Project Just Because

An unassuming name, a location in Hopkinton—and the caring demeanor of founder and CEO Cherylann Lambert Walsh started Project Just Because (PJB) from humble beginnings.

Launched from Walsh’s basement three decades ago, PJB today serves 810 families per week. “When families come to our pantry, it’s not just a visit,” Walsh explains, “We are meeting a very real, basic necessity.”

The basement quickly proved too small to meet the growing need, as did their next site. Now in their new ‘forever home’—PJB applied a $35,000 Community Investment Grant from GBFB to install a new rack system and forklift. It increased their vertical storage capacity, enabling them to accept more food—between 20–30 pallets per week thanks to the wonderful racking system that the GBFB grant helped to fund. In turn, expanding food choices and providing more nutritious and culturally relevant food.

“It’s a team effort to feed our communities.” – Cherylann

“We provide a dignified, shopping experience,” she says. “They come in, grab a grocery cart and shop for what they need. When a family comes here, they may also pick up snacks. That’s important, too. When that child goes to school and the teacher says, ‘It’s snack time,’ they can participate, and belong.”

“The investment [grant] by GBFB and the resources they regularly share…is a gift,” Walsh explains. “It’s a team effort to feed our communities.”

Learn more about GBFB’s Community Investment Grants