Supporting Senior’s Unique Dietary Needs
Our Brown Bag: Food for Elders program provides a free bag of groceries to eligible seniors once a month at local senior centers and community organizations. The food items are specifically selected to meet seniors’ special dietary requirements to help them stay healthy and active.
The Brown Bag program is for people over the age of 55 who meet certain income eligibility, and recipients must apply to receive food from the program.
Eligibility
The Brown Bag program is for people over the age of 55 who meet certain income eligibility.
If you qualify for SSI, Medicaid, Fuel Assistance, Veteran’s Aid or have a documented disability for which you receive SSDI , you may qualify for Brown Bag monthly groceries.
How to Apply
Download an application (in English and Spanish) and mail it to:
Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
25 Carew Street
Chicopee, MA 01020
Call 413-247-9738 x3005 to receive an application in the mail or a referral to a Brown Bag location with applications available.
Call our Brown Bag staff at 413-419-0079 with questions and for up-to-date information on closures.
Monthly Distribution Locations
Berkshire County
| Location | Address | Date | Time | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Visitor Center |
3 Hoosac St. Adams |
4th Friday | 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | (413) 743-8333 |
| Claire Teague Senior Center |
917 South Main St. Great Barrington |
2nd Wednesday | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | (413) 528-1881 |
| Lee Council on Aging |
21 Crossway St. Lee |
2nd Wednesday | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | (413) 243-5545 |
| Lenox Community Center |
65 Walker St. Lenox |
2nd Wednesday | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | (413) 637-5535 |
| Mary Spitzer Center |
116 Ashland St. North Adams |
4th Friday | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | (413) 662-3125 |
| Otis Town Hall |
1 N Main Rd. Otis |
3rd Friday | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 269-0100 |
| Ralph J. Froio Senior Center |
330 North St. Pittsfield |
4th Friday | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | (413) 499-9346 |
| Stockbridge Council on Aging |
Heaton Court 5 Pine St. Stockbridge |
2nd Wednesday | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 298-4170 |
Franklin County
| Location | Address | Date | Time | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athol Senior Center |
82 Freedom St. Athol |
3rd Wednesday | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | (978) 249-8986 |
| Deerfield Town Hall |
8 Conway St. South Deerfield |
1st Thursday | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | (413) 459-0046 |
| Erving Senior Center |
1 Care Dr. Erving |
1st Thursday | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | (413) 423-3649 |
| Greenfield Weldon House |
54 High Street Greenfield |
1st Thursday | 10:30 – 11:00 a.m. | (978) 669-5708 |
| Montague Senior Center |
62 5th St. Turners Falls |
1st Thursday | 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 863-9357 |
| Northfield Town Hall |
69 Main St. Northfield |
1st Thursday | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | (413) 498-2901 |
| Orange Senior Center |
20 West Myrtle St. Orange |
3rd Wednesday | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | (978) 544-6814 |
| Shelburne Falls Senior Center |
7 Main St. Shelburne Falls |
3rd Wednesday | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | (413) 625-2502 |
Hampden County
| Location | Address | Date | Time | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agawam Council on Aging |
954 Main St. Agawam |
3rd Thursday | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | (413) 821-0604 |
| Baystate Place |
414 Chestnut St. Springfield |
4th Tuesday | 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. | (413) 733-7894 |
| Chester Town Hall |
15 Middlefield Rd. Chester |
3rd Friday | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | (413) 354-7735 |
| Chicopee Moose Family Center |
244 Fuller Rd. Chicopee |
3rd Tuesday | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | (413) 427-7608 |
| McKinley House Community Room |
38 Asinof Ave. Chicopee |
3rd Tuesday | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | (413) 540-2741 |
| Forest Park Manor |
25 Barney Ave. Springfield |
2nd Friday | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. | (413) 785-5019 |
| Hampden Senior Center |
104 Allen St. Hampden |
3rd Tuesday | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. | (413) 566-5588 |
| Holland Community Center |
40 Brimfield Rd. Holland |
Friday after 2nd Thursday | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | (413) 519-9331 |
