At Beverly Bootstraps, sustainability is woven into everything we do. From composting and recycling to harnessing solar energy, we are committed to positively impacting both our community and the environment.
Food Assistance is one of our core services, ensuring that our neighbors have access to nutritious food at home. With food constantly moving in and out of our building, we design our processes and partnerships with sustainability in mind. Our collaboration with Boston Area Gleaners brings fresh, locally harvested produce to our pantry each week during the summer and fall. By rescuing surplus crops from local farms, we help reduce food waste while increasing access to nutritious food for families facing food insecurity.
Through partnerships with local grocery stores and Green Beverly, our Food Rescue Program redirects surplus food to our Food Pantry, turning excess into nourishment. To further minimize waste, our partnership with Black Earth Compost ensures that food scraps from our building are transformed into nutrient-rich compost that enriches the soil, promotes healthier ecosystems, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Sustainability also extends to the products we provide. From 2022 to 2025, we partnered with Earth Breeze to offer eco-friendly laundry sheets to our Food Pantry clients as an alternative to bulky plastic detergent bottles. While that partnership has concluded, a generous private donor now enables us to continue providing laundry sheets in place of plastic bottles. Our commitment to providing sustainable options remains strong. In our Food Pantry and Thrift Shop, we prioritize using reusable and brown paper bags to reduce plastic waste.
Our Thrift Shop is itself a powerful example of sustainability in action. Donations of pre-loved items find new homes instead of ending up in landfills, reducing waste, conserving resources, and lowering our collective carbon footprint. Giving these items a second life helps protect the environment and strengthens our community. Proceeds from every purchase directly support Beverly Bootstraps’ vital programs, creating a cycle of impact that benefits both people and the planet.
In 2026, the Thrift Shop is focusing on three sustainability goals:
- Ensure 100% of items donated to the Thrift Shop are either sold, recycled, or re-donated
- To continue partnering with local businesses to advance sustainability goals
- Prioritizing practices that reduce our carbon footprint
Our building reflects this commitment as well. In 2021, through a partnership with Resonant Energy and Rise Up Solar, we installed over 100 solar panels on our rooftop. With no up-front investment required, this collaboration helps us save on electricity costs while transforming unused roof space into clean, renewable energy.
Every step toward sustainability strengthens both our community and the environment. Through mindful partnerships and responsible practices, Beverly Bootstraps reduces waste, conserves resources, and creates lasting benefits for the community we serve.
