Full Plate Project

Through YMCA Southcoast’s partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Full Plate Project started as an emergency response to pandemic-related nutrition insecurity in April 2020. It quickly grew into one of the largest hunger relief agencies in the Southcoast region.

Y community markets are open to all Southcoast residents in need of nutrition assistance. Participants will be asked to provide basic information including ZIP code and the number of people living in their household. No photo ID is required.

Each household receives prepackaged fresh, frozen, and pantry food items based on availability. Markets typically last an hour and a half, or less when food runs out, which happens often. There are no town residency, eligibility, or Y membership requirements.

All in need are welcome to take advantage of this free program on a first come, first served basis.

What is Mass211?

Every day, someone somewhere in Massachusetts needs to find essential community services, an after school program, a food bank, or where to secure care for an aging parent. Many face these challenges, but don't always know where to turn for help. The Solution is to Dial 2-1-1.

Mass 211 is an easy to remember telephone number that connects callers to information about critical health and human services available in their community. It serves as a resource for finding government benefits and services, nonprofit organizations, support groups, volunteer opportunities, donation programs, and other local resources. Always a confidential call, Mass 211 maintains the integrity of the 9-1-1 system saving that vital community resource for life and death emergencies.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Mass 211 is an easy way to find or give help in your community.

Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline

Always free & confidential for all Massachusetts residents, our expert counselors are ready to assist callers in 180 languages. Our FoodSource Hotline provides free, expert assistance in understanding what programs are out there to help you go beyond just making ends meet, stretch your food budget, and reliably feed yourself or your family. They can help you access local food resources and federal nutrition programs. They can tell you if you qualify for SNAP - a.k.a. money for groceries - and help you apply, where you can find free meals for your kids, and many other local food programs. Let's chat!

The Greater Boston Foodbank

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) partners with more than 600 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.