FOOD & NUTRITION
*Please see this page for up-to-date information on our programs and services during COVID-19.*
Southwest Community Food Center
QCAP has been at the forefront of providing food and nutrition resources to area families for more than 50 years. QCAP’s Southwest Community Food Center provides food relief, helps families apply for SNAP, promotes nutrition awareness, and develops community support for hunger programs.
The SWCFC at 1 Copeland St. Quincy, MA 02169 is open and fully operational during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Food Center is following strict safety and social distancing protocols and has implemented additional cleaning, sanitizing, and hand-washing measures.
QCAP’s Southwest Community Food Center is the only area food pantry open five days a week, year-round, with late hours to accommodate working families. Our hours are:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM and
- Wednesday 11:00 AM – 6:30PM. (no morning appointments on Wednesday)
We are accepting new clients.
- Please call 617-471-0796 to make an appointment for a food order.
- SNAP application assistance and other guidance will take place over the phone.
Southwest Community Food Center Programs include:
Food Orders
Households typically receive one food order a month, or more often in times of extreme need or crisis. Food orders typically contain a balance of meat, produce, fruits and vegetables, and grains.
Donations of food, hygiene products, or cleaning products are accepted at our 1 Copeland St. location. Click here for a list of high-demand items. Please call ahead at 617-471-0796 to schedule a drop off.
Please also consider donating items through our Amazon wishlist, which is kept up-to-date by the SWCFC team with urgently needed items:
Monetary donations are also appreciated and can be submitted online or by mail at 1 Copeland St. Quincy, MA. 02169.
SNAP Application Assistance
Staff provides SNAP application assistance, helping clients to navigate through the process and serving as an important advocate on their behalf. If you would like to apply for SNAP, please call to schedule an appointment. We also make appointments for SNAP re-certifications. To apply for SNAP benefits, recertify, or ask questions about whether you may be eligible, call 617-471-0796. View our SNAP flyers in English and Chinese.
Holiday Food Orders
The Food Center provides special food orders during the holiday season, provided during Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hannukah, and Chinese New Year. Please contact us at 617-471-0796 to request a special holiday food order.
Holiday Gift Program
QCAP provides donated gifts to families with children, from birth to 12 years of age, who are members of our food pantry. Interested families should call us at 617-471-0796 for membership information and program details.
To donate gifts, please call 617-471-0796 to coordinate a drop off. The last day to donate gifts will be Wednesday, December 22nd. Every donated gift will make a local child’s holiday a little bit brighter this year.
Not sure what to buy? Click below to view our Amazon and Target Wish Lists!
Menu Planning and Budgeting
We know that budgeting can be challenging for all families. QCAP’s Food Center staff provide comprehensive menu planning to design healthy meals on a budget. Food Center clients receive healthy, interesting recipes using ingredients provided at the Food Center. Clients also receive referrals to QCAP’s Financial REACH Center that can help with additional budgeting resources. Please call 617-471-0796 for more information
Helping Pets and Owners Stay Together
In addition to meeting the needs of the humans in their household, many families on the South Shore are also doing their best to care for their pets. People often share their own limited food resources with their pets and sometimes feel that pet surrender is their only option.
The Southwest Community Food Center is partnering with The South Shore Food Pantry (SSPFP) to provide supplemental cat and dog food assistance to clients, with the goal of keeping pets and their owners together and healthy. Clients can receive dry and/or wet pet food at each appointment.
The pet food is provided by donations from individuals, corporations, and shelter overflow. To find out more about the SSPFP, and make a donation of cat or dog food, please visit the South Shore Pet Food Pantry’s web page for more information on drop spots, online wish lists, and volunteer opportunities: southshorepetfoodpantry.com
