Food Assistance Resources

The years of college can be among the most exciting and gratifying of a person’s life. However, college students can experience significant amounts of stress, confusion, and uncertainty. At times, students may need additional support and encouragement. The Counseling Center is here to help students resolve psychosocial issues, enhance their personal growth, and strengthen their academic skills and performance. We also work to expand the campus community’s understanding of the unique mental health issues faced by college students, and how to support student wellbeing.

Worcester State employees have access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through GIC. The EAP is entirely confidential, comes at no cost, and are available around the clock by phone, web, or mobile app.

Get a quality education with quality health and services. Health Services exists to provide accessible, affordable, quality healthcare to full-time and part-time degree-seeking, undergraduate Worcester State University students, with a particular focus on wellness and prevention.

The Student Emergency Fund assists Worcester State University students by providing limited emergency financial support when they need assistance with unexpected, unforeseen, and unavoidable emergency circumstances that jeopardize their ability to continue in school successfully.

The Urban Action Institute (UAI) is the outreach and community action arm of Worcester State University’s Urban Studies department. The UAI collaborates with students, faculty, and community partners to address social, political, and economic injustices through field-based learning and advocacy for a more equitable city. The Urban Action Institute aims to contribute to a world where the collaborative approach it embraces becomes mainstream.

EBS is a community-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in Worcester in 1991 and provides food relief and other services to individuals and families. EBS has worked for more than three decades to fight food insecurity in Worcester’s Main South and Main Middle neighborhoods, acting not only as a food pantry but as a community center. EBS provides our community with nutritious food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, that may not be affordable or accessible to residents facing food insecurity.

Food Help Worcester connects Worcester residents in need of food assistance with local providers of healthy food and meals.

The mission of Friendly House is to further the educational, social, individual, and family development of residents of Worcester, Massachusetts. Our focus is on helping the entire family, especially those under-served and under-resourced. Friendly House’s Food Security Programs provide regular monthly and emergency access to fresh and shelf-stable food and baby formula at 5 locations and prepared child meals delivered to youth-serving organizations across Worcester.

The Emergency Assistance Program at Pernet Family Health Services provides residents of Worcester and surrounding communities access to food, diapers, formula, and hygiene products. Through our partnership with the Worcester County Food Bank, Stop and Shop, Wegman’s, Rachel’s Table, Lovin’ Spoonfuls, and Cradles to Crayons, clients have access to fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, meats, and shelf-stable food as well as diapers and formula and occasional access to clothing and school supplies. Families are eligible to receive food twice monthly and diapers and formula once a month. No ID is required to access these services.

Project Bread fights hunger by working to ensure everyone in Massachusetts can access and afford food with dignity. We go beyond giving out meals. Solving hunger requires addressing the problems at its core —affordability and access. We connect people and communities to big-impact federal nutrition programs and advocate for equitable policies. Our work boosts household food budgets today and informs enduring change for increased food security for all.

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps, provides food purchasing assistance for low- and no-income people, including students. The monthly benefits are used to supplement the participant’s food budget. You can learn more and even apply online at DTA Connect, or you can go to the SNAP office in S-129 to learn more about the program and participant eligibility.

Despite their sacrifices, many veterans and their families still need to worry about putting food on the table. In fact, 27% of veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars struggle to provide food for their families. To combat veteran food insecurity, Veterans Inc. offers a food pantry to veterans and their families on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month. Users are required to have proof of military service.

Worcester County Food Bank provides a majority of food donations for Thea’s Pantry. Their site includes information on finding food pantries throughout Worcester and the Central Mass region, as well as additional information about fighting food insecurity. 

Click here to find a food pantry near you.