History

Beverly Bootstraps was first established in 1992 as a Food Pantry in the basement of the First Baptist Church. With the generous support of our donors, volunteers and the community at large, we have grown to be a leading social service agency on the North Shore. We are unique in our approach to the issues of hunger. While recognizing that people need food in hand to stem immediate hunger, our clients also need the opportunity to be embraced by the community, educated about the resources available and empowered to improve their own lives. As we continue to grow, our commitment to the community remains the same: to provide critical resources to families and individuals so that they may achieve self-sufficiency. We accomplish this while maintaining our commitment to fiscal responsibility and serving as trusted stewards of the organization.

Jan

1992

Established in 1992.

In response to the needs of our community, the parishioners at First Baptist Church started a small food pantry.

Jan

1995

A community outreach program was started to address the root causes of hunger and assist clients in achieving self-sufficiency.

Jan

2000

Our Adopt-A-Family holiday program (now called Winter Wishes Holiday Gifts) was started to help provide gifts to low-income children. Since then, this program has grown tremendously and provides gifts to over 700 children annually.

Jan

2001

We began to provide low-income children with the school supplies needed to start the school year. The Back-To-School Backpack program is now an annual event in which donors help local children in need.

Jan

2003

The Thrift Shop was opened to offer affordable clothing and goods to clients and residents.

Jan

2006

Offices and Services moved to 371 Cabot Street, where all programs could be managed from one location and the Thrift Shop moved to 198 Rantoul Street.

Jan

2007

The Board of Directors officially voted to offer services to both Beverly and Manchester residents.

Jan

2009

As need grew during and after The Great Recession, the number of clients served through our programs tripled.

Jan

2011

The Board of Directors voted in a strategic plan identifying the need for a new facility.

Jan

2016

Offices and Services were relocated to 35 Park Street after the new building was purchased and renovated and the Thrift Shop fully expanded.

Jan

2017

Beverly Bootstraps celebrates 25 years of providing critical resources to families and individuals so they may achieve self-sufficiency.

Jan

2018

Beverly Bootstraps began a collaboration with Acord Food Pantry to provide on-site Case Management to the residents of Essex, Hamilton, Wenham, Ipswich and Topsfield.

Jan

2021