What is the Phoenix Food Hub?

The Phoenix Food Hub is a collaborative project spearheaded by Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS) as part of the Lynn Food Policy Council. It involves many organizations across the region and brings together as many nutrition-related supports as possible. The Phoenix Food Hub serves people of all ages with nutrition needs in and around the Lynn area. The Phoenix Food Hub is a one-stop shop where individuals and families at risk of nutrition insufficiency can access a variety of resources to help them better manage their overall health and well-being.

This innovative Food Hub model is designed to address both the immediate needs that might bring people into the food pantry part of the Hub, for example, and providing them, while they are on-site, with a range of other nutrition and related services which may be required to truly eliminate nutrition deficiencies.

How did the idea for the Phoenix Food Hub come about?

There were really two currents intersecting in ways that made a Food Hub for Lynn seem like an excellent solution to a critical community need. First, GLSS has always been aware of food insecurity needs relative to its own consumers and has operated Meals on Wheels and congregate meal sites throughout its catchment area for many years. The pandemic, of course, intensely exacerbated this issue. Discussions with the Lynn Food Policy Council (formerly known as the Lynn Food Security Task Force) made clear that together—as many organizations collaborating—we could strengthen our capacities to effectively reach more at-risk individuals and deliver more comprehensive nutrition supports.

At the same time, GLSS was considering how it was going to repurpose the very large first floor space in its 8 Silsbee Street office that had previously housed the Lynn Senior Center. Using that space to support a different kind of Center—one that focused on the nutrition needs of all Lynn residents—resonated as an excellent solution both within GLSS as well as with the Lynn Food Policy Council. Having a space large enough to provide food distribution; screening, education and counseling; other vital nutrition supports; as well as wrap-around services—all delivered as a result of great partnering across multiple organizations—is an exciting solution to a hugely important problem.