About Us

The Westport Food Pantry was created in April 2020 by the Town of Westport as an emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It ran at the Town Hall Annex Gym, 856 Main Rd., Westport from April – Aug 2020, overseen by the Town Recreation Director and assisted by dedicated volunteers. 

In September 2020 the Westport Food Pantry location transitioned to the Westport Grange 181 Basement, 931 Main Rd., Westport.  A wonderful partnership was formed between the Town of Westport/Westport Food Pantry and the Westport Grange. In Nov/Dec 2020 the Westport Grange helped spearhead the “Westport Has Heart” fundraising initiative that helped bring awareness and donations to the Westport Food Pantry.

October 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Town of Westport/Westport Food Pantry and the Friends of the Westport Council on Aging (FWCOA; a 501(c)3). FWCOA became the Fiscal Sponsor for the Westport Food Pantry. This opened up more grant opportunities and made donations tax deductible.

July 20, 2021 the Westport Food Pantry became an official “Massachusetts Charitable Corporation” (General Laws, Chapter 180) and has received 501(c)3 status. The “Westport Food Pantry, Inc.” is now it’s own charity, separate from the Town of Westport. A Grant Agreement was formed between the Town of Westport and Westport Food Pantry, Inc. to ensure that all of the donations collected for the pantry went to Westport Food Pantry, Inc.

Board Members
Dana Stewart, President
John Foley, Treasurer
Nancy Burlingame, Clerk
Stephen Clayton
Mary Ellen Foley

Cindy Wilson, Director of Operations