Bread of Life (Malden)

Who Can Visit?

The Malden Food Mart at 54 Eastern Ave is open to residents of Malden, Everett, Medford, Melrose, Saugus, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester, Reading, and North Reading. On your first visit, you'll fill out an application on the spot before picking up groceries. There's no income verification required.

How to Register?

Bring proof of residency and complete the application with staff when you arrive for the first time. No need to call or register in advance.

Items Needed for Registration

Bring proof of residency, such as a driver's license or a utility bill.

How Often You Can Visit?

A household can pick up groceries once every four weeks.

Good to Know

The entrance to the food mart isn't on Eastern Ave itself. Enter from the bike path that runs alongside the building. From Eastern Ave, look for the driveway directly across from Dunkin Donuts. The building is a short walk from the Malden Center T stop, and bus routes 99 and 105 also stop nearby. Street parking is available, and there's additional parking at the 101 Ferry St. lot and 219 Centre St. lot in spots marked with a cross.

Food & Essentials

Reviewers describe the food as fresh and high quality. The pantry often carries fresh produce including vegetables and root vegetables, though the selection can vary visit to visit.

How to Pick Up

The Malden Food Mart is a full-choice indoor shopping pantry. You walk through and pick the foods you want for your family, with staff on hand to help. Hours are Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm.

Additional Support

Evening Meals: Hot dinners are served Tuesday through Friday at 54 Eastern Ave. Doors open at 4:00 pm and the meal runs from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. No application or reservation is needed, and anyone from any community is welcome. Reviewers note that seconds and take-home boxes are sometimes available after 5:15 pm.

Grocery Delivery Program: Free grocery delivery is available for Malden and Everett residents who meet one of the following: you're an individual or couple aged 60 or older with a mobility impairment, you're disabled with a mobility impairment and have no household member between the ages of 18 and 59, you were referred by a healthcare provider for a mobility impairment, or you have a COVID diagnosis. Deliveries run Tuesday through Friday, and frequency (weekly, biweekly, or monthly) depends on eligibility and driver availability. To apply, download and mail the application: English, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic.

Food Access Project: During food mart hours (Wednesdays and Fridays, 1 to 4 pm), Bread of Life provides interpreters, interpreting devices, and written materials in multiple languages including Arabic, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Spanish to help non-English speakers access food.

Ways to Give

Financial donations can be made online at the Bread of Life donate page. Donated food and other items can be dropped off at 54 Eastern Avenue, Malden, MA 02148 Monday through Friday. Bread of Life also has an Amazon Wishlist for needed supplies.

How to Join the Team?

Most volunteer roles are drop-in with no advance notice needed. Drop-in hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 12 to 5 pm, Wednesdays from 9:30 am to 5 pm, and Fridays with limited slots from 12 to 5 pm. The minimum age without an adult is 13, and groups of five or more must schedule ahead.

Some roles, including the Evening Meals Program and Backpack Nutrition Program, require scheduling in advance. Fill out the volunteer scheduling form to sign up for those. Read the Volunteer Agreement before your first shift.

Speakers of Arabic, Cantonese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and other languages are especially welcome. No English is required.

For questions, email Volunteer Coordinator Eileen.Mullen@BreadofLifeMalden.org. Bread of Life is closed on all federal holidays.