THE OPEN DOOR

The Open Door began in 1978 as an emergency food resource for families and individuals on Cape Ann. It has built its programs and service commitment to Gloucester and the greater community with a mission to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. We use practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in need, and to engage others in the work of building food security. The Cape Ann Food Pantry was organized in August of 1978 first as Cape Ann Food Bank. The outreach committee of the First Congregational Church of Rockport initiated this effort, and it was sponsored by the Cape Ann Interfaith Commission, Action Inc., and Cape Ann Project for Elderly and Handicapped with Reverend Forrest Clark as the coordinator. The Open Door, A Place of Hospitality, Inc. was organized in the autumn of 1983 through the initiation of Wellspring House, a community of faith, after it became evident that there was an unmet need for prepared meals and companionship in our community. The meals were implemented through the cooperation of the faith community, human service agencies and community volunteers. The Open Door began operation and later merged with The Cape Ann Food Pantry in 1986 to become The Open Door/Cape Ann Food Pantry, Inc. Since that time our continuing goal is to deepen our programs to provide low-income households with consistent access to adequate nutritional resources in a socially acceptable environment. >>>Growth Story In May 2009, with the help of Mullen Advertising, the organization shortened its name to The Open Door with the tagline "Feeding people. Changing lives."..