Food bank volunteer opportunities near Worcester

Last year, 1 out of every 6 people in the United States looked to food banks and food pantries for support, according to a 2023 report from Feeding America. The end of COVID-era government assistance programs and the rising cost of groceries due to inflation have many Americans facing food insecurity.

According to a 2023 Department of Agriculture report, 12.8% of households around the country—about 17 million—were food insecure in 2022. That's up from the 10.2% of households who had difficulty providing food for everyone in their home in 2021, and also up from the 10.5% who said the same in 2020. It's the highest share of food-insecure households in the U.S. since 2014.

The rise of food insecurity and the economic situation in the U.S. means that food banks are struggling to keep up with the demand. "Local food banks, pantries, and community meal programs have become an essential component of many households' food budgets, especially as we continue to face increased food prices and the end of pandemic-era benefits," Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, said in a statement accompanying the nonprofit's aforementioned report. In an earlier 2023 survey from Feeding America, 65% of responding food banks reported an increase in the number of people they served.

It can be difficult to know where to go if you want to help, as many do during the holiday season in particular. To help guide you, Stacker compiled a list of food bank volunteer opportunities near Worcester using data from VolunteerMatch. Read on to see what you can do for those grappling with food insecurity in your community, from distributing lunches to seniors to serving meals at soup kitchens.

Nutrition Center Assistant - Jeremiah's Inn
- Organization: Hunger Free America
- Read more on website

Help a Neighbor in the Oxford, MA area with a Homemade Meal
- Organization: Lasagna Love
- Read more on website

Become a Congregate Senior Dining Assistant - Stow, MA
- Organization: Minuteman Senior Services
- Read more on website

Marlborough/ Northborough Meals on Wheels
- Organization: Springwell
- Read more on website

Deliver Meals in and around Sudbury!
- Organization: Springwell, Inc.
- Read more on website

Dining Room Support Volunteer
- Organization: 2Life Communities
- Read more on website

Food Drive or Collection Box Volunteer / Coordinator
- Organization: Pet Food Task Force, a division of PAWSitive Pantry
- Dates: Oct 16 to Dec 30
- Read more on website

Volunteer to Get Farm-Fresh Food to Families!
- Organization: Boston Area Gleaners, Inc.
- Read more on website

This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 101 metros.