Established in 1990, the Dedham Food Pantry is a cornerstone of community support with a bold mission: to end hunger in Dedham. We serve approximately 250 Dedham families (with more than 750 family members) each month. Approximately one-third of the people that we serve are children.

We distribute a variety of non-perishable pantry staples; perishable items such as meat, eggs, cheese and bread; and fresh seasonal produce when available. We obtain food from a variety of sources including purchasing from the Greater Boston Food Bank; receiving donated food from individual, community, or corporate food drives; purchasing from warehouse and thrift stores; receiving donated food from grocery stores; and receiving donated produce from local farms. We also offer personal hygiene items including shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products.

Fruitful Offerings has many programs (all at no cost to Dedham Food Pantry clients) including:

• Vegetable plants in ready to grow containers,
• Cooking classes featuring easy, healthy recipes,
• Garden plots at the new Fruitful Offerings Gardens at Dedham Parks & Recreation Department,
• Learn to garden classes through the Dedham Grows program at Dedham Parks & Rec. Dept. and
• Easy and healthy recipes at the pantry along with ingredients to make them.

For questions, more information, or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact:

The Dedham Food Pantry is governed by a volunteer board of trustees.

Trustees meet monthly and as needed. At least one trustee is on duty when the pantry is open for shopping.

It all began in October, 1989, when the Reverend Bruce Kennedy, new minister at First Church Unitarian, preached a sermon on world hunger.  “A personal commitment to a world without hunger is a deliberate daily commitment” he said.  His words so inspired a member of his congregation, Corinne Lewis, that she decided to do something about hunger right here in Dedham.

At that time there were food pantries in most neighboring towns but none in Dedham.  She vowed to start one here.  She took her proposal to the First Church Evening Alliance, a group of women who recognized that the need to help hungry people existed even in a town as prosperous as Dedham.  Each Alliance member contacted specific organizations, such as churches, Family Service, Visiting Nurse, Council on Aging, Dedham Youth Commission, and school counselors.  Corinne herself wrote to and then visited every clergyman in town, all of whom were willing to support such a venture.  Margaret Pendleton wrote to all the members of Church Women United to apprise them of our plans.