Energy & Environment

Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities

The Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities connects families, individuals, and youth with community resources and emergency food assistance. Through the Lowell Food Pantry, the organization works to strengthen local food access networks by distributing food and providing nutrition education resources for clients.The Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities is an organization within the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston.

Contact: Dotty Duval, Program Manager: dotty_duval@ccab.org

Regina Santos, Food Pantry Coordinator: regina_santos@ccab.org

Website: Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities

Organizational Focus

Community Health & Social Services and Advocacy: Referring food pantry clients to other services (housing, health, translation) within Lowell.
Youth Programs: Working with youth organizations (including the Boys & Girls Club) to connect youth with community resources related to nutrition, job skills, and volunteer opportunities.
Food Assistance & Emergency Food: Increasing community access to food through the Lowell Food Pantry.

Projects and Initiatives

Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities coordinates distribution of emergency food and shares community resources through management of the Lowell Food Pantry. By partnering with other coalition members on a mobile food pantry project, they are working to improve food access for all communities within Lowell. The Lowell Food Pantry partners with UMass Lowell student dietitians to offer nutrition education for clients through seminars and individual counseling sessions. Merrimack Valley Catholic Charities is working to increase food and nutrition educational opportunities at the food pantry through additional workshops on container gardening and healthy food choices.

Partnerships

• Merrimack Valley Food Bank

• UMass Lowell (nutrition students)

• Greater Boston Food Bank

• Hannaford Grocery Stores

• Parish and School Networks

• Gaining Ground Farm

• Open Pantry of Greater Lowell

Networks

• Local Farmers

• Food Distributors

• Volunteers

• Religious Groups and Organizations

• Youth Programs

• Immigrant and Refugee Communities

Geographic Scale:

Municipal

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