| Holyoke Council on Aging |
291 Pine St. Holyoke |
4th Tuesday | 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. | (413) 322-5625 |
| Indian Orchard Citizens Council |
117 Main St. Indian Orchard |
1st Friday | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | (413) 636-8755 |
| Ludlow Senior Center |
228 State St. Ludlow |
3rd Tuesday | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | (413) 583-3564 |
| Palmer Council on Aging |
1029 Central St. Palmer |
2nd Friday | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. | (413) 283-2670 |
| Russell Town Hall |
65 Main St. Russell |
3rd Friday | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | (413) 862-6205 |
| Southwick Senior Center |
454 College Hwy. Southwick |
2nd Tuesday | 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 569-5498 |
| Edgewater Apartments Community Room |
101 Lowell St. Springfield |
4th Tuesday | 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | (413) 781-4941 |
| R A Jordan Senior Center |
1476 Roosevelt Ave. Springfield |
3rd Thursday | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 787-6785 |
| Springfield Seniority House |
307 Chestnut St. Springfield |
4th Tuesday | 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | (413) 317-7691 |
| Urban League Dunbar Center |
33 Oak St. Springfield |
1st Friday | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 739-7211 ext. 113 |
| Washington House |
16 Washington St. Westfield |
2nd Tuesday | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 586-2000 |
| Westfield Senior Center |
45 Noble St. Westfield |
2nd Tuesday | 1:45 – 2:15 p.m. | (413) 562-6435 |
| West Springfield Mercy Life |
2112 Riverdale St. West Springfield |
1st Friday | 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | (413) 827-4230 |
| West Springfield Senior Center |
128 Park St. West Springfield |
3rd Friday | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | (413) 495-1802 |
| Wilbraham Senior Center |
240 Springfield St. Wilbraham |
3rd Friday | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | (413) 596-8379 |
Hampshire County
| Location | Address | Date | Time | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangs Center |
70 Boltwood Walk Amherst |
1st Thursday | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | (413) 259-3062 |
| Belchertown Senior Center |
60 State St. Belchertown |
2nd Friday | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. | (413) 323-0420 |
| Chesterfield Senior Center |
400 Main Rd. Chesterfield |
2nd Thursday | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 296-4007 |
| Easthampton Community Center |
12 Clark St. Easthampton |
1st Tuesday | 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | (413) 527-5240 |
| Granby Senior Center |
10 West State St. Granby |
3rd Tuesday | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 467-3239 |
| Hadley Senior Community Center |
46 Middle St. Hadley |
3rd Thursday | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | (413) 586-4023 |
| Hatfield Senior Center |
59 Main St. Hatfield |
1st Tuesday | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | (413) 247-9003 |
| Stanton Hall |
26 Russell Rd. Huntington |
3rd Friday | 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. | (413) 512-5208 |
| Northampton Senior Center |
67 Conz St. Northampton |
2nd Thursday | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | (413) 584-5987 |
| South Hadley Council on Aging |
45 Dayton St. South Hadley |
3rd Tuesday | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | (413 )538-5030 |
| Ware Senior Center |
1 Robbins Rd. Ware |
2nd Friday | 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | (413) 967-9645 |
| Williamsburg Senior Center |
141 Main St. Haydenville |
2nd Thursday | 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. | (413) 268-8407 |
Our Food Assistance Navigators can help. Visit the Food Assistance Navigation page on 413Cares.org, click the “Contact” button below the green navigation bar, and input your information. You can also call our FAN phone line at 413-206-6276, leave a message with your information, and a Navigator will then be in touch the next business day.
Mobile Food Bank
The Mobile Food Bank brings free, nutritious groceries directly to underserved communities across Western MA, providing free food to individuals and families facing food insecurity where they need it most.
SNAP
Our SNAP team helps people access benefits, and can tell you if you are eligible for SNAP and submit an application over the phone for you.
Nutrition Resources
Our nutrition team carefully crafts recipes and educational resources to make nutritious, delicious food on a budget and with common food pantry staples.