Future Goals
1. Strengthen and grow the network that feeds our county. Invest in the WCFB Partner Agency network across all 60 cities and towns — the pantries, meal sites, and shelters our neighbors know and trust — with the food, cold storage, and support they need to meet a rising tide of demand.
2. Collaborate across the local food system. Work with local farmers, producers and food hubs by investing in our local economy through food purchase. Find ways to improve and increase access to the incredible foods that are grown locally in Massachusetts and New England both during the harvest season and later by supporting advances in food processing and storing like fresh-frozen foods.
3. Get to the root of hunger. Grow our advocacy in collaboration with the Center on Food Equity and the Make Hunger History statewide coalition so that state and federal policy — from protecting SNAP and WIC to strengthening the Healthy Incentives Program and Universal Free School Meals— make the systemic shifts that move us toward a hunger-free Worcester County.
4. Grow to meet the moment. Build the capacity and infrastructure to source, store, and move more fresh, nutritious food — because need in our region is climbing, not leveling off. This includes a technology modernization project that will improve systems that serve our partner agencies.
5. Bring our community together around food justice. Deepen partnerships with the businesses, donors, and civic leaders who believe access to food is a right, not a privilege — and who help us treat hunger as the intersectional problem that it is.
Fundraising Opportunities
Upcoming Events:
Worcester Hot Dog Safari
August 15, 2026, 11:00 AM, Ralph’s Rock Diner. Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB) is the charitable partner of the annual Hot Dog Safari. Events and giving opportunities happen throughout the year, follow @hotdogsafari on Instagram for updates.. The Hot Dog Safari is an annual restaurant/chef competition to raise money to fight hunger and fund local food assistance programs.
September is Hunger Action Month
September is Hunger Action Month, when Worcester County Food Bank joins Feeding America, the national network of food banks, to ask everyone in Worcester County and across America to take action to fight hunger in their community, all month long. Hunger Action Month is your opportunity to join a movement that has a real and lasting impact on our effort to feed more Americans than ever before. Whether it’s by holding an awareness event in your community, advocating for systemic solutions, making donations, or volunteering at your local food pantry, you can find the way that’s right for you to make a difference during Hunger Action Month. Together, we can solve hunger.
Giving Opportunities
Food Donations
WCFB welcomes food donations from food drives and the food industry within Worcester County year-round. Food drives are a wonderful way for people to support WCFB and provide food for individuals and families living in Worcester County. With a little planning and some helpful hints from WCFB, your food drive can be successful and rewarding. Tips are available on our website at foodbank.org
The Fund to End Hunger at Greater Worcester Community Foundation
In partnership with the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, WCFB has established the Worcester County Fund to End Hunger, which awards grants to nonprofit organizations that share the vision of creating hunger-free communities and work towards that goal through innovative and sustainable solutions. For more information on how you can support the Fund or receive support from the fund, please contact us.
Fund Donations
WCFB accepts donations of funds and food year-round. These valuable contributions nourish bodies and bring peace of mind to individuals and families across all 60 cities and towns in Worcester County. Your financial donation goes an especially long way towards creating a hunger-free Worcester County. Donations are accepted via mail, online , and in-person.
Volunteer Opportunities
WCFB recently began welcoming new, long-term volunteers to our ranks of committed volunteers who sort and ensure the donated food we distribute is up to our standards. Please contact us at info@foodbank.org to inquire.
WCFB’s warehouse is located in Shrewsbury. We encourage people looking to volunteer to check our website at www.foodbank.org/volunteer to learn about volunteer needs at our Partner Agencies and hunger-related community partner organizations across Worcester County.
Laurie Rains, Board Chair, Retired Business Executive
Sabine Dupoux, MBA, Board Vice Chair, Mount Wachusett Community College
Kenneth Pickering, Esq, Governance Committee Chair
Christopher Staysniak, PhD, Board Clerk, College of the Holy Cross
Tom McGregor, Finance Committee Chair, GFA Federal Credit Union
Board members
John Lebeaux, Buttonwood Consulting
Shelly Yarnie, MPH, MA Dept. of Transitional Assistance
Julie Yi, Country Bank
