MEDWAY — The Medway Village Food Pantry announced on December 15th via Facebook that it has submitted plans to relocate to a vacant space at 74 Main Street, a move that would allow the organization to significantly expand its services. If approved, the relocation would better support the pantry’s approximately 20,000 clients who rely on its food assistance programs each year.
Executive Director Susan Dietrich described 2025 as “the hardest year we’ve had,” citing growing demand and operational challenges. The pantry currently shares space with several local organizations, which limits storage capacity and restricts hours of operation for the thousands of residents it serves.
The proposed relocation plans are scheduled to be reviewed at Medway’s Planning and Economic Development Board meeting on January 13. Approval would mark a major milestone for the organization, as it would be the first time in the pantry’s 21-year history that it operates from a fully dedicated facility.
Under the proposed plan, the new location would function in a grocery-store-style format, offering expanded hours and providing clients with 100 percent choice in the foods they select. The move would require a comprehensive interior renovation, with construction expected to continue through summer 2026.
Dietrich said the redesigned space would include several dedicated service areas, including appointment-based client support, an office for SNAP benefit applications, and expanded shopping and storage areas to meet increasing demand.
“It’s the greatest privilege of my life to be a part of the food pantry and to visit to people who see us”, Dietrich said. “The folks walking through our door are your neighbors.”
Pantry operations would continue uninterrupted throughout the construction process. Dietrich also noted plans to collaborate with other Medway-based food assistance organizations within the new facility, with the goal of creating a centralized resource to serve the community more efficiently.
Those interested in volunteering with the Medway Village Food Pantry can learn more by visiting the organization’s website or by emailing [email protected].
