Interfaith Social Services is expanding their food pantry hours in response to rising food insecurity rates in the region. According to the 2026 Massachusetts Food Access Report by the Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham, the number of households in the state of Massachusetts facing food insecurity has increased from 19% in 2019 to 40% in 2025. Food insecurity is defined as being unable to afford enough to eat or worrying about where one’s next meal may come from. The growing need is compounded by the addition of nearly 48,000 children in Massachusetts who have lost access to SNAP benefits over the past 12 months.
Interfaith Social Services has seen the increase in need firsthand at their food pantry in Quincy. Interfaith operates one of Greater Boston’s largest emergency food pantries and in response to the growing need, the organization is taking measures to increase capacity in order to serve all those who turn to them for help. As of July 6, Interfaith’s food pantry will permanently expand hours to offer more time for food pickup. New hours at their Quincy food pantry are 9:30am-12pm, Monday through Friday. The food pantry is also open on Wednesday evenings, by appointment.
“We’re seeing the aftereffects of these alarming statistics every day at Interfaith,” said Interfaith Social Services’ Executive Director Rick Doane. “You’ve probably seen the long lines outside our building. We are expanding hours to hopefully decrease those lines and provide more time for clients to access help. Each month this year we’ve seen a 20% increase in food pantry visits compared to last year. Families are struggling to keep up with rising costs, seniors on fixed incomes are having trouble affording food, and hardworking individuals are having to make difficult choices between paying rent and buying groceries.”…