Community Servings

Description

Community Servings delivers free meals to individuals and families with acute life-threatening illnesses in the greater Boston area. Established in 1990 to serve those living with HIV/AIDS, the program was expanded in June of 2004 to include individuals and families struggling with any type of acute life-threatening illness, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and lupus. In addition to their regular meals, they provide special diets to meet diverse dietary needs.

Eligibility

Eligibility is based on the client’s mobility-level and severity of illness. There is no income limit. The client’s doctor or nurse must complete a certification form, which establishes the client’s acute life-threatening illness and assesses a client’s need based on health and functional status. Clients must also submit signed paperwork and, though not used to determine eligibility, income verification is required.

Community Servings covers the following Masachusetts cities/towns: Boston, Braintree, Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Medford, Quincy, Randolph, Revere, Somerville, Weymouth, or Winthrop.

Benefits

Meals are delivered Monday through Saturday. Depending on where a client lives, he/she may be have the option to chose between daily or weekly meal delivery. The client or a family member must be home to receive their meals. If this is not possible the client may designate an alternative place (e.g., a neighbor’s house) where meals can be delivered or may opt to pick up their meals at Community Servings.

Application

For more information and application documents see "useful links" at the bottom of this page.

Please note: staff report that while most often the program starts soon after referral, at times they run a waitlist and service may be delayed by as much as 2-3 months. When referring ask about current waitlist status.

For more information or to apply, please contact our Client Services Coordinators, Carolyn Smith at csmith@servings.org or Marisol Olivera (Spanish speaking) at molivera@servings.org or call 617-522-7777.

Useful Links:

Community Servings - application, client welcome letter, intake form, release of information and more in English and Spanish.