Get Food

Arlington EATS will be offering summer lunch support for families of students from July 10th to August 15th – sign up here!

EATS MARKET

The Arlington EATS Market is a safe space for anyone in Arlington who needs food. If you are an Arlington resident in need of food, you can shop for free once each week (defined as Sunday-Saturday). Foods include a variety of fresh produce, meat, dairy and canned and shelf stable food. Please note items will vary from week to week.

The Market is open for shopping by appointment. Drop-ins are not allowed during the first hour the Market is open, but can usually be accommodated after 10am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays and after 3pm on Mondays. However, priority will be given to those with appointments, so drop-ins may be required to wait a bit as space in the Market is limited.

Current Market Hours:
Mondays 2-7pm (2-4pm senior hours*)
Tuesdays 9am-12:30pm
Wednesdays 9am-12pm
Saturdays 9am-1pm

*Senior Hours
Mondays from 2-4 pm are intended as senior hours. The Council on Aging offers free van rides to Arlington EATS for those over age 60, by appointment. If you plan to ride the COA van to or from Arlington EATS you must call COA in advance at (781) 316-3403. They will book your ride AND your shopping appointment for you, as available.

Sign up to Shop

Appointment slots open one week ahead of each shopping day.

Visiting us for the first time?

Welcome! New guests can make your first appointment by calling our hotline at (339) 707-6761. Leave a message with your name and phone number and the date and approximate time you’d like to shop. You will receive a call back within a day or two.
If you prefer, you may drop-in without an appointment, but please be aware that you may have to wait a bit.
Please bring proof of your Arlington address (for example: a lease, driver’s license, Mass. ID, utility bill, etc.) and plan to arrive a few minutes before your appointment time to fill out our registration form before you shop.
Once you have visited us in-person and we have processed your registration, you will be emailed a link to log into our online appointment platform, PantrySoft.

Returning shoppers:

Make your appointment online: Current guests can make appointments through PantrySoft.

log into PantrySoft

In most cases, your username is your email address.
If you need assistance, email PantrySoft@arlingtoneats.org.

Make your appointment by phone: Call Arlington EATS’ hotline at (339) 707-6761. Leave a message with your name and phone number and the date and approximate time you’d like to shop. You will receive a call back within a day or two.
If you are a senior and plan to ride the COA van to Arlington EATS: Please call the COA directly at (781) 316-3403. They will book your ride AND your shopping appointment for you, as available.

Things to know!

Please bring your own shopping bags if possible.
For most foods there are no limits, you may take what you need for the week. Items that do have limits will be clearly labeled.
Due to space constraints, only one person per household may enter the Market to shop (with the exception of small children). This allows shoppers to move through the Market more quickly to reduce wait times.

EATS School Based Programs

Snack Program

The goal of our snack program is to support schools in keeping healthy snacks on hand so that no child needs to be hungry during the school day. Snacks are available during the school day for students in all the Arlington Public Schools. Ask your teacher or principal where you can get a snack

Vacation and Summer Lunch Program

School vacations often mean less food for families. By offering meals when school is not in session, we strive to decrease food insecurity for families who rely on school meals. Food support is available when school is not in session over the February and April vacation weeks and six weeks in the summer for Arlington students and their families. For more information call 339-707-6757.

For lunch support over summer vacation, sign up here by July 4th.

ARLINGTON EATS FRESH BUCKS

Arlington EATS Fresh Bucks provides access to fresh, locally-grown produce, meat, and breads through the Arlington Farmers’ Market. Each week, SNAP card holders can come to the Arlington EATS booth at the Farmers’ Market and receive a match up to $15 in Fresh Bucks for any SNAP purchase made at the farmers’ market. Fresh Bucks may be used with most vendors.

FAQs about Food Assistance at the Farmers’ Market

What food assistance programs can I use to shop at the Arlington Farmers' Market?

How do each of these programs work?

SNAP

SNAP is the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps. Several of the vendors at the Arlington Farmers’ Market are able to process SNAP EBT cards.
You can use your card for SNAP-eligible foods the same way you would use it at the grocery store.

Busa Farm, Copicut Farm, Dick’s Market Garden, Kimball Fruit Farms, and Nicewicz Farm accept SNAP.

HIP

HIP is the state-funded Healthy Incentive Program. The program instantly refunds your SNAP card when you buy fruits and vegetables from approved HIP vendors at the Farmers’ Market.

To use HIP at any farmers’ market:

Find an approved HIP vendor. Look for a HIP sign, or ask the market manager.
Use your SNAP EBT card to pay for your purchase. You need to have a balance on your card.
The vendor will swipe your EBT card for the amount of your purchase.
The amount of the purchase will be deducted, then instantly refunded to your card.

