ABOUT
Mission and History
A Place To Turn provides healthy food choices, diapers, and personal care items to MetroWest residents. We are committed to addressing hunger by serving with dignity, equity, and empathy.
A Place To Turn has been serving the community since 1979. What began as a small neighborhood pantry, has grown and evolved to meet changing community needs. We will continue to work with our community until every family has enough healthy food to eat every day of the year.
Towns that A Place To Turn currently serves:
Ashland, Dover, Framingham, Marlborough, Medfield, Natick, Sherborn, Southborough, Sudbury, Wayland, Wellesley, and Weston.
Board of Directors
David Haviland, President
Mark Chistolini, Treasurer
Lauren Burkley, Secretary
Jennifer Carabba, Board Member
Jason Crawford, Board Member
Jay Crocker, Board Member
Anna Cross, Board Member
Brad Ozerdem, Board Member
Doreen Thompson, Board Member
Meet the Team
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Rebecca Gallo
Executive Director
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Sharon Buenaventura
Director of Finance and Operations
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Zeneida Rodriguez
Purchasing Manager
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Yiraika Vega
Food Pantry and Operations Coordinator
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Fern Arroyo
Food Pantry and Marketing Coordinator
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Haley Jeansonne
Community Food Program Coordinator
Welcome Message from Rebecca Gallo
A Place To Turn Executive Director
The birds are chirping, the flowers are coming up, and the sun is a little warmer. We are getting ready to cheer on Kayleigh as she runs the Boston Marathon to support APTT, and the Red Sox are playing at Fenway again. Spring always feels like a time for optimism. This is the year my garden will yield beautiful heads of broccoli and tomato plants overflowing with fruit. This is the year the Red Sox will win it all. And this is the year we will get a refrigerated truck at the pantry. The last one is more than optimism. Thanks to a very generous donor, our truck is ordered will be here by the end of spring!
The truck helps to grow our Community Food Program. With it we will hold more mobile markets, deliver more groceries to partner agencies and pick up more donations. As I think about the possibilities ahead, I keep coming back to the people who make it happen – our staff, volunteers and donors. This particular program exists because our friends and partners at so many other community agencies are willing to work together to build a community where we take care of each other. One where everyone has enough healthy food to eat; a roof over their heads; good, safe schools to attend; and feels connected to their neighbors. A community where we can all live our best lives.
It is these partnerships, relationships and connections that give me optimism even in the face of the challenges in front of us. Despite, or maybe because of, these challenges, I am constantly reminded of what a unique and caring community we have all built. It will not be easy, but if we can all continue to come together and do what we can for each other, I know we’ll grow stronger and more connected.
As we look forward to the warm weather, outdoor mobile markets and a new truck, I am energized for the season ahead. I am also very aware that the challenges are real, as are the negative consequences of the current economic and political situation for too many of our neighbors. We, at A Place To Turn, are ready to work with our community to do all we can to make sure everyone has the healthy food they need to meet the challenges and the joys ahead.
It will take all of us doing what we can. I invite you to join us to help feed our neighbors and to build the community we all want for ourselves and our children.
Rebecca Gallo
Our Neighbors Say…
“A Place to Turn deals with a diverse group of people and the food they provide is priceless. The staff is pleasant and they provide a great service. They make sure the family is fed.“
“Without A Place To Turn there would have been many times when I would not have had enough money to feed my children. I struggle every day, but knowing there are supportive, caring people I can come to gives me hope to go on.“
