Robyn Burns leads The Salem Pantry, a food access nonprofit that has served Salem and the North Shore for more than 30 years. She joined in March 2020, when the organization had one staffer. Today the team is nearing 20, working out of a new 26,000-square-foot facility on Highland Ave in Salem.
In this episode of The PR Bunker Podcast, Robyn talks about reimagining what a pantry can be, why the holidays are only the start of the conversation, and how local businesses, volunteers and donors keep the work going all year.
A few takeaways from the conversation:
Robyn graduated with a film studies degree and took a job on an organic farm the month after. That started a 25-year path through rural and urban farms, farmers markets and CSAs, food rescue and donation programs, and experiential education that connects young people to food and nature.
Most people picture a pantry as a grab-and-go box of cereal, rice and pasta. The Salem Pantry distributes those, plus fresh produce, eggs, dairy, frozen proteins and vegetarian options. It works closely with the Greater Boston Food Bank and with local farms in Beverly, Lynn and Peabody, with a focus on food that is nourishing, local when possible and culturally aligned with the communities it serves.
The week before Thanksgiving is the pantry's busiest of the year, with thousands of turkeys and whole chickens going out. Robyn uses that attention to remind guests, volunteers, donors and corporate partners that food insecurity is a year-round issue.
Services never pause during Halloween in Salem. The pantry also leans into the crowds with its October Club, close to 40 local businesses that each run their own twist on a fundraiser, from a share of an appetizer sale to a one-dollar lollipop at the register.
Robyn's advice for anyone considering a mission-driven career is simple: find work you think is interesting and start volunteering. She also learned that a nonprofit has to be run as tightly as any business, so interns at The Salem Pantry spend time with the grants, budget and marketing teams to see the full picture.
To donate, volunteer or partner with The Salem Pantry, visit thesalempantry.org.
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What does The Salem Pantry do?
The Salem Pantry provides free food through its market, a mobile pantry that sets up across Salem and surrounding communities, and food recovery partnerships. It focuses on fresh, nourishing and culturally aligned food.
How can people support The Salem Pantry?
As a donor, sponsor, corporate partner or volunteer, including through the More Than a Meal campaign, which runs through 2028. Families, corporate groups, church groups and school groups all volunteer.
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