| Day | Office Hours | Outdoor Pantry Distribution Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mondays | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesdays | Closed | Closed |
| Wednesdays | 9 – 4 | 1 – 3 |
| Thursdays | Closed | Closed |
| Fridays | Closed | Closed |
| Weekends | Closed | Closed |
40 Main Street
Goshen, MA 01032
(413) 268-7578
Additional Pantry Information:
How Food Distribution Works
Drive-Through Distribution
The Hilltown Pantry, run by the Northampton Survival Center, provides low-income residents in the Hilltowns with nutritionally-balanced food every week. Our program is a “choice” program, which means that clients select the exact foods they bring home. Once a month, clients can choose from shelf stable items, dairy, meat, breads, and fresh fruits and vegetables, and on the other 3 weeks of the month, clients can pick up a smaller order of just the perishable items. We provide pet food and personal care items as they are available. You can come see us every week.
The slowest time is at the beginning, and you might wait for 30 minutes or more in your car during this time. After the first hour it’s smoother sailing, with very little waiting. We have a volunteer directing traffic, so it will be clear what to do. We have enough for everyone. Our whole community is pitching in to make sure no one is hungry or worried about having enough food. Please don’t hesitate to come if you need help.
People tell us that it is easy, and that the people they talk to are nice. We try to make it as comfortable an experience for clients as possible. Not only will the system be efficient and safely socially distant, but you will also receive service with a smile. You can also come by foot, so long as you stay distant from others.
We are doing our best to ensure that food distribution is done in a safe, socially-distanced way. Our system is as efficient as possible while utilizing the lowest number of volunteers. Clients only get out of their car to load their groceries at a distance from staff and volunteers, and then leave. Our goal is to provide a safe, efficient system.
Delivery
We are currently offering home and site-specific delivery for clients. If you are interested in delivery from the Hilltown Pantry, please contact Diane for more information.
Am I Eligible?
Residential Requirements
Clients must live in one of our eighteen service communities. On your first visit to pick up food from the Center, it is helpful if you can bring proof of residence for everyone in your household. We request that you bring these documents on an annual basis.
Chesterfield*, Cummington*, Easthampton, Florence, Goshen*, Hadley, Hatfield, Haydenville*, Huntington*, Leeds, Middlefield*, Northampton, Plainfield*, South Hadley, Southampton, Westhampton*, Williamsburg*, Worthington*
*Clients living in these ten hilltowns have the option of visiting our Hilltown Pantry in Goshen, MA instead of our location in Northampton, MA. Clients may choose whichever location is more convenient for them; however, they must choose one.
If you do not live in one of the 18 communities above, or if your income is over the guidelines listed below, you can receive an emergency box of food rather than our full selection of groceries. If you live outside our service area, we are happy to help you find a food pantry in your own community. You can also find other pantries and food resources by visiting The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts website.
Income Eligibility
While we are not a government agency, we follow the eligibility guidelines set by the USDA. These guidelines are current for July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
| # of People In Household | Annual Gross Income | Monthly Gross Income | Weekly Gross Income |
| 1 | $37,650 | $3,138 | $724 |
| 2 | $51,100 | $4,258 | $983 |
| 3 | $64,550 | $5,379 | $1,241 |
| 4 | $78,000 | $6,500 | $1,500 |
| 5 | $91,450 | $7,621 | $1,759 |
| 6 | $104,900 | $8,742 | $2,017 |
| 7 | $118,350 | $9,863 | $2,276 |
| 8 | $131,800 | $10,983 | $2,535 |
| Add | $13,450 | $1,121 | $259 per additional person |
Sign Up for Food
Our goal is to make signing up as easy as possible for all clients by offering multiple ways to get food.
- Come during outdoor distribution times.
When you arrive at the Hilltown Pantry parking lot during distribution hours, let a volunteer know that you are new and they will give you an application. New clients will go through a brief intake to determine eligibility, and then will leave with food. - Call us ahead of time.
If you call before coming in, we can do a general intake with you over the phone so that you are already in our system when you arrive during distribution. - Call or email Diane, our Hilltown Pantry Manager, to explore options with our delivery program.
- Need to have someone pick up for you?
Contact the Pantry to explore your options.
Special Programs
Over the years, we have been able to develop several robust programs which go above and beyond our mission. We are still working hard to maintain meaningful and important programming, but with COVID-19 it has meant that some of our work might look a little different. The programs listed below are currently available at the Hilltown Pantry location.
Kids’ Summer Food Program
During the summer months, the Hilltown Pantry Kids’ Summer Food Program provides eligible children with free food packages to help feed them breakfast and lunch every weekday for ten weeks during summer vacation. Children living in any of the 18 communities in our service area who receive free or subsidized meals through their school are eligible to receive this food.
Every eligible child receives groceries including grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy and protein. Families pick up food for the Kids’ Summer Food Program during our usual pantry hours at the same time that they are getting their regular package of groceries. Both our Northampton and Goshen locations distribute Kids’ Summer Food Program packages.
Fresh Dairy Program
Beginning in March 2013, a popular Fresh Dairy Program replaced powdered milk with fresh milk from Our Family Farms, a local dairy cooperative. For this effort we’ve secured funding from an anonymous family foundation, and have brokered an excellent deal with the local dairy farmers through Our Family Farms who are grateful for steady stream of income from this order of hundreds of half-gallons each week. Clients are thrilled because they all prefer fresh milk to powdered, and we know it supports area children in choosing to eat a nutritious breakfast of whole grain cereal and milk, rather than an easy-to-grab sugary alternative.
Thanksgiving
During the month of November, the Hilltown Pantry distributes additional traditional Thanksgiving items such as potatoes, cranberry and squash to each client family when they come in for their regular package of groceries.
Map and Directions
The Hilltown Pantry is located in Goshen, MA on Route 9, in the Town Office Building. The entrance is in the rear left of the building.
From Cummington, MA and Points North
Follow Route 9 Southbound. The Town Office Building is white with a large steeple, and will be on your left.
From Williamsburg, MA and Points South
Follow Route 9 Northbound. The Town Office Building is white with a large steeple, and will be on your right.
Client Calendar and Closings
Client Services Calendar
Click here to see our current client service calendar.
Severe Weather Closings
The Hilltown Pantry in Goshen closes on any day that Hampshire Regional schools close due to inclement weather.
In the case of a public school delay, the Hilltown Pantry will endeavor to open on time or as soon thereafter as safe and practical. When in doubt call ahead. For any closures, a notice will be posted on our homepage and on our voicemail. If we have a snow day, our schedule will remain the same for the rest of the week, no adjustments will be made to our pantry schedule.
Holiday Closings
The Center is closed weekends and on the following holidays (in 2024):
- New Year’s Day (Monday, January 1, 2024)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, January 15)
- Presidents’ Day (Monday, February 19)
- Patriot’s Day (Monday, April 15)
- Memorial Day (Monday, May 27)
- Juneteenth (Monday, June 19)
- Independence Day (Tuesday, July 4)
- Labor Day (Monday, September 2)
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday, October 14)
- Veteran’s Day (Friday, November 11)
- Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 28, & Friday, November 29)
- Christmas (Tuesday, December 24, & Wednesday, December 25)
- New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1, 2025)
Equal Opportunity Provider
The Northampton Survival Center is an Equal Opportunity provider. Northampton Survival Center es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.
