Ashley | September 19, 2025

Nourish Nantucket Invests in Immediate Food Access Programs with $1 Million Gift

Following the announcement of a $1 million gift to strengthen food security, Nourish Nantucket is investing in programs and partners ready to expand their impact with this year’s portion of the funding. The $1M will be dispersed over four years with the greatest impact – a total of $400,000 – occurring in 2025. This first round of funding is designed to clear waitlists, fill gaps in services, and expand food access across the island.

“The gift we received was designed to support our community and make an immediate difference,” said Meg Browers, Director of Nourish Nantucket. “We want to ensure families and individuals can access the food they need today, while also strengthening the long-term capacity of these programs.”

Immediate Fall Funding

Funding announced today supports a variety of critical existing food programs, with $225,000 in funding going to:

  • Nantucket Food Pantry — Nourish Nantucket granted funds to expand the Pantry’s grocery provisions and prepared meals for families in need.
  • Health Imperatives and The Warming Place — Grants supporting grocery debit cards for clients of The Warming Place and Health Imperatives.
  • Pip & Anchor’s “Send It Boxes” — to help families receive weekly fresh produce and welcome new families into the program.
  • Meals on Wheels — to ensure no cuts in programming, protecting seniors from challenges similar to those experienced by Cape Cod programs.

Nourish Nantucket is also funding new programs and programs in collaboration with island partners to reach more people and strengthen food access, with $175,000 going to:

  • Direct grocery support — Nourish Nantucket grocery debit cards providing immediate relief to over 400 people previously on a waitlist.
  • Weekly produce farm truck at the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club in partnership with Pip & Anchor
  • Weekend backpack program with Nantucket Public Schools and in partnership with Stop & Shop’s School Pantry program

Spring 2026 Grant Program

Looking ahead, Nourish Nantucket will launch a 2026 grant program to provide additional support for island food programs to help partners grow services, fill remaining gaps, and reach more people in need. These grants will be informed by food program partners from Nourish Nantucket network members like the Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, Pip Send It Boxes, The Warming Place, Nantucket Family Resource Center and others.

“The first round of distributions to our food security partners demonstrates the viability of Nourish Nantucket and we expect this to be just the beginning,” said Brooke Mohr, Board President.

According to Bruce Percelay, Advisory Council Chair of Nourish Nantucket, “Nourish Nantucket is gaining momentum by the day, however broader community support is going to be the difference between our goal of ending hunger on Nantucket once and for all and we ask everyone for their support.” 

Nourish Nantucket invites individuals, families, and community partners to join in sustaining this vital work. To learn more or make a gift, visit www.nourishnantucket.org or email Meg Browers, Director of Nourish Nantucket at Meg@nourishnantucket.org.