Important HIP facts:

Depending on the size of your family, you can earn an extra $40 to $80 a month for fresh fruits and vegetables through the HIP program.
Even if you receive less than $40 per month in SNAP benefits, you are still eligible for the full HIP amount for your family size.
HIP is only available at farmers’ markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and CSAs.
Unlike SNAP, your HIP benefits do not roll over month to month. To make the most of your benefits, be sure to use your whole HIP balance every calendar month.

Learn more about HIP
The approved HIP vendors at the Arlington Farmers’ Market are Busa Farm, Dick’s Market Garden, Kimball Fruit Farms, and Nicewicz Farm.

Arlington EATS Fresh Bucks

Arlington EATS Fresh Bucks is the SNAP match program at the Arlington Farmers’ Market, sponsored by Arlington EATS. In order to help your SNAP dollars go further and to provide access to more products at the market, we will match SNAP spending (up to $15 weekly) at the Arlington Farmers’ Market with Fresh Bucks vouchers. We will even match your HIP purchase! The vouchers may be used anytime throughout the season.

To get Fresh Bucks at the Arlington Farmers’ Market:

Shop with your SNAP card.
Bring your receipts to the Arlington EATS table. To reduce trips to the EATS table, we encourage you to bring all of your receipts for the day at one time.
Receive your match in Fresh Bucks vouchers, up to $15 per week. Spend $5, get $5 in Fresh Bucks; spend $10, get $10, and so on.
Use your vouchers at the Arlington Farmers’ Market any time throughout the season.

Arlington EATS Fresh Bucks are accepted by most vendors at the Arlington Farmers’ Market; they may not be used to purchase alcohol or non-food items. The Fish Lady/Red’s Best Seafood is not accepting Fresh Bucks at this time.

Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP)

The Arlington Farmers’ Market is an authorized Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) market. Coupons are available for seniors and families through the FMNP, run by the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture. WIC (Women, Infants and Children’s Nutrition Program) participants are eligible to apply for a $30 coupon booklet, and income-qualified seniors are eligible to apply for a $50 booklet. These coupons may be used to buy vegetables and fruits from any vendor at the market.

How do I sign up for these programs?

You can apply for SNAP online at dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/apply, or call 877-382-2363. SNAP help is available through Project Bread on their website, projectbread.org, or their hotline, 800-645-8333, (over 180 languages available). Here in Arlington, you can call the Council on Aging, 781-316-3400, for help with SNAP. You don’t need to be a senior.

If you have SNAP, you automatically have HIP! You don’t need to do anything: It’s already on your card.

Arlington EATS Fresh Bucks are available each week at the Arlington Farmers’ Market. Visit the Arlington EATS table at the market for your SNAP match.

FMNP coupons for WIC participants are available through the WIC office. To find out more about WIC and to see if you are eligible, visit wicinfo.dph@massmail.state.ma.us or call 800-942-1007.

FMNP coupons for seniors are available in Arlington through the Council on Aging at 781-316-3400 and Minuteman Senior Services at 781-272-7177.

What if I don't have any money left on my SNAP card?

If you don’t have SNAP, or you don’t have a balance on your SNAP card, the brand-new Arlington EATS Market at 117 Broadway is a great place to get fresh produce and other groceries free of charge. The Arlington EATS Market is open to any Arlington resident. Visit arlingtoneats.org or call 339-707-6761 to make an appointment.

If you don’t live in Arlington, call the Project Bread hotline 1-800-645-8333 to find more food resources.

Where can I learn more about ways to buy food at the Arlington Farmers’ Market?

We’re passionate about fresh, healthy food and finding ways to make it accessible to everyone! There is a lot of information to navigate, and it can be overwhelming. We’re always happy to chat at the Farmers’ Market, and yet we recognize that sometimes a more private space is more comfortable. Please feel free to reach out by email jniles@arlingtoneats.org or by phone at 339-707-6757 ext. 1006 to learn more.

Other Resources

To apply for SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), call 781-316-3400, leave a message and a social worker will call you back.
Visit Project Bread for additional food programs
Visit Mystic Community Market (open to all)
Located at Walnut Street Center
291 Mystic Avenue
Medford, MA 02155

For other resources, see our Community Resource flyer or Guest Newsletter:

Community Resource Flyer

2024 Guest Newsletter

EATS Market Hours

The Market is open for in-person shopping by appointment on:

Mondays 2-7pm (2-4pm are senior hours)
Tuesdays 9am-12:30pm
Wednesdays 9am-12pm
Saturdays 9am-1pm

Get food

FOOD PICKUP LOCATION

117 Broadway
Arlington, MA

MAILING ADDRESS

117 Broadway
Suite A
Arlington, MA 02474

CONTACT US

339-707-6757
info@arlingtoneats.org

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