West Suburban YMCA
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Supporting Our Neighbors: November Food and Gift Card Drive at the Y

The Y is collecting food and grocery gift cards to support neighbors facing food insecurity
Y volunteers sorting canned food items
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October 30, 2025

At the Y, we believe that when one neighbor is in need, our whole community comes together. The West Suburban YMCA, in collaboration with the city of Newton, is hosting a Food Drive to support local families who have experienced a cessation of SNAP benefits and are struggling to put food on the table. 

We’re collecting nonperishable food items and grocery store gift cards throughout November at both YMCA locations — the Church Street Y and the Wells Avenue Y. Donations will be delivered weekly to local partners to ensure food reaches families right away.

Every can, box, and bag makes a difference. Items like canned vegetables, soups, pasta, rice, cereal, and shelf-stable milk are especially helpful. Grocery store gift cards of any amount are also welcome. 

If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity, there are many local resources to help. Please view a list of food pantries in the surrounding area, here.

Governor Healey launched a new SNAP Response Hub webpage, featuring a municipal-level map showing the impact of SNAP across Massachusetts, information on where residents can access food assistance, and ways community members and businesses can contribute.  

Support for residents: 

  • Residents in need of food assistance can contact Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at (800) 645-8333, visit their regional food bank to find local pantries, or check the DTA website for the latest and most accurate information on available resources.   
  • DTA has created a flyer that can be used in retail locations or anywhere helpful to inform families of the upcoming federal SNAP benefit suspension. 
    • The flyer is available in English, Chinese Simplified (Mandarin), Haitian Creole, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), and Vietnamese that you can distribute in various community settings.  The flyers are available online here. 

For those looking to help residents: 

  • The United Way Response Fund is accepting monetary contributions at https://unitedwaymassbay.org/united-response.
  • Businesses with surplus food and hunger relief organizations in need of food are encouraged to register and list themselves on MassGrown Exchange, a free service that allows users to list as available or post a need for wholesale-level products, services, or equipment. 
  • The SNAP Resource Hub includes information about how people can contact their regional food bank if they want to help. 
    • The Governor’s new digital map on the Hub shows that hunger exists in every Massachusetts city and town. Users can search by municipality to see how many of their neighbors will be impacted by the SNAP freeze and identify where their help is needed most.

Together, we can provide nourishment, comfort, and hope for our neighbors this season. Thank you for helping the Y strengthen community — one generous act at a time.