Island Food Pantry

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The Island Food Pantry is a vital part of our Island food system, providing nutritious food to 1 in 5 year-round residents in need of support. We offer fresh produce, prepared meals from our kitchen, proteins, dairy, eggs, and pantry staples, and utilize as much locally grown food as possible.

In 2024, we moved into our permanent home in Oak Bluffs, which has transformed our operations with expanded storage, streamlined logistics, and a more dignified client experience.

The number of people we serve has more than doubled since 2019. As food insecurity grows on our island, so does our commitment to meeting the need. If you’d like to help, please consider making a monetary or food donation today.

Who Can Use the Pantry?

Anyone who is not financially able to obtain the food they need may use the Pantry. If you are on Mass Health, SNAP, Fuel Assistance or are simply unable to afford groceries this month, we are here for you. We will ask that you fill out a registration form on your first visit.

How Often Can I Visit?

Shoppers may visit once per week as needed. Some shoppers come less frequently depending on current needs. If you are limited in what you can take due to transportation or storage, let us know and we can arrange for more frequent visits.

What Kind of Food is Available?

Non-perishable grocery items, fresh produce, whole-grain bread, dairy products, meat, and fish. Instead of pre-packaged bags, our clients are able to select the items they want and need, resulting in more healthy, appetizing meals with less food waste.

Serving Hands & Family to Family

  • Serving Hands operates out of the First Baptist Church, providing nutritious groceries to approximately 130 clients each month. The program receives about 5,000 pounds of food from the Greater Boston Food Bank, ensuring that individuals and families have consistent access to essential pantry staples and fresh ingredients.

  • Family to Family brings the Island community together during the holiday season by providing all the ingredients for a complete holiday meal. Meal kits are distributed three times a year—in late November, late December, and April—and include turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and fresh produce. Ingredients are sourced from local farms and grocers to ensure Island families can enjoy a nourishing holiday meal.

  • Island Grown Initiative is honored to carry forward the legacy of Serving Hands and Family to Family, two vital food distribution programs that have supported Island families for decades. In 2024, IGI welcomed these programs under its umbrella after years of dedicated leadership by the Vineyard Committee on Hunger.

    Family to Family and Serving Hands were started by husband and wife team Betty Burton and John Sundman, who wanted to be sure that Island families had a way to access food support all year round. In the early days, it was just Betty, John, and their three children filling the food bags. Today, dozens of volunteers come together around each holiday season to package and prepare meal kits for Family to Family and a dedicated core of volunteers sustains Serving Hands.