Skip to main content

Ashley | October 28, 2025

Island Food Programs Prepare for Potential SNAP Interruption November 1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Island Food Programs Prepare for Potential SNAP Interruption November 1

Nantucket, MA — October 28, 2025 — With the potential suspension of federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits beginning November 1, Nantucket’s food security programs are preparing to ensure that Nantucket residents continue to have access to nutritious food without interruption.

Nourish Nantucket, the Nantucket Food Pantry, Health Imperatives, the Family Resource Center and others have been working hard to ensure that food security programs are ready to respond if SNAP benefits are paused. Our shared goal is simple: to make sure no one on Nantucket goes hungry.

Community Response

The Nantucket Food Pantry, operated by Nantucket Food, Fuel, and Rental Assistance, remains the central hub for food access on the island, offering shelf-stable groceries, fresh produce, dairy, and home-delivery options.

Through its NN Grocery Card Program, Nourish Nantucket is helping our neighbors in need of food assistance by providing grocery cards redeemable at Stop & Shop.

We are also strengthening our prepared meal program to ensure that individuals and families have consistent access to healthy, ready-to-eat meals. These programs are designed to fill temporary gaps in federal benefits while supporting local food systems and community resilience.

Partner Programs Continuing to Serve

Our network of food security partners continues to provide essential food access and support:

  • Pip & Anchor’s “Send It Box” program delivers weekly boxes of fresh, locally grown produce to families in need. 
  • WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) continues to serve eligible families with nutritional assistance and education.
  • Program partners like Meals on Wheels, Salt Marsh Senior Dining, Warming Place, Sustainable Nantucket’s Farmers Market/HIP, Nantucket Public Schools Universal Free Lunch, and Our House offer additional critical food programs to islanders. 
  • Anyone seeking food support can visit the Family Resource Center at 1B Freedom Square, where staff can provide referrals to all of these programs and help connect residents with the resources best suited to their needs.

“Food insecurity is a reality on Nantucket every day; about one in three families struggles to have enough to feed themselves and their families,” said Meg Browers, Executive Director of Nourish Nantucket. “The potential SNAP disruption is devastating, and it will negatively impact our community. That’s why programs like grocery cards, meal deliveries, and pantry support are so critical; they fill gaps and ensure our neighbors have access to food when they need it most.” 

Together, these programs ensure that the island community remains nourished and cared for, even in uncertain times.

How the Community Can Help

Nantucket’s food programs rely on community support. Residents who wish to help can make an immediate impact in the following ways:

Donate
Financial contributions directly support grocery cards, meal deliveries, and pantry operations.

“Food insecurity is one of the most pressing — and solvable — challenges we face as a community. Every dollar raised helps us strengthen the safety net that so many island families depend on.”

— Bruce Percelay, Chair, Nourish Nantucket Advisory Council

Volunteer
Volunteers are essential to keeping island food programs running smoothly.

Host a Food Drive
The Nantucket Food Pantry requests that donors prioritize the following:

  • Cooking oil (24-36 ounces)
  • Coffee, ground or instant (smaller sizes) 
  • Shelf-stable juices 
  • Breakfast cereal
  • Condiments: ketchup/mayo/mustard  
  • Granola bars/protein bars 
  • Jelly/jam
  • Laundry detergent  
  • Hygiene products:
    • Toothbrushes
    • Toothpaste
    • Bar soap 
    • Deodorant 
  • Shelf-stable milk (dairy and non-dairy)
  • Peanut butter 
  • Healthy snacks for children and teens

Those interested in organizing a food collection through a business, school, or neighborhood group are encouraged to contact the pantry team for coordination and delivery details: food@assistnantucket.org

Need Food? Help Is Available

Residents experiencing food insecurity can visit the Family Resource Center at 1B Freedom Square for confidential referrals to Nourish Nantucket, the Nantucket Food Pantry, WIC, and other island programs.

  • 1 Freedom Square, Suite B, Nantucket, MA, 02554 
  • (508) 221-0193

All are welcome to reach out; assistance is available to anyone in need.

Together, we nourish Nantucket. Nantucket’s strength lies in its community. By donating, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, island residents can help ensure that every neighbor has access to good food, and the dignity of nourishment during this uncertain time. For more about how to register for food programs visit the Family Resource Center, to learn more about our work or make a donation, email info@nourishnantucket.org. 

 

# # #

Nourish Nantucket’s mission is to create a food secure Nantucket, ensuring that all members of our community have the food they need to thrive. We empower our partners in food security by integrating existing food programs, centralizing outreach and fundraising, and employing data and research to drive sound investment decisions through a collaborative approach to food security. Nantucket Resource Partnership (NRP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates Nourish Nantucket (NN) as its public-facing initiative. 

Media Contact:
Ashley Langer, Communications Manager, Nourish Nantucket

Email: Ashley@nourishnantucket.org, Cell: 508-901-9201

 

Meg Browers, Executive Director, Nourish Nantucket

meg@nourishnantucket.org