A Handy Guide to Food Donation Resources In Winchester & Woburn, MA
Image Credit: EnKa Pantry
Give back to your community this season with these great local options for donating food and support. You’ll help local families, reduce waste, and strengthen the Boston-area network of care.
EnKa Society Food Pantry (Winchester, MA)
Located right in Winchester, the EnKa Pantry provides non-perishable and fresh food to residents in need. Donations can be dropped off any time in the blue metal bin on the front porch at 1037 Main Street, or shipped directly to the same address.
They also welcome personal care items like toothpaste, shampoo, and menstrual products. If you’re in need of support, visits are available by appointment on Sundays and Mondays.
Council of Social Concern Food Pantry (Woburn, MA)
Image Credit: Council of Social Concern
Serving both Woburn and Winchester, the Council of Social Concern offers food assistance to local families. Donations of non-perishable food can be dropped off at 2 Merrimac Street, Woburn, and the team can share a current list of most-needed items.
If you or someone you know needs help, appointments are available during the week- just call ahead to confirm hours.
Food Link (Arlington, MA)
Food Link partners with grocery stores, farms, and distributors to rescue surplus food and deliver it to community organizations across Greater Boston. They don’t accept individual donations, but if you’re part of the food industry or have large-scale food to share, they’ll coordinate a pickup to make sure nothing goes to waste.
Image Credit: Food Link
What to Donate
If you’re decluttering your pantry, here are a few tips to ensure your donations can be put to use right away:
Check expiration dates and keep items sealed and clearly labeled.
Avoid dented cans or open packages. Canned food would ideally have pop tops OR donate a can opener with it.
Group similar foods together (all soups, all cereals, etc.) to help volunteers stock efficiently.
Everyone donates boxed mac’ and cheese, but it needs milk and butter which is hard to get. Boxed milk is shelf-stable.
Include personal care items when possible - they’re always appreciated.
Making a Local Impact
When we share what we have, we help our neighbors thrive. Supporting local food pantries and programs keeps good food circulating within our community and ensures that every family has access to healthy meals, especially when it matters most.
Happy holidays!
