Centre Street Food Pantry Celebrates 15th Anniversary With Community Event At Papa Razzi in Wellesley

Staff, Volunteers, Supporters And Community Partners Join Together To Mark 15 Years Of Bringing Food Relief To Region

Newton, MA – March 31, 2026 – Centre Street Food Pantry, a nonprofit regional food relief agency that serves residents of Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown and Wellesley, commemorated its 15th anniversary with an evening about “Kindness in Action: Celebrating 15 Years of Impact” on Thursday, March 19 at Papa Razzi in Wellesley.  Newport Restaurant Group, an ongoing valued supporter of Centre Street, generously hosted the evening with food and beverage choices from the culinary talent at Papa Razzi and Bar ‘Cino kitchens.

The room was full with approximately 125 supporters, staff, volunteers and community partners who took this opportunity to meet and exchange stories at Centre Street’s first “in person” event.  It was a convivial gathering that highlighted the organization’s growth from a modest one-room operation to an efficient, effective agency with regional impact.

“Centre Street’s story illustrates the power of kindness in action, “ said Rose Saia, Executive Director. “We began due to the good intentions of a handful of people and are now sustained by an expansive group of volunteers, community partners and donors as one of the largest food relief distribution agencies in Eastern Massachusetts.”

Centre Street opened in 2011 and provided food to one dozen households per month. Growth was steady with Centre Street serving approximately 300 households per month by the end of 2019. In 2020, when the pandemic shut down many pantries, Centre Street pivoted to an outdoor, curbside pickup model, which resulted in doubling the number of households served in just two months. By the end of  2025, Centre Street was serving an average of 1,100 households every month.

Guests were delighted to witness the debut of a video that explored the history and evolution of the pantry, with candid vignettes from volunteers and staff, created by Current Frame Productions.

A highlight of the evening was Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy’s presentation of an Official Proclamation extending “congratulations and best wishes” to Centre Street “in recognition of 15 Years serving six Greater Boston Communities” and for its “continued contribution to the Waltham community.” Community partners present included Trinity Parish, The Greater Boston Food Bank, Spoonfuls, Three Squares New England, Hope and Comfort, Catholic Charities, Church of the Redeemer, Family Access, M&T Bank, and the Lasell University Empty Bowls Club. 

“The Greater Boston Food Bank would like to thank and congratulate Centre Street Food Pantry for 15 years of empowering our neighbors with access to nutritious food,” said Michele Fronk Schuckel, Vice President of the Takeda Center for Community Health and Nutrition at The Greater Boston Food Bank. “We are impressed and inspired by the work of the Centre Street team, coming together to care for our most vulnerable residents in the six communities it serves. Centre Street is a vital part of the food bank's network of 600 food distribution partners that work every day to respond to a hunger crisis that affects more than 1 in 3 households in Massachusetts.”

During the event Taylor Lies, President of Centre Street’s Board of Directors, provided a peek into Centre Street’s plans for the future. “We have plans to grow, because the need for food for families living among us has grown,” said Mr. Lies. “Our vision is that one day we will no longer be needed. Until then, we remain committed to our mission and will explore ways to bring healthy, nutritious food to all who need it.”

Centre Street is looking for additional space to store and distribute food to residents in the communities it serves and once again is relying on the community to help materialize its plan for growth. “We’re willing to explore locations and program models that may be in partnership with other organizations or require us to obtain additional funding,” said Ms. Saia. “We know we’re surrounded by kind people who don’t want anyone to go hungry and are deeply grateful for their support.”

In addition to hosting the event, Newport Restaurant Group’s annual gift card promotion has yielded more than $20,000 in donations to the Centre Street Food Pantry over the last three years.

“It is an honor to be a partner of the Centre Street Food Pantry,” said Gary Morrison, Regional Manager, Newport Restaurant Group. “There is something incredibly powerful about neighbors helping neighbors and the community sharing a common belief that no one should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. That Centre Street can bring us all together to support their mission is a testament to the value of their work.”

About Newport Restaurant Group

Newport Restaurant Group’s award-winning portfolio of restaurants include Castle Hill Inn, The Mooring, 22 Bowen’s, Bar ‘Cino, La Vecina, and Smoke House all located in Newport; J.T. Commons in Middletown; Celeste in Narragansett; the Boat House in Tiverton; Waterman Grille and Hemenway’s, both located in Providence; Avvio Ristorante located at Garden City Center in Cranston; Iron Works in Warwick; Papa Razzi in Wellesley, MA; and Bar ‘Cino in Brookline, Watertown, and Westwood, MA. 

Newport Restaurant Group’s mission is to provide the highest quality culinary experience in unique, service-oriented atmospheres and to create each menu with a creative, thoughtful, and responsible approach. Newport Restaurant Group is proudly 100% employee owned. For more information, please visit www.newportrestaurantgroup.com.   

About Centre Street Food Pantry

Centre Street Food Pantry’s mission is to provide our communities with consistent and inclusive access to healthy food, with dignity and kindness. The nonprofit regional food relief agency is open weekly to assist residents of Brookline, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Watertown and Wellesley. Centre Street consistently provides a variety of fresh food and essential items to all who visit and has created special programs designed to meet the needs of senior citizens and children. For more information about these programs and others, as well as current initiatives, fundraising needs and news, please visit www.centrestfoodpantry.org or follow us on Instagram or Facebook. 

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MEDIA CONTACT

Dan Foley
Centre Street Food Pantry
d.foley@centrestfoodpantry.org
508-272-0017 mobile