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How to help Family Food Connections

Make a donation to directly benefit Family Food Connections
See a list of critically needed pantry items and how you can donate

Family Food Connections has served many families in the community. From Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025:

  • There were 65,697 visits to the food pantry.
  • 96 percent of visitors were from Boston.
  • The number of unique households served by the pantry was 6,743.
  • Those households represented 15,185 adults and 8,330 children.
  • More than 80 percent of families who visited have children under the age of 17.
  • Most visitors from Boston were from Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Dorchester.
  • Between 200 and 450 families visited the site on the days that it was open.
  • About 140,000 pounds of food per month was distributed. Almost 98,000 pounds was in fresh produce.
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Younger boy gives thumbs-up sign when posing for photo. An older adult male stands behind him, carrying bags of groceries.

Family Food Connections is Boston Children's food pantry in Jamaica Plain. It’s located within the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, a Boston Housing Authority development, and next to Boston Children’s at Martha Eliot.

The name Family Food Connections is to recognize all of the positive connections that can be made through food. It is a unique collaborative partnership between Boston Children’s and the Boston Housing Authority, a long-time partner.

Who can visit Family Food Connections?

  • All patient families from Boston Children’s Hospital can visit the pantry on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays (one time per week).
  • Family Food Connections provides gluten-free food options for patients managing celiac disease. Celiac patients may visit Tuesdays through Fridays (one time per week). Learn about the Celiac Disease Program.
  • Residents from the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments and residents living in zip codes 02119, 02120, and 02130 may visit Tuesdays through Fridays (one time per week).
  • If you do not qualify based on the categories above (patient family, gluten-free food, or resident of 02119, 02120, 02130), you may visit the pantry on Thursdays ONLY, but visitors must have a child or children aged 17 or under living in the same household (proof of having children is required).

What to bring when you visit Family Food Connections?

  • Identification of adult: Any photo ID including driver’s license, passport, resident card, etc. is accepted
  • Proof of address: Only if not included on ID
  • Thursdays only: Child’s birth certificate, passport, letter from school or letter from doctor, apartment lease
  • Bags: Family Food Connections does not have bags on site.

Hours of operation

  • Monday: Closed for visitors, but open for donation dropoffs
  • Tuesday: Noon to 6 p.m.
  • Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Thursday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; open to anyone in any zip code that has a child under 17 living in the same household
  • Friday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Address

30 Bickford St.
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Questions? Email us at FamilyFoodConnections@childrens.harvard.edu.

Getting there

  • Public transportation: The Mildred C. Hailey Apartments are located near the Jackson Square Orange Line MBTA station. The Orange Line serves Back Bay, Downtown, and Forest Hills. The 14, 22, 29, 41, and 44 buses also provide service to Jackson.
  • Parking: Free parking is available in front of Boston Children’s at Martha Eliot.

FREE Virtual Cooking and Nutrition Classes

Family Food Connections will offer monthly cooking classes for families. The cooking classes are free to participate in and will feature recipes using ingredients found in the food packages that families pick up from the site. Until further notice, the classes are being held via Zoom. Please use the link below to register. Anyone who registers will receive a link to the recording after the class.

To register to attend these free classes, please visit https://bostonchildrens.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcudu-qrz0rGNU-ByY_i9O-UweFd-xbE9zr.

Additional food resources

State-wide resources

Greater Boston resources

Resources in Western Massachusetts

Boston Children’s community mission is to improve the health and well-being of children and families in our local community. Addressing food insecurity within the community is a key part of this work. Learn more about the hospital’s community mission here.