A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida distribute groceries to individuals or families who are in some form of an emergency situation.
There are also meals, free bags of food, personal toiletries and household goods for low to moderate income families from food pantries near you.
Distribution centers can include churches, non-profit organizations, community action agencies, and many other local charities as well as non-profits.
Salvation Army Food Pantry
The Salvation Army is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity.
The Salvation Army operates free local food banks around Fort Lauderdale, Florida from almost all of their local social service centers. The charity organization is involved in feeding millions of families each year, with a large percentage of those assisted being children as well as the elderly.
We have located 2 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Services provided :
- Camping Activities
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Day Camp Activities
- Men's Ministries
- Music & Arts Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Senior Citizen Clubs
- Visitation Services
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Children's / Teen
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
- Worship Services - Young Adult
- Worship Services - Youth Ministries
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (239) 278-1551 to book your appointment.
Address :
100 SW 9th Ave,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Broward
The Salvation Army - Fort Lauderdale, FL Area Command
Services provided :
- Casework Services
- Disaster Services
- Domestic Violence Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Emergency Shelter
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Group Work Services
- Maternity Services
- Seasonal Services
- Transitional Housing
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (954) 524-6991 to book your appointment.
Address :
1445 W Broward Blvd,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Broward
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Fort Lauderdale, Florida have food pantries for those in their neighborhoods who are in need of food items.
Churches operate with food donations gathered and deliver to the food pantry nearest you by individuals using food drives.
Some churches also deliver food items to elderly who are unable to drive to a nearest community food pantry. Please contact your local church directly.
We have located 1 Church Food Pantry locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Living Water Community Church
The Oasis Food Ministry exists to dispense hope and food to the needy in our community. The food pantry has provided more than 3000 families per year with the basic necessities required by all human beings.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (954) 583-9283 to book your appointment.
Address :
1501 Riverland Rd,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 02:00 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 02:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 02:00 PM
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 02:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Fort Lauderdale
Catholic Charities Food Pantry
Resources provided by the Catholic Charity organization focus on addressing food, holiday, and immigration needs.
Families of all religions, backgrounds, and cultures can contact Catholic Charity centers for help.
Catholic Charities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida are open to families on a first-come, first-serve basis. The centers operate during normal business hours, and provide walk-ins with groceries, food boxes, and items to prepare a meal.
The food pantries are like grocery stores, allow clients the ability to choose the items they need from the groceries that are available on site.
First-time clients of the food pantry will need to apply, and this is done from a one-page application. An applicant will need to provide basic household member as well as demographic information.
We have located 0 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Fort Lauderdale, Florida almost entirely by volunteers.
It provides a 7-day supply of groceries and personal care items free of charge to people in need, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Helping Hands is supported entirely by donations from individuals, service organizations, churches, and businesses in our community.
Find a local helping hands food pantry open near you.
We have located 0 Helping Hand Food Pantry locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Mobile Food Pantry
The mobile food pantry program distributes food directly to families in communities around Fort Lauderdale, Florida in need during large-scale one-day distributions.
A typical mobile pantry serves 200-250 families distributing up to 10,000 pounds of food. This past year over 6.6 million pounds were distributed through this program.
Mobile food pantries usually visit churches, community centers, schools, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. They usually go to areas where there aren't grocery stores or other food pantries.
Mobile Food Pantry Schedule 2024
Unlike traditional food pantries where you go to them, mobile pantry trucks come to you. Food banks sometimes have an online mobile food pantry schedule.
Mobile food pantry scheduled to visit a community once a week or once a month. There may be last-minute cancellations or changes so recheck the mobile food pantry schedule before you plan to go.
We have located 0 Mobile Food Pantry locations in Fort Lauderdale, Model.Content.StateName which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry operates around Fort Lauderdale, Florida much like a grocery store where people in need can choose their own food. It helps to enhance their personal dignity and reduces waste due to unwanted food items.
It also helps them to be proactive in addressing any underlying health issues. This is our model of choice for food pantries in the future.
We have located 0 St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Food Pantry Delivery Program
Food Pantry Delivery Program delivers food and other products once a month at twenty points in around Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. This makes it just a bit easier for some of more remote rural agencies to receive their products. About 70% of members take advantage of the Food Pantry Delivery Program.
Food Pantry
We have located 3 Food Pantry locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Pantry of Broward
The Pantry of Broward is a “one-stop shop” for seniors (ages 60+) struggling to live on low fixed incomes and grandparents raising their grandchildren.
Nutritional Food Monthly provides clients with a 55-pound box of nutritional food, including fresh fruits and vegetables and breads. According to USDA calculations, this food is enough to prepare at least 46 meals each month — more than half of the 90 recommended meals per month for each client. To further provide hunger assistance, The Pantry serves as a community partner for the Department of Children and Families and can assist qualified clients with applying for food stamp benefits.
The Pantry of Broward is located just west of Andrews Avenue and just north of Sistrunk Boulevard (N.W. 6th Street) near downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Services provided :
- emergency food
- food pantry
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (954) 358-1481ext to book your appointment.
