Food sustains us, keeps us whole, and connects us. Our Food Access webpage aims to alleviate barriers to accessing food and support students in fully participating in campus life. The Government Accountability Office learned that more than 30% of college students experience limited access to food. We know this number to be much higher, especially for BIPOC, disabled, low-income, and LGBTQIA+ students. Thanks for connecting yourself or your community members to food!
- Community Resource Room (Simmons)
The Community Resource Room is a free community-based program within the REEF Support Center that offers non-perishable food, household products, and period products for free distribution. The Community Resource Room is available to undergraduate and graduate students, with the hope of expanding to our greater Simmons community over time.
Location: The REEF Support Center is located in A- 075, also known as the Commuter Student/Dix Scholar Lounge. The CRR and all items are stored in Conference Room C.
Visit the Community Resource Room page to place your first order.
- Guest Meal Swipe Bank (Simmons)
The Office of Student Affairs and Aramark Dining Services offer a Guest Meal Swipe Bank through the REEF Support Center.Any Simmons student is eligible to request meal swipes at no additional cost through our Meal Swipe Bank.
This program is not a replacement for a meal plan but an additional method to increase student access to food. We welcome commuter students especially to meet with the REEF Support Center for additional resources and support for more permanent food solutions.
- Subscribe to Free Food Notifications (Simmons)
The REEF is always looking for ways to diminish food waste and connect our community to food! Sign up for our free food notifications at no cost through any mobile device.
Join the group that is specific to your graduating class year to stay up to date:
Have food leftover from your event that you would like to share with our campus community?
- Subscribe to any of the above free food groups
- Send us a message response with the following information: Food items available, location, timeline that the food is available
- Weekly Fresh Truck
Heavily discounted fruits and veggies. Fresh Truck will be parked on Evans Way, across from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum every Tuesday from 2pm – 4pm for a weekly engagement! Fresh Truck accepts cash, credit, SNAP/EBT/HIP & Fresh Connect for payment. This engagement is open to all community members including staff, faculty and students! Visit the Fresh Truck website to learn more. Please remember to bring a bag for your purchased items!
- Project Bread’s Food Source Hotline (MA)
Project Bread enrolls individuals in nutrition programs as well as refers to local food resources. Staff is available to assess eligibility for SNAP and provide help with the application. When relevant, they also connect callers with utility, fuel assistance, and MassHealth. All information is kept strictly confidential.
- Visit ProjectBread.org.
Food resources in your community 1-800-645-8333 | TTY 1-800-377-1292
Hotline Hours: Mon-Fri – 8AM-7PM | Sat – 10AM-2PM
- Visit ProjectBread.org.
- City of Boston Farmers Markets (MA)
- Find your Farmers Market
- Find HIP/SNAP vendors: Many farmers markets except HIP (Healthy Initiatives Program) which gives SNAP recipients money back for purchasing fruits and veggies!
We especially recommend Boston’s Haymarket (open weekly on Friday and Saturday):
- 20+ nationalities and diverse foods
- Heavily discounted fresh fruits and veggies
- MBTA accessible, $1-3 Parking
- Greater Boston Food Bank (MA)
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) partners with 500+ hunger-relief agencies, including food pantries, community meal programs, and other food assistance providers throughout the nine counties and 190 towns and cities across Eastern Massachusetts
Check out our agency Locator: A list of food assistance options in each community that we serve, the days and hours of operation, and other information you need to access food for you and your family.
- Visit GBFB.org/need-food
Search your city or zip code for a list of agencies in your community.
Select ‘More Info’ for agency hours of operation and phone number. (We recommend calling ahead to verify agency hours.)
- Visit GBFB.org/need-food
- Two Dollars A Bag Program (MA)
This program hands out fresh fruits and vegetables in Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. Anyone in need is welcome, and an ID or referral isn’t required. There are no income limits, and you don’t have to sign up ahead of time. You also won’t be turned down if you can’t pay the $2 bag fee.
- Visit the Two Dollars A Bag Program website to find a location closest to you.
- Community Fridge For Food Insecurity (International & National)
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Freedge is a sharing mechanism aiming to reduce food insecurity and food waste, building a stronger community. We promote equal access to healthy food through the installation of community fridges (public refrigerators) that are used to share food and ideas at the neighborhood level. Other privately owned community fridges around the Boston area can be found using the map below.
- Visit Freedge.org
- Visit our Community Fridges Map for Greater Boston
- Boston Based Low Cost Food Resource Guide
Check out these free month food guides by the Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative (NFAC) for residents living in Dorchester, Mattapan, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Hyde Park.