Press Release  Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance Names The Open Door Its 2025 Lauren Arms Ledwith Award Winner

Gloucester — Today, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) was pleased to announce Gloucester-based nonprofit The Open Door as its 2025 Lauren Arms Ledwith Award Winner.

DTA’s Lauren Arms Ledwith Award annually recognizes one community organization that demonstrates an unyielding commitment to driving meaningful change by addressing the causes of hunger and engaging with groups within their communities through their work as a SNAP outreach partner.

"For more than 40 years, The Open Door has been an unwavering partner in the fight against food insecurity, demonstrating not only an extraordinary commitment to addressing hunger but also an innovative approach to supporting individuals and families in Essex County,” said DTA Commissioner Jeff McCue. “SNAP is the Commonwealth’s frontline defense against hunger, and its full impact wouldn’t be reached without the dedication of partners like The Open Door. Their dedication to the health and well-being of their community, especially through programs like the medically tailored grocery initiative, exemplifies the values that Lauren Arms Ledwith championed throughout her career. We are proud to honor them with this award, as their work truly embodies the spirit of advocacy, compassion, and service that continues to inspire us all."

The Lauren Arms Ledwith Award was established in 2018 in remembrance of former SNAP Director Lauren Arms Ledwith. Lauren founded the SNAP Outreach reimbursement project in Massachusetts, which provides funding to partner organizations who support DTA’s work in helping connect families living in poverty with the assistance they need. This award was created in Lauren’s honor to recognize outreach partners. This award and its recipients reflect Lauren’s passion for advocacy work and her dedication to creating partnerships to address food insecurity.

This marks the seventh year that DTA has honored one of its more than 100 SNAP Outreach Partners with this distinction.

“Since its inception, The Open Door has been a nimble and responsive organization that works to understand the food security needs of the community and respond to those needs in resourceful and innovative ways,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester). “Not only does The Open Door lead local efforts to combat food insecurity, it also builds resilience and strength for our entire region by maximizing opportunities for partnership and collaboration.”

The Open Door has been helping fight food insecurity for more than four decades.  When Cape Ann was cut off during the blizzard of 1978, The Open Door helped 40 families access food.  Now, they operate two food pantries (in Gloucester and Ipswich), a mobile market, curbside meal pick-up, a medically tailored grocery program, and a thrift store that helps fund their work. Their medically tailored groceries program serves as a role model for other food pantries, healthcare providers, employers, or health insurance plans to help adults with, or at risk of, chronic illness and struggling with food insecurity to better manage their health with good food. Last year they distributed more than 2.35 million pounds of food.

"We are extremely fortunate to have such strong support services for residents in need on Cape Ann, and The Open Door is at the heart of that network,” said Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester).  “Their dedicated staff and volunteers work tirelessly to fight hunger and connect families with critical resources like SNAP, making a real difference in people's lives every day. This award is a well-deserved recognition of their leadership, compassion, and deep commitment to the community."

The Open Door became a DTA SNAP Outreach Partner in October 2013. They serve 11 cities and towns in Essex County.

“The Open Door is honored to accept this award and deeply thankful for its partnership with DTA,” said The Open Door Director of Advocacy and Development Sarah Grow. “SNAP is a critical resource for local people who need help getting food, now more than ever, considering the high cost of living today. Our team works diligently to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community, and SNAP is a core pillar of our local safety net.” 

In 2024, The Open Door:

• Assisted with 300 SNAP web applications, 149 case maintenance assistance,120 recertifications, and 44 interim reports, totaling more than 600 client engagements
• Distributed 2.35 million pounds of food
• Helped feed 11,893 people

Lauren Arms Ledwith Awardees

2018: The first Lauren Arms Ledwith Award was presented to Donna Popkin from the Massachusetts Councils on Aging for her dedication to supporting DTA’s SNAP outreach efforts to older adults in the state.

2019: Project Bread received the award for their FoodSource Hotline and larger food security efforts across the state.

2020: No award was presented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: Janice Johnson-Plumer of Brockton Public Schools received the award for her work helping families in Brockton access Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits.

2022: The award was presented to several agencies supporting refugees and immigrants: International Institute of New England, Catholic Charitable Bureau of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Worcester.

2023: The award was presented to The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, one of our first SNAP Outreach Partners.

2024: The award was presented to Quincy Community Action in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the reimbursement project and great work in the Quincy community.

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