For Susan Downs-Cripps, the Anchor Food Pantry ensures people receive the help they need.

“It’s so amazing that we’re able to help people,” Downs-Cripps said. “It’s just a wonderful experience to know that we’re helping so many people.”

Downs-Cripps has served as president of the nonprofit for about two months, succeeding Laura Spathanas, who led the Anchor Food Pantry for five years.

The pantry began forming in February 2020, with a board in place and plans to open that summer. Less than a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything.

Downs-Cripps started volunteering practically when the food pantry opened, which originally was at the Senior Center. 

“I wore my mask, and we were wearing gloves too, and we had our hand sanitizer,” Downs-Cripps said. “I came every Monday, and it evolved, and I was asked if I’d like to be on the board.”

Now, almost six years later, Anchor Food Pantry supports the Swampscott and Nahant communities through a wide range of efforts, from providing food at the pantry and its garden to back-to-school backpack drives, Thanksgiving meals and warm winter bag distributions. 

“It’s very exciting to be able to do something that really benefits Swampscott’s and Nahant’s community,” Downs-Cripps said. “I think that’s one of the most important things.”

The organization receives 4,700 pounds of food each month in addition to donated items, Downs-Cripps said. Shelves are filled with protein options, dairy alternatives, condiment staples, personal hygiene items and meal makers. Residents can “shop” the room and select items based on their needs and preferences.

“We’re a supplement,” Downs-Cripps said, adding that some residents that come in share that they “never thought they’d need this” but that’s the reason Anchor Food Pantry exists.

More than one in three households in Massachusetts experienced food insecurity in 2024, according to Project Bread. That equates to around 2 million adults affected by food insecurity at some point within the year.  Black and Hispanic households have faced the highest rates of food insecurity in the state, at 46% and 62% respectively. Since 2019, rates among Asian and White households have doubled.

Statewide food insecurity has climbed steadily, from 19% in 2019 to 37% in 2024.

Project Bread notes that living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level strongly predicts food insecurity. In Swampscott, the poverty rate rose to 7% in 2023, a 4.7% increase in just one year, according to Data USA.

“Unfortunately, it’s such a needed service,” Downs-Cripps said. “We see our visitors increase each month, which is sad. But we’re here to help them. We’d like to put ourselves out of business, but I don’t see that in the foreseeable future.”

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture froze payments to the nation’s largest food aid program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), on November 1, Anchor Food Pantry jumped into action for its community.

Yet the effects were still felt. Most SNAP recipients have incomes below the poverty line, roughly $32,000 for a family of four. Most participants are families with children, and more than one in three include older adults or someone with a disability. Nearly two in five recipients are households with someone employed. 

Looking forward, Downs-Cripps said she wants to make some minor changes, particularly around the office space and organizational aspects. 

Downs-Cripps said volunteer staff members at the Anchor Food Pantry “get paid in thank yous.”

“It’s nice because you develop friendships with the people who come, and we know what their preferences are for certain things,” Downs-Cripps said. “We’re rewarded by the thank yous and the fun that we experience by being here.”

Anchor Food Pantry is open Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday 5 to 7 p.m., as of February 25.