Food recovery organization, Spoonfuls, headquartered in Massachusetts, has expanded its services to the South Shore as part of the organization’s efforts to reduce food waste and feed people experiencing food insecurity. For the first time, Spoonfuls is recovering and distributing food in Braintree, Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, Rockland, and more. Statewide, Spoonfuls – with a footprint from Boston to Springfield – is expected to keep over 7 million pounds of fresh food out of the waste stream in 2026.
The expansion, informed by Spoonfuls’ strategic plan, builds on Spoonfuls’ 2025 expansion to Southeastern Massachusetts, including Bristol County, Bridgewater, and Brockton. The growth comes at a critical moment as the state is grappling with historically high rates of food insecurity exacerbated by federal hits to the safety net and case worker shortages at the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). According to the Greater Boston Food Bank, 2 in 5 Massachusetts households face food insecurity.
“When we first started exploring Southeastern Massachusetts, it was clear from conversations with local grocery retailers, community food programs, and coalition partners, that there is significant need,” said Spoonfuls’ Director of Programs, Erin Ash. “And with so much opportunity and appetite for our food recovery work, we’re excited to continue our growth in the region and to be supporting local food access efforts on the South Shore.”
The South Shore Food Bank is a key partner on the new route, combining Spoonfuls’ food sourcing with the South Shore Food Bank’s local network. “Food is too valuable to waste, and we know that solving hunger requires collaboration. This new food recovery route strengthens our region by helping us collaboratively rescue more nutritious food and move it quickly to local pantries, where it can nourish neighbors who need it most,” says South Shore Food Bank’s Executive Director, Pamela Denholm. “We are grateful to work alongside Spoonfuls, a partner who shares our belief that everyone deserves access to healthy food. Together, we are building a more equitable and sustainable food system that strengthens community health across the South Shore.”
Spoonfuls focuses on recovering fresh food – produce, meat, dairy, and more - which is the most likely to go to waste from retail grocers, wholesalers, and farms. The organization prioritizes transporting this food quickly and safely, using ServSafe-certified drivers, a fleet of refrigerated trucks, and a same-day delivery system, to ensure fresh food can be enjoyed while it’s still good to eat. By providing the food it recovers for free to community organizations, like the South Shore Food Bank, Spoonfuls is helping food programs offer clients more food without adding operational costs.
“Spoonfuls has been a valuable partner for over a decade, and we’re excited to expand our collaboration through pick-ups at the Roche Bros. in Marshfield and Brothers Marketplace in Duxbury,” said Roche Bros.’ Vice President of Operations, Artie Kroese. “We work hard to minimize excess food in our stores, but even with the best forecasting, there’s always some surplus - customer preferences shift and trends change. By partnering with Spoonfuls, we not only reduce our waste disposal costs, but more importantly, we help ensure that good, unsold food goes to feed our neighbors instead of ending up in the waste stream.” In addition to donating food to Spoonfuls, Roche Bros. and Brothers Marketplace locations across Massachusetts are currently raising funds for Spoonfuls through an in-person and online register campaign taking place through December 2.
Spoonfuls is nonprofit and 100% philanthropically supported. The South Shore route was made possible by funding from Gerstner Philanthropies, SouthCoast Community Foundation, and other donors.
According to the nonprofit ReFED, approximately a third of all food in the United States goes unsold or uneaten. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) reports that food continues to be the number one material in Massachusetts’ waste stream.