Reading Food Pantry expands summer hours for families with school-age children
(2-minute read)
With summer vacation underway, the Reading Food Pantry is offering extra support to local families whose children rely on free breakfast and lunch programs during the school year.
2025 Impact Report
The Pantry recently mailed its 2025 Impact Report, reflecting on a year of challenges and growth. Executive Director Simone Payment thanked the community for its support over the past year, and residents who are not on the Pantry’s physical mailing list can access the letter and report online.
Summer program
Kid-friendly snacks like fruit cups and applesauce pouches, and a bag of dried cranberries. Photo from the Reading Food Pantry June newsletter.
In a newsletter marking the midpoint of 2026 and looking ahead to the new fiscal year, Payment said the Pantry is opening its doors weekly, rather than twice a month, throughout July and August for all Reading families with school-aged children, whether they already use the Pantry or are visiting for the first time.
Families who currently use the Pantry can begin coming each week on Monday nights from 6:30 to 7:30 pm or Friday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 am. Families who don’t yet use the Pantry can visit during those same hours to register and take home food on their first visit. The Pantry said it will stock kid-friendly food and snacks alongside its usual offerings of packaged food, produce, meat and dairy, paper products, personal care items, and home-cooked take-home meals.
Reading Food Pantry Treasurer Hal Torman sorts donations and correspondence. Photo from the Reading Food Pantry June newsletter.
How to help
The Pantry is also seeking support through its Amazon Wishlist, which is updated monthly with a Current Needs List of bulk items priced to make donating easy. This month’s list emphasizes kid-friendly items for families participating in the summer program, as well as ingredients, small equipment, and reusable takeout containers for the Pantry’s cooking program. The Wishlist can be found on the Pantry’s Facebook page, website, and in its Patch articles.
Volunteer spotlight
The newsletter also spotlighted longtime volunteer Hal Torman, the Pantry’s treasurer, who has served since 2006 and took over financial duties in 2021. Torman helped the Pantry secure its 501(c)(3) status in 2023 and has served on its Board of Directors since 2022. “I am amazed and humbled by the generosity of the Reading community,” Torman said.
Inside the Bargain Box at Church of the Good Shepherd, where shoppers can find affordable clothing, household items, and more. Photo from the Reading Food Pantry June newsletter.
Community spotlight
The newsletter additionally recognized the Bargain Box, a thrift shop at Church of Good Shepherd, located at 95 Woburn Street, that donates a share of its proceeds to the Pantry twice a year. The shop is open Saturday mornings from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and Friday mornings from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, with summer hours available on its website. It accepts donations of gently used clothing and household items during open hours or on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
The Pantry is also recruiting volunteers for its cooking and composting programs, with sign-up information available through its Facebook page.
