Food Banks Listed for Ada County, Idaho
We found 11 food banks listed for Ada County, Idaho. Call before you go to confirm hours and what to bring. You can also see food pantries in Ada County, Idaho.
Saint Mary's Foodbank
Phone: (208) 850-6818
Address: 3890 W State St, Boise, ID 83703. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The St. Mary's Food Bank is sponsored by the church and also receives support from other organizations and individuals in the community. The food bank serves clients in areas with the following zip codes: part of 83702, all of 83703 and 83714. These zip codes cover (roughly) from North 16th Street as far south as Main; and west, including Garden City. The Idaho Foodbank and El Ada provide much of the food we distribute to our clients; however, we also receive important support from St. Mary's parishioners, and the St. Mary's and Bishop Kelly schools. Open: Mon, Wed and Fri 11am to 3pm (Closed on Holidays). One visit per family per month.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 850-6818 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Boise
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist - St. John's Food Bank
Phone: (208) 345-3424
Address: 815 N Hays St, Boise, ID 83702. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
We strive to feed the hungry and provide 1-2 day emergency food packages to those in need. If you want to visit our Food Bank to receive food bags or boxes, we are located at 815 N. Hays St. in Boise, across Hays from the Cathedral mid-block in a small house. The Food Bank is open from 1pm-3pm Monday through Thursday, except for major federal holidays.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 345-3424 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Boise
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
FBC Boise Downtown Food Bank
Phone: (208) 344-7809
Address: 607 N 13th St, Boise, ID 83702. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The FBC Boise Downtown Food Bank has been meeting the needs of the hungry in our community since 2006. We have served over 1,000 families and are acquiring approximately 50 new families every month.We estimate that we are moving roughly 10,000 lbs. of food each month to help those in need - that's almost 35 tons already this year! Times: Every Saturday from 9 am - 11 am
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 344-7809 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Boise
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
Star Outreach Food Bank
Phone: (208) 779-0046
Address: 10775 W State St, Star, ID 83669. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Star Outreach Food Bank Provides Families and Seniors with Emergency Food Boxes. Located at 10775 W State Street, Star Idaho 83669, the Star Outreach Food Bank is open every Thursday from 3-5pm and the 3rd Thursday from 3-7pm.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 779-0046 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Star
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
Eagle Community Foodbank
Phone: (208) 631-0702
Address: 149 W State St, Eagle, ID 83616. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The Eagle Community Foodbank was established by community members in 1997 to assist residents of Eagle and Star with their food needs. The Eagle Community Foodbank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity. Distributions: 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, 10 AM-12 Noon, Last Tuesdays of each month, 6 PM-7:00 PM.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 631-0702 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Eagle
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
Kuna Community Food Bank/Pantry
Phone: (208) 922-4745
Address: 260 W 4th St, Kuna, ID 83634. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Kuna Community Food Bank/Pantry - Started in 1983, this agency provides emergency food to the Kuna, Idaho community and the Kuna School District. To receive food assistance, call the Kuna Community Food pantry at 922-4745 (the Kuna United Methodist Church) and leave a message. (You will need to press "1" when prompted to get to the food pantry mailbox.) One of our volunteers will call you to schedule an appointment. We try to schedule appointments for Tues, Wed & Thurs afternoons.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 922-4745 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Kuna
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
Meridian Food Bank
Phone: (208) 888-5102
Address: 133 W Broadway Ave, Meridian, ID 83642. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The Meridian Food Bank has been serving our neighbors in need for more than a decade. We began operating in 1999 as the Valley Shepherd Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Center. Initially the center was a place for homeless and low-income people in Meridian to receive food and clothing. In 2004 we began operating as a nonprofit food pantry doing business as the Meridian Food Bank. The mission of our all-volunteer organization is to provide nourishing food to people in need and to refer them to other resources that may assist them beyond their need for food. We are supported in our efforts by a wide variety of local churches, civic organizations, businesses, and individuals.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 888-5102 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Meridian
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
VNB Food Bank
Phone: (208) 468-2314
Address: 119 S Valley Dr Ste C, Nampa, ID 83686. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
VNB Food Bank FRIDAY 12 to 4PM 1st & 3rd week of each month
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 468-2314 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Nampa
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
The Rock of the Christian & Missionary Alliance - Food Bank
Phone: (208) 779-0497
Address: 77 S Happy Valley Rd, Nampa, ID 83687. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 779-0497 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Nampa
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
St. Mark's Food Bank
Phone: (208) 375-6651
Address: 7960 Northview, Boise, ID 83704. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The food bank’s mission is to gather, manage and distribute resources to families or individuals in a crisis situation. Donation of food and monetary donations from parishioners to the St. Jude Fund are used to support this ministry. Volunteers staff the center. Thanks to all who contribute to the St. Jude Fund. Money received from this fund is used to buy food and essential items for those in need. The St. Mark’s Food Bank volunteers assisted 1,700 individuals during December. This total reflects an increase of 50 individuals over December 2012. During 2013, the food bank volunteers assisted 24,470 individuals in 2013; about 900 less than 2012!
