The Market at Gray House
The Gray House provides food assistance to those struggling to put food on the table through our Market. To learn how you can get involved in The Market, please see our volunteer opportunities.
Curbside Food Distribution
In order to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers and clients, The Gray House will continue to provide food distribution curbside, in a contactless manner. This will take place during our normal Market hours listed below.
We do ask that you please be patient and follow the instructions from our volunteers and staff when waiting for your food. These measures help to keep everyone safe and our distribution running efficiently.
Food Distribution Hours
Every Thursday 9am–12pm
Second & Fourth Friday of every month from 3:30pm–5:00pm
Special Distribution for Senior Citizens (55+) and Veterans: Second Friday of every month from 2:00pm–3:30pm
*Please note there is no distribution on Thanksgiving Day or the Friday after Thanksgiving. Instead, eligible families can pre-register to receive a turkey and other Thanksgiving food. This typically takes place in late October or early November.
*In the case of inclement weather conditions, including snowstorms and lightning, the Market may be forced to cancel, postpone, or cease distribution in order to keep our staff, volunteers, and clients safe. Please check our website homepage for up-to-date information regarding distribution or call our agency at 413-734-6696 ext. 3.
Visiting The Market at Gray House
First time visitors will need to complete an intake form (English or Spanish) for their household. There is no limit on the number of times a household can receive food during the month.
If you have a vehicle, please drive onto Sheldon Street from Main Street. When it is your turn, a volunteer will wave you over, collect basic information and direct you to move forward where another volunteer will put the groceries in your vehicle. PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES. Please do not exit the vehicle to help our volunteers, open the car doors or rearrange your groceries. While we appreciate your help, it is vital to our ability to maintain this service that the proper procedures are followed.
If you do not have a vehicle, please walk onto Sheldon Street from Main Street. There will be round markers placed on the sidewalk indicating where you should stand and wait in line in order to maintain a 6ft distance from others. Please do not move up until the person in front of you has moved to the next marker. When it is your turn to be assisted, please remain on the marker. A volunteer will collect your information, place your food on a pallet and, once the volunteer has stepped back from the pallet, they will instruct you to move forward and take your food. Please wait for these directions to move forward.
Resources
For information and referrals for people facing hunger, call 1-800-645-8333 for Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline. This service is free and confidential for all Massachusetts residents. Counselors are able to assist callers in 180 languages.
To find other food assistance programs near you, visit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts' Food Bank Agency Locator
Check out nutritious recipes and informational flyers, courtesy of our spring 2021 UMass Nursing Program interns.
Our Partners
The Gray House has been a member agency of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts since 1986. Through this partnership we are able to leverage our donations and grants to access food to provide to individuals and families in need throughout the Greater Springfield community. The Gray House is also proud to partner with Spoonfuls and Rachel's Table to access rescued food and help reduce food waste.
The Need for Food Assistance
The Gray House is located in the Memorial Square neighborhood of Springfield, one of the poorest areas in the city and in the state, as well as a designated food desert. Households are able to visit The Market as many times as needed throughout the year. With each visit, they receive about six days worth of food for their entire household.
Many of our neighbors have to choose between paying rent, utility bills including heating, child care, medical bills and prescriptions, purchasing school uniforms and winter coats, and buying food. Clothing and food are often the first areas in which people make sacrifices. This is why hunger emerges as a serious, and increasingly a chronic, problem in impoverished neighborhoods like the North End.
Many of our visitors have told us they are turning to emergency food support for the first time. They are newly unemployed, employed part-time with their hours greatly reduced, grandparents finding themselves unexpectedly caring for family members who can no longer support themselves, and seniors choosing between food and prescriptions.
Individuals Served by the Market
The pandemic brought a drastic increase in the number of individuals served by the Market at Gray House. Thanks to the support of our community, we have continued to meet the growing demand for food assistance. The below numbers represent the monthly average of individuals who receive food assistance through The Gray House and demonstrate the immense need in our community.
USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/