October Free Meal Distribution and Food Rescue

In addition to 130 food rescues in October, The Food Drive in Melrose, Massachusetts launched the final phase of its Community Freezer program…weekly distribution! A joint program of First United Methodist Church of Melrose and The Food Drive, the Melrose Community Freezer offers nutritious, balanced frozen meals at no cost for people in the local community experiencing need. Distribution is open to all every Sunday after church from 11:15 AM to 12:15 PM, and each guest chooses three frozen meals from a wide selection. To accompany each meal, guests receive a packet of homemade treats made with love by children and youth at FUMC. Since local food relief services are limited on weekends, the short-term goal of the Sunday distribution is to bridge the gap between the Friday pantry at A Servant’s Heart Food Pantry and the Tuesday pantry at Pantry of Hope, both located in Melrose. The long-term goal of the program is to maintain an inventory of entrees for specific dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, low fat, dairy free, and low salt…items that are not always readily available at pantries and soup kitchens. Since its launch in early 2022, the Melrose Community Freezer program has provided over 450 meals, thanks to donations from the Melrose FUMC congregation and volunteer cooks.