WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester Islamic Center is hoping to help more people through a new food pantry.

They held an inauguration ceremony Tuesday for their "Food Pantry for the Needy." It's run by volunteers and they hope to serve about 500 families a month. Right now, they have boxes of food items used mostly during the month of Ramadan, like flour, rice, tea, oil and chickpeas.

“We have been running it for a couple years, but have now finalized process,” said Muhammad Ramzan, the director of social services at the Worcester Islamic Center. “We thought this is the month of Ramadan, and we wanted to distribute some food items to people who are needy. And Ramadan is the best month to give charity, so we thought this was the best time to get it formally inaugurated."

Anyone in the Greater Worcester area can stop by the food pantry.

The Islamic Center said they've applied for state grants to help fund it and the United Way of Central Massachusetts is also helping with the effort.