Ready to Help Fight Hunger?
Donate food & personal care items to the Newton Freedge
DURATION
30-60 MinutesWHERE
420 Watertown Street, Newton, MA
(in the parking lot of Central Drapery and Dry Cleaning in Nonantum)
WHEN
You can drop off donations any time, day or night!
WHOSE HELP IS REQUIRED
AdultHOW IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
This volunteer-led initiative, organized by the Newton Food Pantry in collaboration with other local organizations, joins a growing network of free refrigerators in the Greater Boston area and throughout the country.
DESCRIPTION
On average, 11 shoppers per hour visit the Freedge for supplemental food and personal care items. It takes a village to fulfill this community demand. Individuals, families, and businesses are welcome to donate fresh and non-perishable food as well as supplies such as diapers and hygiene items. Please review the freedge Donation Guidelines prior to donating.
ITEMS NEEDED
Prohibited Donations Include: No meat of any kind, fish, or seafood UNLESS it was cooked, prepared, and donated by a Freedge Business Partner; No frozen food of any kind; No homemade meals or baked goods or leftovers from events or restaurants. Prepared and packaged meals/baked goods MUST BE from a commercial kitchen, MUST be labeled with a description of the item and date prepared, and MUST follow all Freedge donation guidelines. No unlabeled, open, or expired meals, food, pantry, or personal care items; No alcoholic beverages; No over the counter or prescription medications; No pet food.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Learn more by viewing our multilingual freedge flyer.
NEXT STEPS
Collect or purchase fresh and non-perishable food and/or supplies such as diapers and hygiene items. Donate anytime to the Freedge.
Start a Volunteer Team
Volunteer teams keep the freedge clean and stocked!? Rally the troops and start your own team. An overview of team responsibilities can be found here. Contact the Newton Community freedge Volunteer Coordinator via our Contact page to get started.
Join a Community Partner Volunteer Team
Looking for a team to join? Be sure to check out our list of community partners who are always looking for new members! Reach out to us via our Contact page to connect with any of the Community Partners below:
- Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
- Christ the King Church
- NewCity Church
- Newton Centre Minyan
- Newton Food Pantry
- Newton Neighbors Helping Neighbors
- Rotary Club of Newton
- Parish of the Good Shepherd, Waban
- Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church
- Temple Shalom
- Union Church, Waban
- West Suburban YMCA
WEBSITE
Allowed/Recommended Donations Include: Fresh fruits and vegetables; Dairy products: milk, cheese, yogurt etc; Eggs, bread, orange juice; Pantry staples, such as rice, beans, pasta, flour, cooking oil, and shelf-stable milk; Prepared and packaged meals/baked goods MUST BE from a commercial kitchen, MUST be labeled with a description of the item and date prepared, and MUST follow all Freedge donation guidelines. New/unopened personal care items including: diapers, baby wipes, toilet paper, menstrual supplies, bar soap, and other personal hygiene items; Cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, laundry detergent.
You can leave a "Happy Note" with your items if you wish.