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 375-6651 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Boise
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
The Idaho Foodbank
Phone: (208) 336-9643
Address: 3562 S Tk Ave, Boise, ID 83705. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The Idaho Foodbank is an independent nonprofit organization that has worked with a network of partner agencies to distribute free emergency food to individuals and families in need for more than 25 years. More than a statewide distribution system, this network of more than 200 partner agencies consists of emergency food pantries, community kitchens, shelters and programs that collectively work together to relieve hunger in Idaho
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (208) 336-9643 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Boise
Help Residents of Counties:
- Canyon
- Ada
Church Food Banks in Ada County, Idaho
Some churches in and around Ada County, Idaho run food banks or serve free meals.
Many welcome anyone who needs a meal. Some also offer services such as showers, laundry, mail, or I.D. assistance, so call ahead to confirm what is available.
We don't have a church food bank listed for Ada County, Idaho right now. Ask local churches directly, or call 211.
Food prices remain high. The FAO Food Price Index averaged 136.0 points in September 2026, up 5.8% from a year earlier.
A 36% price increase over the 2014-2016 base period shows that hunger is a public health issue of critical importance.
The most vulnerable demographic of society is taking the brunt of this economic pressure. Now more than ever, low-income families must rely on Idaho Free Clinics, Idaho Food Stamps, and food banks.
This guide will list helpful information about food banks in Ada County, Idaho and organizations that can help curb hunger, how you can use their services and where to find them.
What is a Food Bank?
Food banks are non-profit charitable organizations that assist financially vulnerable populations by distributing food. Their main objective is to help low-income individuals and families by providing food.
They will work through other 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations like food pantries and soup kitchens. Sometimes they distribute the food themselves via mobile pantry.
A food bank in Ada County, Idaho serves as a single collection and distribution point for food donations. They operate much like a for-profit food distributor, but they do not use retailers. Instead, they may use church food banks, charities, and other non-profit food pantries to provide food to the people to fight hunger.
How the Food Bank Works?
- 1. Food is donated to a food bank.
- 2. It is stored in a large climate-controlled warehouse.
- 3. A food bank in Ada County, Idaho distributes food to various non-profits for distribution.
- 4. Food reaches people who are in need.
Who can use Food Banks?
Many food banks and food pantries in Ada County, Idaho are locally run, with others managed at the state or federal level. Qualification to receive nutrition assistance from food programs depends on the type.
There are different qualifying requirements, and some food banks have none. Some let you come during their days and times of operation, and they will help if they are able.
Here are some tips before you go:
- It is highly advisable to call ahead before you arrive!
- Ask about any eligibility or documentation requirements they may have.
- If required, bring all required documents when you use their services.
Second Harvest Food Bank
Many communities across the United States are served by food banks that use the Second Harvest name.
These food banks help families facing hard choices between food, housing, medicine, and other necessities. We don't have a food bank with the Second Harvest name listed for Ada County, Idaho right now.
Feeding America
John van Hengel, the founder of St. Mary's Food Bank, went on to create a national organization for food banks. The Feeding America organization is a leader in the nation's domestic hunger-relief efforts.
High food costs continue to put pressure on America's most vulnerable citizens. Feeding America reports that its network provides 5.9 billion meals a year.
The Feeding America network has grown through donations and other charitable efforts to be able to deliver much-needed food via food rescue, hunger relief programs, and disaster response.
A listing on this page doesn't mean an organization is part of the Feeding America network. To find a member food bank, use Feeding America's finder.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that helps obtain badly needed food for low-income people and families. SNAP is also known as Food Stamp.
Nationally, SNAP served approximately 42 million Americans per month in fiscal year 2025. To ask about SNAP benefits in Ada County, Idaho, contact your state SNAP office. It is the most extensive nutrition program administered by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and is a vital component of the social safety net for low-income Americans.
In fiscal year 2025, about 12.3% of the U.S. population received SNAP benefits in an average month.
The program had used paper "stamps" or coupons in the past – worth $1 (brown), $5 (blue), and $10 (green). These were bound into small booklets of various denominations, to be torn out individually and used in single-use exchanges.
Free Food Programs Summary
| Acronym | Name | For Moms & Kids | For Seniors | For Food Bank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| TEFAP | The Emergency Food Assistance Program | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSFP | The Commodity Supplemental Food Program | No | Yes | Yes |
| CACFP | The Child and Adult Care Food Program | Yes | Yes | No |
| NSLP | The National School Lunch Program | Yes | No | No |
| SBP | The School Breakfast Program | Yes | No | No |
| SFSP | The Summer Food Service Program | Yes | No | No |
| WIC | Women, Infants, and Children | Yes | No | No |
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 bank?
Ada County food banks often have items like:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. How do you qualify for Ada County food bank assistance?
Requirements vary, and some food banks and pantries ask for no paperwork at all. Call ahead. Some may ask you to bring:
- A state-issued ID
- Social Security numbers of household members
- A bill or other mail that shows your address
- Proof of income, such as a bank statement