City Partnership with Local Restaurants Providing Meals to Homeless Residents Extended through October 3, 2021

The City of Cambridge announced that it is extending its successful program for feeding homeless residents with meals provided by local food establishments through October 3, 2021. In March 2020, the City launched an innovative project to contract with local restaurants to provide food to the City’s homeless community during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

To date, over 235,000 meals have been provided and more than 2,700 meals are now being delivered each week to shelters across the City. Over the last 14 months, the City of Cambridge has spent over $1.6 million on meals provided by local Cambridge restaurants.

Over 65 Cambridge restaurants have participated in this program where meals are delivered to 16 shelters and programs that the City’s Department of Human Service Programs has identified as having a strong need for meals.

“The Friday Café is deeply grateful to the City of Cambridge for extending the restaurant meal program another month," said Reverend Kate Layzer of First Church in Cambridge. "We continue to serve 100 or more hungry neighbors every Friday, and the support of the meal program has been critical in helping us meet needs. Our thanks to the City for partnering with us in these challenging times!"

Restaurants interested in participating in this initiative are encouraged to contact the City of Cambridge Purchasing Department at purchasing@cambridgema.gov.