Serving Hands Food Distribution will be open during the summer at the First Baptist Church parish house in Vineyard Haven.

Serving Hands is supplied by the Greater Boston Food Bank, and they receive food once a month from Boston. Serving Hands has food pantry staples including cereal, rice and canned goods, and also distributes fresh produce and fresh or frozen meat and dairy products. This summer there will be lots of fresh local produce from Island Grown Gleaners and Whippoorwill CSA shares.

To qualify for receiving food from Serving Hands, you must meet government guidelines; those receiving SNAP (food stamps) or fuel assistance automatically qualify. To check income guidelines visit hungercommittee.org.

On Friday, June 26 at 1:30 p.m. people will be able to pick up fresh groceries, sign up for an Island Club Card and begin an application for food stamps. Stop by with questions and the staff will help you out.

Beginning July 10 fresh local produce will be available every Friday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. through the farm project from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School.