; and everyone in our city," said Mayor Walsh. "No person should go hungry while we are fighting this pandemic, which is why it is so important that we make food resources available to all of our residents who may need it."

Meal sites now serving adults, in addition to children and youth, include:

SITE NAME	ADDRESS	HOURS OF OPERATION \| MONDAY - FRIDAY
YMCA @ Egleston Square	3134 Washington Street Roxbury, MA 02119	8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
YMCA @ Oak Square (Brighton)	615 Washington Street Brighton, MA 02135	8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
YMCA @ East Boston - Bremen Street	215 Bremen Street East Boston, MA 02128	8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
BCYF Leahy Holloran	1 Worrell Street Dorchester, MA 02122	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
BCYF Mattahunt	100 Hebron Street Mattapan, MA 02126	9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Mary Ellen McCormack	Sterling Square South Boston, MA 02127	10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

FOOD SUPPORT FOR YOUTH

Although the Boston Public Schools are closed to students and this week is April vacation week, the City has continued to provide free breakfast and lunch meals to all Boston students. Families can find a location near them. Families with special education students who receive door-to-door transportation, can email mealdelivery@bostonpublicschools.org to request to have their meals delivered.

FOOD SUPPORT FOR OLDER ADULTS

In addition to special shopping hours for seniors at grocery stores, food delivery and home-delivered meals may be an option for individuals age 60 and older who are unable to leave their homes. Older residents can find a food distribution location near them and are encouraged to call 311 or the Age Strong Commission at (617) 635-4366 for more information.

FOOD SUPPORT FOR GENERAL PUBLIC

Residents can visit boston.gov/covid19-food-map to find food resources for all residents, including youth meal sites, food pantries, and more. For information on accessing SNAP and WIC benefits and food pantries information, residents are asked to connect with Project Bread at 1-800-645-8333. If someone cannot access food due to mobility, illness, or quarantine, they are encouraged to connect with the Mayor's Office of Food Access at 617-635-3717 or food@boston.gov.

Last week, Mayor Walsh and the Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee announced the distribution of additional funds to support organizations that provide critical services and support to residents, vulnerable populations and Boston families whose wellbeing is most immediately impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. To date, the Boston Resiliency Fund has distributed $12 million in 55 emergency grants to 115 organizations, including $5.3 million to support food access.

Resources and information about COVID-19 are available online. Resources available on boston.gov and through City departments include support for renters and homeowners; small businesses; free meals for Boston students and families; free toiletries for Boston students; emergency childcare centers; support for older residents; information on homeless shelters; transportation options for health care workers; resources for those in recovery or those who have a substance use disorder; and mental health resources.

For additional questions or programs, please visit our coronavirus website or call 3-1-1, Boston's 24-hour constituent hotline. Text BOSCOVID to 888-777 to receive text alerts on a regular basis, available in 11 languages.