ROCKLAND, MA, ISSUED DECEMBER 11, 2025…On Friday December 6, 2025, a tractor-trailer full of nonperishable food left Salt Lake City, Utah, enroute to Massachusetts. Early in the morning on Monday, December 9, the truck arrived in Rockland, MA, and unloaded 40,000 pounds of food donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to feed thousands of South Shore families in need.
The 28 pallets of food contained essentials like rice, macaroni, green beans, flour, beans, carrots, diced tomatoes, peanut butter, and oats, as well as some fun items like pancake mix, cake mix and hot cocoa, and needed items like dishwashing liquid. All of the donated items were grown, processed and packaged by Church-owned farms, ranches, and production facilities like canneries, dairies, and mills. They process the goods using volunteer labor, plus donations from Church members. These resources provide basic foods and household items to people in need, regardless of their faith.
This 40,000-pound food donation will be split between two local food pantries: Interfaith Social Services and the South Shore Food Bank.
Since 1947, Interfaith Social Services has been a safety net for thousands of children and families who are struggling to make ends meet. Located in Quincy, MA, Interfaith operates one of the largest emergency food pantries in Greater Boston – distributing food and essential hygiene products to local residents in need. Interfaith also operates a mental health counseling center and homelessness prevention program, and coordinates several large-scale seasonal initiatives that bring joy to local children living in poverty.
The South Shore Food Bank is a regional food access hub for food-assistance organizations across 28 South Shore communities in Massachusetts. In 2024, more than half of food distributed by food pantries on the South Shore moved through their warehouse, benefiting almost 30,000 residents across the region. They also operate two large-scale food pantries in Weymouth and Randolph. Their mission is to improve food access, food equity, and promote health.
“Both food pantries have served record-setting numbers of local families in the past few months,” said Pam Denholm, executive director of South Shore Food Bank. “The food has been going out as quickly as it comes in, and we have had a hard time keeping shelves stocked. This donation is so well timed and much needed.” Each food pantry provides groceries to 2,000+ households each month.
This is the second time The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made a donation of this size to the two organizations. The last time was in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
About the South Shore Food Bank
Established in 2021, the South Shore Food Bank is part of a united community effort to bring food, dignity and hope to our South Shore neighbors. The organization acts as a hub for a network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters supported by Greater Boston Food Bank, helping to get food to where it’s most needed, especially fresh produce and frozen goods. Currently, the South Shore Food Bank serves pantries in towns throughout the South Shore, including Abington, Braintree, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Canton, Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Hanover, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plympton, Quincy, Randolph, Rockland, Scituate, Weymouth, and Whitman.
The South Shore Food Bank is located at 40E Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland, MA 02370. For more information, please visit www.southshorefoodbank.org, email info@weymouthfoodpantry.org, or call 781-331-7682.
About Interfaith Social Services
Founded in 1947, Interfaith Social Services’ mission is to provide South Shore residents with the resources necessary to support a healthy and fulfilling life. Their team of clinicians, staff and volunteers deliver programs focused on alleviating hunger, providing mental health counseling, preventing homelessness, and bringing joy to children.
Interfaith’s food pantry is one of the largest emergency food programs in Greater Boston.
Interfaith’s New Directions Counseling center provides mental health and addiction treatment for community members in need.
Their HomeSafe program is a homelessness prevention initiative that also provides budget counseling and advocacy to hundreds of local households every year.
Located in Quincy, the organization’s Bureau Drawer Thrift Shop is a boutique style store with all proceeds benefiting Interfaith’s programs. Clothing and food donations from the community are always welcome.
For more information, or to inquire about volunteering with Interfaith, please visit: www.InterfaithSocialServices.org.