Discover How Beverly Bootstraps is Powering Change—One Green Step at a Time

At Beverly Bootstraps, we weave sustainability into everything we do. From composting and recycling to solar energy, we’re committed to positively impacting our community and the environment.

Food Assistance is one of Beverly Bootstraps’ core services, ensuring that our neighbors have well-stocked pantries at home. With food constantly moving in and out of our building, we design our partnerships and processes with sustainability in mind. Our collaboration with Boston Area Gleaners supports this mission by providing fresh produce weekly in the summer and fall. Harvesting surplus food from local farms reduces food waste while supporting food-insecure families, bridging the gap by donating gleaned produce to local pantries like ours.

We work with local grocery stores and Green Beverly to redirect surplus food to our Food Pantry, turning excess into nourishment through our Food Rescue Program. To further minimize waste, our partnership with Black Earth Compost ensures that food scraps in our building are transformed into nutrient-rich compost, enriching the soil and promoting healthier ecosystems while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainability also extends to the products we provide. From 2022 to 2025, we partnered with Earth Breeze to offer our Food Pantry clients eco-friendly laundry sheets—an alternative to bulky plastic detergent bottles. Though the partnership has ended, our commitment to providing sustainable options remains. In our Food Pantry and Thrift Shop, we use reusable and brown paper bags to cut down on plastic waste.

The Thrift Shop itself is a testament to sustainable living. 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 sales go directly back into Beverly Bootstraps’ vital programs and services, ensuring support for community members who need it most.

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 a resource for good.

Every step toward sustainability strengthens both our community and the environment. Through mindful partnerships and practices, Beverly Bootstraps reduces waste, conserves resources, and creates lasting benefits for the people we serve.