Basic Needs Emergency Services

Catholic Charities Basic Needs Emergency Services provide assistance to people in need of food, fuel, rental, or utility assistance as well as holiday assistance. Available funding varies from city to city. When services or funding is not available, staff will make referrals to other food pantries, shelters, other private charities, public assistance programs, and counseling support services. Clients also will be connected to additional community services in order to help address critical underlying needs and to help prevent future crisis situations.

If you would like to help Catholic Charities provide Basic Needs Emergency Services, you may make a credit card donation now or call 617-451-7952.

Service Locations by Town

Brockton

Our Brockton community service center offers emergency financial assistance for fuel, rent, and utilities. These services are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

In addition, food is available through our food pantry, the largest in Plymouth County, serving 22,000 individuals each year. Clients may visit the food pantry up to four times a year. The pantry serves people living primarily in the Brockton area and is open from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 10 a.m.-12 noon on Wednesday. It is also open from 5-7 p.m. on Monday.

Dorchester

The Yawkey Center offers brief counseling when necessary, emergency financial assistance for food, fuel, rent and utilities, food through a food pantry, 9/11 victims support, and holiday assistance. Emergency funding may also be available for glasses, prescriptions and emergency travel.

Services are available Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.-12 noon to residents of Suffolk County.

Gloucester

Our Gloucester community service center offers emergency financial assistance for fuel, rent, and utilities as well as food gift certificates to local grocery stores.

Services are available Monday through Thursday. Hours vary, so please call 978-283-3055. Services are provided to residents of Essex, Gloucester, Manchester, and Rockport.

Haverhill

The Open Hand Food Pantry is open Tuesdays and Wednesday from 9-11:30 a.m. In addition to food, clothing and other miscellaneous items are also available. Food is available for residents of the Greater Haverhill area.

Lawrence

Our Lawrence community service center offers 9/11 victims support, brief counseling, emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities, housing search assistance and furniture. Baby supplies such as clothes, diapers and used furniture are available as well.

Services are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Services are primarily provided to residents of the Greater Lawrence area. When funds are available, services are also provided to residents of Andover, Amesbury, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groton, Groveland, Haverhill, Littleton, Lowell, Pepperell, Shirley, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Salisbury, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsboro, West Newbury and Westford. Specific criteria must be met in order to receive financial assistance.

Lowell

The Merrimack Valley Food Pantry in Lowell is open Monday through Thursday from 1-3:30 p.m. In addition to food, clothing and other miscellaneous items are also available. Food is available for residents of the Greater Lowell area.

Our Lowell community service center offers 9/11 victims support, brief counseling, emergency financial assistance for rent and utilities, housing search assistance and furniture. Baby supplies such as clothes, diapers and used furniture are available as well.

Services are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Services are primarily provided to residents of the Greater Lowell area. When funds are available, services are also provided to residents of Andover, Amesbury, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Georgetown, Groton, Groveland, Haverhill, Lawrence, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, North Andover, Salisbury, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsboro, West Newbury and Westford. Specific criteria must be met in order to receive financial assistance.

Lynn

Our Lynn community service center offers 9/11 victims support, brief counseling, and emergency financial assistance for fuel, rent, and utilities as well as food gift certificates to local grocery stores.

Services are available Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m.-12 noon. Services are provided to residents of Burlington, Lynn, Lynnfield, Melrose, Nahant, North Reading, Reading, Revere, Saugus, Swampscott, Wakefield, Wilmington, and Woburn.

Milford

Natick

Our Natick community service center offers 9/11 victims support, emergency financial assistance for fuel, rent and utilities as well as food, food vouchers and gift certificates when available. Clothes and baby supplies such as diapers are also available from time to time.

Services are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Services are provided to residents of Dover, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Natick, Needham, Newton, Stow, Sudbury, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley and Weston.

Plymouth

The Thrifty Pilgrim Thrift Shop and Food Pantry is a satellite location of Catholic Charities South, which serves the Greater Plymouth area. It is primarily funded by the Plymouth Guild whose members have been loyal volunteers at the center for more than 20 years. The food pantry is open Monday through Friday from 10-11:30 a.m. and 1-3:30 p.m.

Salem

Our Salem community service center offers brief counseling and emergency financial assistance for fuel, rent, and utilities as well as food gift certificates to local grocery stores. The Little Lambs Program provides diapers and wipes to low-income families with children age 3 and under.

Services are available Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m.-12 noon. Services are provided to residents of Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Hamilton, Ipswich, Marblehead, Middleton, Peabody, Rowley, Salem, Topsfield, and Wenham.

Somerville

Our Somerville community service center offers fuel, rental, and utility assistance as well as food through a pantry.

Services are available Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to residents of Middlesex County.

South Boston

Our South Boston community service center offers fuel, rental and utility assistance as well as food vouchers when available.

Services are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

South End

Our South End community service center offers fuel, rental, and utility assistance as well as food through a pantry to residents of the greater Boston area.

The food pantry at El Centro del Cardenal is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.