Partnership has always been the foundation of The Dimock Center’s work. For over a century, we have understood that caring for our community requires more than dedication—it requires collaboration, shared vision, and neighbors standing together in times of need.
When food insecurity in our community grew, that principle was put to the test, and our partners answered the call. They understood a fundamental truth: food is more than sustenance. It’s medicine. It’s healing. It’s a pathway to recovery and a cornerstone of wellness. Access to nutritious food enables our neighbors to manage chronic conditions, supports recovery from addiction, and makes healing possible. When someone has reliable access to healthy meals, they can focus on healing instead of hunger.
Our partnerships in this vital work run deep.
The Dimock Center’s relationship with the Red Sox Foundation stretches back more than two decades. Through this enduring partnership, we were connected with Takeda, and together, the Red Sox Foundation and Takeda have become powerful allies in supporting our community.
Over the years, their partnership has taken many forms, including volunteer-led luncheons that celebrate Dimock’s patients and staff, collecting essential personal care items for people in need, and assembling meals for those dealing with food insecurity. In 2025, Takeda took their support to the next level with a transformative four-year, $1 million grant. This gift supports Dimock’s food programming and ensures it is integrated across all services. Their combined efforts touch thousands of Dimock community members each year.
Other partners have also been instrumental in our fight against hunger. Stop & Shop continues to power our indoor food pantry with consistent, reliable donations that keep our shelves stocked and our neighbors nourished. And when SNAP benefits were paused this past fall and the need became even more urgent, our partners in wellness, the Boston Athletic Association (BAA), stepped up with a first-of-its-kind donation to ensure no one went without. The Dimock Center is so grateful to work alongside partners who understand that access to healthy, nutritious food is fundamental to healing and uplifting our community. Together, we’re ensuring that every neighbor has the nourishment they need to thrive.
In 2024, 1 in 7 Households in America experienced food insecurity, or lack of access to an affordable, nutritious diet.2
Nourishing the Whole Person: The Healing Power of Food
At Dimock, we understand that true health extends beyond the absence of disease. Research shows that dietary patterns directly influence mood, cognition, stress resilience, and emotional regulation.1 Nutritious food supports not just physical health, but mental, emotional, and social well-being too. Nutrition is a powerful yet often overlooked tool for healing— whether someone is managing chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, recovering from substance use disorder, or supporting a child who is struggling with their mental health.1
Good nutrition provides the energy needed to engage fully in life. It enables our neighbors to show up for their medical appointments, take their medications as prescribed, and participate actively in their own care. Food insecurity itself also creates chronic stress and anxiety, worsening mental health over time.1 This is why The Dimock Center’s food initiatives go hand-in-hand with our comprehensive medical, behavioral, and social support. We’re not only working to relieve symptoms. We’re treating the whole person, addressing root causes, and building lasting wellness from the ground up.
Partnerships That Make a Difference
Partnership takes many forms—from packing meals to breaking bread to building the infrastructure that sustains our community. Throughout 2025, our partners have brought creativity, resources, and heart to the essential work of nourishing our neighbors.
“Our mission is simple. We believe philanthropy, built on a foundation of trust and understanding, can be a catalyst for equity and create meaningful health outcomes in our communities. And this can only be done in partnership with community-based organizations like The Dimock Center.” Chris Barr, Head, U.S. CSR & Philanthropy, Takeda
These gatherings remind us that food is about more than nutrition.
Building Capacity
Beyond special events and healthy meals, our partners are investing in the infrastructure that allows Dimock’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors Food Pantry to serve our community day in and day out.
Thanks to a generous donation from the Red Sox Foundation and Takeda, Dimock’s food pantry will soon have a brand-new industrial freezer. With this expanded capacity, we can now provide meat, frozen vegetables, and other nutritious frozen goods that were previously impossible to store. This means more protein for growing children, more variety for families managing dietary restrictions, and more choices that honor the diverse food traditions of our community.
For older adults and community members with mobility challenges, carrying heavy bags of groceries isn’t just difficult—it’s dangerous. It can mean risking a fall, making multiple exhausting trips, or sacrificing independence to ask for help. Thanks to the Red Sox Foundation’s generous donation of more than 25 grocery carts, our neighbors now have a simple, practical solution. These carts make it easier to shop safely, transport groceries home, and maintain dignity—support that makes a meaningful difference across our community.
The Impact We’re Making Together
The enduring partnership we’ve celebrated here with the Red Sox Foundation and Takeda demonstrates what becomes possible when organizations unite around a shared truth: that nourishment is fundamental to healing, and no one should have to choose between food and health.
This work is supplemented by the ongoing support of partners like Stop & Shop, whose consistent donations keep our neighbors nourished month after month, and the Boston Athletic Association, who stepped up with support during a critical time of need to ensure no one went without. Every meal packed, every luncheon shared, every bag of groceries distributed represents a neighbor who can focus on healing instead of hunger.
In a moment when our neighbors face mounting pressures—rising costs, ongoing health disparities, and barriers to wellbeing—these collaborations matter more than ever. We are thankful for partners who see the urgent need and respond with generosity, creativity, and unwavering commitment. Together, we’re proving that food is medicine, that partnership is power, and that when we invest in nutrition, we invest in our community’s future.
“The generosity of our partners allows us to offer choice, dignity, and consistent support to our community so that no neighbor goes hungry. When someone comes to our food pantry, we can say, ‘We see you, we’re here for you, and you don’t have to face this alone.” Barbara Couzens, Chief Community Engagement Officer, The Dimock Center.
“Our longstanding partnership with The Dimock Center has grown tremendously over the decades. When they recently shared that food insecurity is a barrier to health, we stepped up to the plate because we know organizations like Dimock are essential to building stronger, healthier communities.” Bekah Salwasser, Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Boston Red Sox & Executive Director, Red Sox Foundation
Citations
1. Barker, Madison J., and Monica Kazlausky Esquivel. “Food for Thought: The Role of Nutrition in Behavioral Health.” American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, December 23, 2025, 15598276251408332. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276251408332.
2. Matthew Rabbit, Madeline Reed-Jones, Laura J. Hales, Shellye Suttles, and Michael P. Burke. Household Food Security in the United States in 2024. Economic Research Report No. 358. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, n.d.