Innovative Partnership between the Land Bank, Nourish Nantucket and the Food Pantry to Tackle Food Insecurity and Deer Overpopulation

The Nantucket Land Bank, Nourish Nantucket and the Food Pantry are proud to announce a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at addressing two pressing community challenges: food insecurity and the overpopulation of deer on the island. In partnership with Nourish Nantucket and the Nantucket Interfaith Council’s Food Pantry, the Land Bank is actively negotiating the collaborative purchase of the building at 17, 19 & 21 Boynton Lane to combine sustainable agriculture and wildlife management within a unified hub for food security on the island.

For over 40 years, the Nantucket Land Bank has been a steward of local agriculture, acquiring farmland to support island farm families and preserve Nantucket’s agricultural heritage. Today, most of the island’s farms operate on Land Bank property, thanks to ongoing partnerships with tenant farmers and Sustainable Nantucket’s Mentor Farming Program.

Building on this legacy, the Land Bank Commission is joining Mass Fish and Wildlife’s Share the Harvest Program, which processes locally hunted venison—blended with pork—and distributes it through island food security programs as a vital protein source. To support this effort, the Land Bank is establishing a custom butchery tailored for venison production.

Housing this effort alongside the Food Pantry and Nourish Nantucket acknowledges the growing issue of food insecurity and uniquely connects local food production with those in need. The new facility will enable the Food Pantry – who operates autonomously as a part of Nantucket Food, Fuel and Rental Assistance (NFFRA) – to expand its reach, improve accessibility for families, and operate from a central location. Nourish Nantucket will also use the space to advance its collaborative programming, including gleaning and farmer partnerships to community meal initiatives, and anchor their broader vision for a sustainable local food system.

“This building represents more than a physical space, it represents our collective commitment to the well-being of our community,” said Rachael Freeman, Director of the Nantucket Island Land Bank. “By working together with Nourish Nantucket, the Food Pantry, and the Interfaith Council, we are ensuring that Nantucketers can rely on a strong, resilient, and compassionate food security network for generations to come.”

The Nantucket Food Pantry has been serving island residents for more than 30 years, distributing thousands of pounds of food annually to hundreds of individuals and families. Moving into a permanent home not only secures its future but also expands its capacity to serve.

“This partnership strengthens our ability to serve our neighbors,” said Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, President of the Nantucket Interfaith Council. “We are proud to join forces with the Land Bank and Nourish Nantucket in shaping a future where all Nantucketers have access to healthy, reliable food.”

“This is a transformative step for the island,” said Brooke Mohr, Nourish Nantucket Board President. “We are grateful to the Land Bank for their extraordinary leadership and to the Food Pantry and Interfaith Council for working with us to build a shared vision for food security on Nantucket.”

“This building strengthens Nourish Nantucket’s ability to address the food challenges on the island and gives our donors confidence in our long-term future,” Nourish Nantucket creator Bruce Percelay said.

This collaboration is a perfect example of islanders coming together to solve community issues. One facility, one location, and a shared mission to keep Nantucket, Nantucket.