Bread & Roses

Food Aid in Lawrence in the Wake of Covid 19

Goal thermometer

Lawrence remains the poorest city in Massachusetts, with 1 out of 4 living below the poverty line. 80% of those we serve are minorities - many are recent immigrants ineligible for SNAP. 70% are either homeless or at-risk of homelessness. The choice between food, shelter, heat and medications is faced on a daily basis. 


Since the start of the pandemic, food insecurity has doubled in Massachusetts, and 1 in 5 households are at-risk of hunger. Lawrence continues to suffer long reaching impacts. Families and individuals experiencing unemployment and eviction are finding help harder to find as agencies and shelters struggle to meet the need.  


The impacts of this health crisis have continued throughout 2021,and the call for help grows more urgent as unemployment benefits come to an end and the eviction moratorium is revoked.


In response, Bread & Roses pivoted our service model to community food outreach to meet the rising wave of need triggered by the Covid 19 crisis. Community food outreach meets people where they are - effectively bridging service gaps for the most marginalized of Lawrence, while simultaneously supporting valuable programs.


Since the pandemic, we've delivered 600,000+ pounds of food to agencies, shelters and churches across Lawrence in our two outreach vans. We made more than 300,000 meals possible and more than 10,000 households received bulk food, hot meals and pantry orders, clothing, toiletries, infant supplies and pet food, gift cards to grocery stores and access to laundry services. 


We expect food insecurity in Lawrence to rise even more in the coming year.  Our goal in 2022 is to essentially double the scope of our services, potentially reaching 20,000 households experiencing hardship.


Your contribution may help keep our two outreach vans mobile, purchase supplemental food for pantry orders or keep the team that makes it all happen.


Thank you for being a friend to our struggling neighbors.





Contribution rules

  1. Charitable donations made through this form are received and processed by ActBlue Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization formed to democratize charitable giving, and are subject to ActBlue’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. The merchant of record for this transaction is ActBlue Charities, Inc. We subsequently give your contribution to the organization or cause that you have selected on the contribution form. A copy of our latest financial report may be obtained by contacting us at actblue.com/contact or calling (617) 517-7600. Alternatively, our report detailing our programs, a financial summary, and the percentage of contributions dedicated to our charitable purpose, along with a copy of our license, may be obtained from the following state agencies: FLORIDA (registration #CH46938) – A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, 1-800-435-7352 (800-HELP-FLA) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com; GEORGIA (registration #CH012361) – contact ActBlue Charities; MARYLAND (registration #29971) – For the cost of copies and postage, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401; MISSISSIPPI (registration #100024326) – Secretary of State’s Office 1-888-236-6167; NEW JERSEY (registration #CH3867000) – INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/charfrm.htm; NEW YORK (registration #45-25-27) – New York Attorney General’s Charities Registry at www.charitiesnys.com or, the Office of the Attorney General, Charities Bureau, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10005, or (212) 416-8686; NORTH CAROLINA (registration #SL009830) – FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION AND A COPY OF ITS LICENSE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE SOLICITATION LICENSING BRANCH AT 1-888-830-4989.; PENNSYLVANIA (registration #104758) – Department of State, 800-732-0999; VIRGINIA – Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services, PO Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218; WASHINGTON (registration #37969) – Secretary of State, Charities Division, Olympia, WA 98504-0422, 800-332-4483; WEST VIRGINIA (registration #9826) – Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305; WISCONSIN (registration #16203-800) – contact ActBlue Charities. Registration with and reporting to these agencies does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation of ActBlue Charities.
  2. By making a contribution, you attest that the contribution is made from your own funds or the funds of an authorizing corporation or other entity, and the funds are not being provided by any other person or entity.

By proceeding with this transaction, you agree to ActBlue's terms & conditions.