The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food pantry founded in 1981 that provides free food assistance to individuals and families in need across Lowell, Massachusetts and seven surrounding communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersLowell, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell does
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell is an independent, non-denominational 501(c)(3) nonprofit food pantry founded in 1981 in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is the first food pantry established in Lowell and provides free food assistance to individuals and families in need, serving as a last-resort provider for those who cannot qualify for Massachusetts state assistance programs. The organization distributes over 6,000 pounds of food weekly, reaching an average of 18,200 people annually, including a growing number of children and seniors.
The pantry operates two primary service programs. The first is on-site food distribution at 200 Central St in Lowell (wheelchair accessible), where clients register with ID and proof of address and receive a regular monthly food order plus a smaller second order per calendar month, including staple foods, baked goods, eggs, dairy, toiletries, pet foods, diapers, and baby food. The second is off-site distribution through partnerships with the Greater Boston Food Bank and Lowell Housing Authority at four locations (50 Stackpole St, 111 Hildreth St, Bishop Markham Housing, and Archambault/City View Towers) under the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program and GBFB Brown Bag Program. Service coverage spans Lowell and seven surrounding communities: Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford, and Wilmington.
The organization is funded entirely by monetary donations from individuals, businesses, and grants, which it uses to purchase food from the Greater Boston Food Bank and cover operating costs. It is led by Executive Director Maureen Peirce and governed by a Board of Directors headed by President Rebecca Wisniewski. The pantry currently operates with a workforce of 11-50 employees plus approximately 50 volunteers and is in transition to a new Lowell facility planned to reopen in August 2026. There is no proprietary technology stack; client service is conducted in-person, and donations are accepted via online platform, mail, QR code, Combined Federal Campaign, and Donor-Advised Funds.
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell
- Legal name
- The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell
- Website
- https://theopenpantry.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit food pantry founded in 1981 that provides free food assistance to individuals and families in need across Lowell, Massachusetts and seven surrounding communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food Assistance Services
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs (BPAIAKAF)
Keywords
Where The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lowell
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations: The organization relies on monetary donations from individuals, businesses, and grants to purchase food from the Greater Boston Food Bank and cover facility operating costs. Donations are accepted via online platforms, mail, QR codes, and planned giving programs. All contributions are tax-deductible as the organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell operates a community food pantry that distributes staple foods, perishable items, baked goods, dairy, eggs, basic toiletries, infant supplies, and pet food to individuals and families in need. It provides regular monthly food orders at its Lowell facility and runs monthly off-site distributions at four Lowell Housing Authority locations through the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Greater Boston Food Bank Brown Bag Program. All food assistance is provided free of charge and funded by donations.
Product overview
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell operates as a single-purpose nonprofit food assistance organization offering two primary service programs: (1) On-Site Food Distribution at their main pantry location where clients receive regular monthly food orders including staple foods, toiletries, infant supplies, and pet food; and (2) Off-Site Food Distribution Programs at four Lowell Housing Authority locations via USDA CFSP and GBFB Brown Bag Program partnerships. The organization is not a technology product company but rather a direct-service nonprofit distributing over 6,000 pounds of food weekly to approximately 18,200 people annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- On-Site Food Distribution
- Off-Site Food Distribution Programs
Quantifiable outcome
- Distributes over 6,000 pounds of food weekly
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB)corePrimary food sourcing partner. The Open Pantry purchases food from the Greater Boston Food Bank for distribution to clients. Partnership includes USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CFSP) and GBFB Brown Bag Program for off-site distributions at four Lowell Housing Authority locations.
- Lowell Housing AuthoritycorePartnership for monthly external food distributions at four housing locations: 50 Stackpole St, 111 Hildreth St, Bishop Markham Housing, and Archambault/City View Towers. Target demographic is elderly (50+), low to moderate-income families, and individuals with disabilities.
- Cummings FoundationminorCommunity group membership providing visibility and potential grant funding for the pantry's operations.
- Greater Lowell Community FoundationminorCommunity foundation membership; volunteers from the foundation have provided sanitizing supplies to the pantry.
- Operation AbleminorSome employees from Operation Able work for the Open Pantry, providing workforce support for pantry operations.
- Project BreadminorReferral partnership. Clients living outside the service area are directed to Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline (1-800-645-8333) for similar services in their communities.
- Catholic CharitiesminorEmergency food referral partner during pantry closure period. Clients directed to Catholic Charities (1:30-3:00pm Monday to Thursday) with ID and proof of address.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Project Bread: Statewide Massachusetts anti-hunger organization operating the FoodSource Hotline to which Open Pantry refers out-of-area clients. Comparable mission and client base, focused on connecting food-insecure residents to local resources.
- Worcester County Food Bank: Massachusetts-based regional food bank serving Worcester County with a comparable pantry partner network and distribution model. Strong functional peer for benchmarking pantry operations and USDA program participation.
- Catholic Charities Boston: Currently serves as Open Pantry's emergency referral partner during its facility move. Provides emergency food assistance and broader social services to low-income individuals and families in the same Lowell-area catchment.
- Food Bank of Western Massachusetts: Regional food bank serving Western Massachusetts with a similar pantry partnership model, USDA program participation, and donor-supported revenue structure. Comparable in scope and operational design.
- Merrimack Valley Food Bank: Regional food bank serving Lowell and the broader Merrimack Valley. Directly comparable in service geography and mission, providing food to pantries and meal programs across the same catchment as The Open Pantry.
Broad incumbents
- The Salvation Army Massachusetts: Provides emergency food assistance, meal programs, and social services across Massachusetts, including Lowell-area locations. Comparable emergency food provision model serving overlapping vulnerable populations.
- Greater Boston Food Bank: The largest hunger-relief organization in New England and Open Pantry's primary food sourcing partner. Operates a regional food bank model across Eastern Massachusetts, distributing food through a network of partner pantries that includes The Open Pantry.
- Feeding America: National umbrella network for food banks and pantries across the U.S. Provides the broader framework through which GBFB and most regional pantries (including Open Pantry's partners) coordinate USDA programs and food sourcing.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell social profiles
Digital presenceThe Open Pantry of Greater Lowell compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell
What does The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell do?
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell operates a community food pantry that distributes staple foods, perishable items, baked goods, dairy, eggs, basic toiletries, infant supplies, and pet food to individuals and families in need. It provides regular monthly food orders at its Lowell facility and runs monthly off-site distributions at four Lowell Housing Authority locations through the USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program and the Greater Boston Food Bank Brown Bag Program. All food assistance is provided free of charge and funded by donations.
Is The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell a public or private company?
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell founded?
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell was founded in 1981. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell based?
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell is headquartered in Lowell, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations.
Who are The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Project Bread, Worcester County Food Bank, Catholic Charities Boston, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Merrimack Valley Food Bank. Broad incumbents are The Salvation Army Massachusetts, Greater Boston Food Bank and Feeding America.
Does The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell.
What industry is The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell in?
The Open Pantry of Greater Lowell's product category is Food Assistance Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAKAF, Food & Nutrition Assistance Programs. Its NAICS code is 62421.