The FreeBee Market in Boxborough shares free food rescued from local supermarkets, farms, food pantries, and the Boston Area Gleaners. While monthly Community Markets have a broader focus on shared items, resources and fun, Food Rescue FreeBee Markets focus on just produce and food. The FreeBee Market is held on the side lawn of the UCC Church in Boxborough, 30 Middle Road, every Saturday from May through October, from 10:30 a.m. -12 noon. The FreeBee Network and Market was formed in the wake of the pandemic and a large local apartment fire. These experiences emphasized the importance of a central, volunteer-driven team to connect neighbors with food, resources, and services. Although it is located in Boxborough, the market pulls volunteers and guests from Acton and surrounding communities.
Summer’s second FreeBee Community Market on July 27 showcased a lawn full of community sharing along with the weekly food rescue. All the free rescued food was re-homed in short order. The market also continued a pilot program of boxes with “pre-selected items” offered as an alternative for standing in line.
July’s Community Market included thrifted clothing and free crafts as well as a record number of information tables. A Friend in Need hosted one table, and Nashoba Nursing offered tick prevention tools. Boxborough News, the League of Women Voters, and the Boxborough Democratic Committee lined the road, while the Peacemakers Network shared the corner with Jim the Old Coot giving advice under his shade tent. Pam Collins and Eileen Barnett were busy filling vases and bouquets of gifted flowers and greens, with big smiles all around. The UCC church had children building with Legos with the sustainability group, and well-being information nearby. The Boxborough Minutemen shared free t-shirts left over from Fifer’s Day as children jumped happily in the bouncy house.
Food Rescue Saturdays continue every week with larger Community Markets on August 17, Sept 7 and October 19. The August 17 market will feature the information tables, the return of “Make Your Own Bouquet,” and a school supplies table. FreeBee will be collecting extra notebooks, binders, pens/pencils, lined paper, markets, etc. that can be dropped off at any August market, put in collection tubs at the UCC church anytime, and left at other sites around Acton. September 7 will have a harvest theme with music and a petting zoo while October’s market will have a Halloween costume exchange and toy drive. To volunteer or find out more about sharing a table, contact freebeecommunity@gmail.com. For more information, see the Boxborough FreeBee Market or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
Mary Pavlik has been a Boxborough resident for over forty years. She is a retired Blanchard School primary teacher, chair of the Well-Being Committee in Boxborough, and one of the founding members of FreeBee market.