Our Motto is “No one goes to bed hungry.”

St. Damien DeVeuster

Our Motto is “No one goes to bed hungry.”

St. Damien DeVeuster

Our history

The Family Pantry-Damien’s Place is named for Saint Damien DeVeuster, a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

The Family Pantry – Damien’s Place located at 3065 Cranberry Highway East Wareham, is named for Saint Damien DeVeuster, a member of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Saint Damien was a missionary in the Hawaiian Islands who dedicated his last years caring for the abandoned lepers of Molokai. He contracted the disease and died in 1889. In the spirit of Saint Damien, Fr. Gabriel Healey and Fr. Thomas McElroy, members of the same Congregation,  founded the Pantry in April 1992.

For more than 30 years, the Pantry was managed and led by Mrs. Carol Cordeiro. Mrs. Cordeiro retired in 2020. The Family Pantry will always be grateful to her for her tireless dedication to the Pantry’s Mission and for her service to our guests and volunteers. 

Visit the Family Food Pantry or donate today.

We serve the needs of the hungry

The Pantry was established to meet the needs of the poor and needy in Southeastern Massachusetts by providing nutritious food to families, the disabled, the elderly and the homeless.

Since 1992, the Pantry has fed thousands of people each year, over 21,025 in 2020. Our motto has always been that “No one goes to bed hungry.” We are staffed with one full-time employee and over 120 dedicated volunteers who generously donate their time and talent to serve those in need. Money raised is used to defray the cost of running the facility.

We are a community-based organization

We proudly serve communities primarily based in Plymouth and Bristol Counties, including: Acushnet, Buzzards Bay, Dartmouth, East Wareham, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, North Dartmouth, Onset, Rochester, South Dartmouth, Wareham and West Wareham. As a result of the Pandemic, we have waived the residency requirements.   Everyone in need of food is welcome to visit the pantry at this time.  We will return to the residency requirements when the situation warrants.

Thank you to our food providers!

Target - Food Provider of Damien's Place - Local Food Pantry in East Wareham/New Bedford
United Way - Food Provider of Damien's Place Food Assistance Program in East Wareham
Stop & Shop - Food Provider of Damien's Place Non-Profit Food Assistance Program
Shaws - Food Provider of Damien's Place - A Free Food Bank Located in East Wareham
Greater Boston Food Bank - Food Provider of Damien's Place - A Food Distribution Program for Low Income Families
Bimbo - Food Provider of Damien's Place - A Food Bank Helping Those Who Suffer From Food Insecurity