LEOMINSTER — Ginny’s Helping Hand food pantry and community service organization was recently given a boost, as the Massachusetts Legislature appropriated $65,000 in the fiscal 2027 budget to support the Leominster-area charity.
Ginny’s Helping Hand has served as a vital community resource for residents across North Central Massachusetts since 1978, providing support to individuals and families facing a range of challenges. Today, Ginny’s Helping Hand serves 53,000 guests, with about 17,900 households. The organization works to alleviate hunger, promote self-sufficiency and help residents access essential items such as food, clothing and household supplies.
In addition to its food pantry, Ginny’s operates a thrift store that offers affordable necessities and generates revenue to support its services. Through partnerships with community organizations, it also helps provide temporary shelter, fuel assistance, and support for residents affected by fires, floods, domestic violence, and other crises, helping people meet immediate needs with hope and dignity.
“For decades, Ginny’s Helping Hand has been a trusted source of compassionate support for individuals and families across North Central,” said state Sen. John Cronin, D-Fitchburg. “This funding will help keep the pantry’s shelves stocked and ensure more families have what they need to share a holiday meal as demand for food assistance continues to grow. Thank you to the staff and volunteers at Ginny’s for serving our neighbors with dignity and kindness.”
“This funding comes at exactly the right moment,” said Brandon L. Robbins, executive director of Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc. “Our neighbors are visiting the pantry more than ever, and this support means more families will sit down to a full holiday meal this year and find a well-stocked pantry every week after. We are deeply grateful to Senator Cronin and Representative (Natalie) Higgins for standing with the people of North Central Massachusetts. At Ginny’s, we believe in offering a hand up, and this investment helps us do exactly that.”
“I’m grateful for the team at Ginny’s Helping Hand that have risen to meet the needs of our community members each and every day,” said Higgins. “Their food pantry serves over 6,000 people each month and this funding will continue to ensure they can continue to provide vital resources and meals to North Central MA residents and neighbors.”
The funding for the Ginny’s Helping Hand was secured as a part of the fiscal year 2027 state budget negotiations. The investment from the legislators provides $65,000 in state funding to the organization to support the food pantry, which now sees more than 5,000 visits each month, up from roughly 1,000 before the pandemic. The funding will help Ginny’s purchase food to keep their shelves stocked as demand continues to climb, support the staff who keep the pantry running five days a week, and expand their Holiday Food Baskets of Hope program, which provides families with everything they need for a complete Thanksgiving or Christmas meal. Ginny’s Helping Hand serves guests from more than 80 ZIP codes across North Central Massachusetts.
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