Later this year, the Medway Food Pantry will have a new, unified home following unanimous approval from the town’s Planning and Economic Development Board. Organizers call it “a meaningful step forward for food access in Medway.” 

The project will bring together Medway’s two longstanding food pantry operations, the Medway Food Pantry at Mahan Circle (part of the Medway Housing Authority) and the Medway Village Food Pantry, into a single, centralized location at 74 Main Street in the space formerly occupied by the Metrowest Physicians Group in the Medway Shoppes.

“This property will allow us to bring them into one unified pantry for the town,” said Susan Dietrich, executive director of the Medway Village Food Pantry, at the Feb. 10 hearing. “It’s a project the two pantries have been working on together, and it will allow us to better serve our neighbors.”

Deitrich was joined at the hearing by Tom Anderson of the Medway Food Pantry at Mahan Circle. 

They explained to the board that, currently, both pantries operate in temporary and limited spaces. The Medway Village Food Pantry is located on the ground floor of Medway Village Church and is only open Saturday mornings, as the space serves as a nursery school during the week. 

Deitrich explained the process to set up the Medway Village Food Pantry. “Every Friday we have to go in, we have to set up the pantry. We receive a food delivery of recovered foods, so fresh produce, lean proteins, bread and bakery items, milk – we receive all of that on Friday afternoon. We have to sort it, get it ready to go, and store it; and then come back Saturday morning by 7 a.m., get it all ready, put it in the coolers, open the doors, serve from 8-10 [a.m.]. Then, we have to break it all down and put it away and it’s a nursery school.” 

Deitrich said that, in 2025, volunteers contributed more than 9,500 hours supporting pantry operations, and 20% of those hours were for set-up and break-down. 

Anderson said The Mahan Circle pantry operates out of the basement of the building, and they have an outdoor, drive-up distribution, all year-round. 

“People place their orders with us, we go in, gather the food, bring it back up in shopping carts through an elevator, out the front door. Logistically, it takes a long time to service one car…It’s not the most convenient, but it gets the job done,” said Anderson.

Together, the two pantries serve approximately 200 households each week, with demand steadily rising over the past five years. 

The new facility will continue the current “choice” or retail-style model, allowing clients to select their own groceries rather than receiving pre-packed bags. Organizers say this approach preserves dignity, reduces food waste, and allows families to choose food that best meets their needs.

The new pantry will operate on an appointment-based system designed to reduce wait times and improve efficiency, while also expanding service hours, including potential evening availability. The central Main Street location is expected to improve accessibility, particularly for residents who currently face barriers due to transportation or limited pantry hours.

After the meeting, Michelle Reed, a volunteer and member of the Medway Village Food Pantry Board, said, “This project represents more than just a new location. It reflects the unification of two food pantry operations that have served the Medway community for decades. The Medway Food Pantry at Mahan Circle has been serving residents since 1992, and the Medway Village Food Pantry since 2004. Both organizations have grown significantly over the years in response to increasing community need.”

Construction is expected to begin in late March or early April, with completion and relocation anticipated by the end of summer 2026, pending permits and inspections. Both existing pantry locations will remain open and continue serving clients throughout the process.