Address :
610 NW 3rd Ave,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM EST
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM EST
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM EST
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Broward
Mount Bethel Human Services Corporation Inc
The goal of the Family Resource Center is to provide a service to those eligible clients in the community that lack transportation to travel outside of this area to receive the same service.
The Family Resource Center provide neighborhood based support services that include but are not limited to
-Case Management
-Information and Referral
-Housing Referrals
-Homelessness
-Clothing Assistance
For residents considered to be “in crisis” with priority given to those residing in the Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area boundary.
For assistance, please call: (954) 768-0920 or fax to: (954) 768-0964.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- childcare
- navigating the system
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (954) 768-0920 to book your appointment.
Address :
1004 NW 1st St,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Broward
Broward County Public Schools - Lauderdale Manors Early Learning & Family Resource Center
Broward County Public Schools' Family Resource Center provides comprehensive resources for families in Broward County. The Family Resource Center is available to families within the community, regardless of whether they are involved in anyway with the Broward County Public School System.
Services include:
- Food Pantry
- Clothing Bank
- Family Supports
- Immunizations and Physicals
All services are available by appointment, please contact us to set up an appointment to receive assistance.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
- checkup & test
- vaccinations
- support network
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (754) 322-6650 to book your appointment.
Address :
1400 NW 14th Ct,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Tues: 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Wed: 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Fri: 07:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Broward
Drive-thru Food Pantries
Since the start of the coronavirus, drive-thru food pantries have become the safest, most efficient way to provide food to our struggling neighbors.
Who can visit a drive-thru pantry?
Drive-thru pantries are open for anyone who needs help getting food. There are no eligibility criteria. Visitors do not need to provide any identification or income statements.
Only two piece of information is asked
- You Zipcode, and
- Number of people in their family.
You dont need to take appointment. Drive-thru pantries are first-come, first served so plan to arrive early.
How do drive-thru pantries actually work?
There are lot of volunteers help at Drive-thru food pantries. While not all drive-thru pantries operate in the same way, here�s how most work:
Staff and volunteers direct visitors to the parking area.
Visitors pull up to the pantry in their car and are usually guided into a clearly marked queue. As people move through the pantry, staff will continue to move the cars forward to get everyone through as quickly and safely as possible.
Checkin.
You are required to fill some information for Pantry's recording keeping.
Food is loaded into the cars.
Pre-packed bags of food, usually full of shelf-stable items like pasta, canned fruit and peanut butter, as well as fresh produce and meats are loaded by volunteers into the trunk of the car.
Pet Food Pantry
One in four pet owners who give up their pets to a shelter say it is because they cannot afford to care for them. Pet Food Pantries are designed to fill the void in the nation�s current assistance programs that exclude the purchase of food and supplies for family pets.
The Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food, for 3 months or less, to pet owners who cannot afford to feed their pets in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Who are eligible for Pet Food Pantry
Pet Food Pantry helps people who are:
- All ages, races and marital status
- Unemployed or underemployed
- Retired, living on social security or other limited income
- Physically or mentally disabled
- Experiencing homelessness or housing instability
Tips for Visiting a Food Pantry
Show up early.
This is very important. This means you will be first in line and have a chance to get the items that are sought after and in limited quantities such as fresh produce, dairy and frozen food.
You don't usually need to show up hours ahead of time but coming at least an hour before is usually a good idea.
Remember all documentation.
Many food pantries require documentation to prove who you are, and in some cases, where you live.
This is to make sure people are not coming more than they are allowed or using fake names to do so. Call ahead of time to find out what documentation is needed.
It's just your photo ID and a piece of mail that verifies your address.
Use several food banks.
Using more than one food bank (when available) is smart because you may be able to get something at one that you may not get at another.
For instance, one may have a deal with a local gardener that gives them their extras. This may mean this food bank has more produce.
Eligible for other programs?
Ask your Department of Social Services office if you are eligible for other assistance programs to supplement your household’s food supply.
They can easily tell you if you can apply for WIC (Women and Infant Children), USDA Commodities or SNAP(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Ask about extras.
If you have special needs for infants or special diets, the pantries may be able to assist you.
Many times, they can help with diapers, baby formula, baby food, personal hygiene products, and even special diet items like gluten free or sugar free foods.
Go on different days of the week.
Depending on the food pantry, they may be open only one or two days a week or they may be open all seven days. When you have a choice, going midweek is often best as it is less crowded.
Be polite to workers.
Nearly everyone at a food bank is a volunteer. Be polite to the workers there as they often deal with highly emotional situations.
FAQ(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Independent community food pantries are self-governing and usually distribute food to their clients on a once-a-month basis. A food bank is the storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community. A food pantry functions as the arms that reach out to that community directly.
2. What kind of food is at a food pantry?
Specifically, food banks often need items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to food pantry?
At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. You do not need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry provides three-day food packages to families that have a place to live, but not enough food. These packages are designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals. Soup kitchens serve individuals in need of a hot meal, the only meal of the day for many of them.
5. How does a food pantry work?
Food Banks acquire large donations of edible but unmarketable food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Then they provide this food to family in a need.