A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Chula Vista, California 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 Chula Vista, California 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 1 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Chula Vista, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - CHULA VISTA, CA: Corps Community Center
Services provided :
- Aid to Families
- Bible Study - Correspondence
- Camping Activities
- Casework Services
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Disaster Services
- Food & Nutrition
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Group Work Services
- Men's Ministries
- Music & Arts Programs
- Nutrition Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- Senior Citizen Clubs
- Senior Citizens Residences
- Transitional Care & Work Release
- 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 (619) 422-7027 to book your appointment.
Address :
648 3rd Ave,
Chula Vista, CA 91910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Chula Vista, California 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 2 Church Food Pantry locations in Chula Vista, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St Rose Of Lima Church
Sister Dolores Social Outreach's mission is to provide relief to our brothers and sisters who are in critical need of food, clothing, and shelter.
Our outreach program serves the working poor and homeless in our community as well as the poorest of the poor in Tijuana. We maintain a community food pantry and clothes closet, support the San Diego Interfaith Shelter Network, coordinate the collection of basic commodities for distribution in Tijuana, and serve as a referral resource for other federal, state, and local social service agencies.
The Sister Dolores Social Outreach Program is supported primarily by our parish volunteers who give so generously of their time and treasure and by the Emergency Food and Shelter program sponsored by the San Diego Food Bank.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
- navigating the system
- support network
- one-on-one support
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (619) 427-0230 to book your appointment.
Address :
293 H St,
Chula Vista, CA 91910.
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:
- San Diego
St Mark'S Lutheran Church
Project hand is an Emergency Assistance Food Pantry. Food and hygiene items are provided to hundreds of individuals each month.
Services provided :
- emergency food
- food pantry
- personal hygiene
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (619) 427-5515 to book your appointment.
Address :
580 Hilltop Dr,
Chula Vista, CA 91910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Chula Vista
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 Chula Vista, California 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 1 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Chula Vista, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church - Social Outreach Program
Sister Dolores developed a remarkably dedicated and enthusiastic cadre of volunteers and benefactors that supported her mission to serve the poor. Today her legacy thrives, with parishioners who collect day old bread, bag food for distribution, provide fellowship to the homeless, and donate food and clothing for the pantry. Others support the outreach program through monetary donations by using the monthly Emergency Assistance collection envelope. Our mission is to provide relief to our brothers and sisters who are in critical need of food, clothing, and shelter. We serve the working poor and homeless in our community as well as the poorest of the poor in Tijuana. We maintain a community food pantry and clothes closet, support the San Diego Interfaith Shelter Network, coordinate the collection of basic commodities for distribution in Tijuana, and serve as a referral resource for other federal, state, and local social service agencies. The Sister Dolores Social Outreach Program is supported primarily by our parish volunteers who give so generously of their time and treasure and by the Emergency Food and Shelter program sponsored by the San Diego Food Bank. Hours of operation: Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Food is dispensed Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; The clothes closet is open Monday 9:00 a.m. 11:00 p.m.; Sack Lunch Distribution: Homeless Only - Monday, Wednesday & Friday: 9:30 am - 11:00 am (one sack lunch per day). As the demand for our services continues to grow, so does the need for volunteers and donations.
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 (619) 427-7637 to book your appointment.
Address :
278 Alvarado St,
Chula Vista, CA 91910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Chula Vista
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Chula Vista, California 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 Chula Vista, California 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 Chula Vista, California 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 Chula Vista, 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 Chula Vista, California 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 Chula Vista, California 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 Chula Vista, California 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 Chula Vista, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Birthline Of San Diego County Inc
Birthline provides free referrals for medical assistance, government funding, housing and other personal needs. Birthline also provides marital, legal, financial and spiritual resources.
Birthline has an emergency food pantry on site with supplies such as diapers, formula, baby food and adult food as well. Our clothing rooms have both new and used clothing for both mother and child. We have women's clothing, maternity clothes and clothes for babies and young children under the age of five. We also carry some supplies for new mothers such as baby blankets.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- baby clothes
- diapers & formula
- clothing
- blankets & fans
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (619) 425-5012 to book your appointment.
Address :
1220 3rd Ave,
Chula Vista, CA 91911.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
SBCS Emergency Food
SBCS offers a multitude of programs to assist families with one of life’s most basic necessities – food: FREE Hot Meals - Each week, SBCS offers a hot meal event for homeless and low-income individuals and families. Meals take place in our warehouse “cafeteria†from 4-6p.m. every Wednesday; SD Food Bank – Emergency Food Assistance Program - This program allows low-income families to receive a FREE supplemental food package once every month. Qualified families must reside in the following zip codes: 91910, 91911, 91913, 91914, 91915. Program available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9a.m.-12p.m. while supplies last; Food for Families - The 2nd Tuesday of every month, from 4-6p.m. and the 3rd Wednesday of every month, from 4-6p.m. a FREE food package is handed out to any individual in need – age 16 or older – food is provided through Feeding America.
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 (619) 420-3620 to book your appointment.
Address :
430 F St,
Chula Vista, CA 91910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Chula Vista
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
Turning the Hearts Center - Hearts For The Hungry Food Distribution Center
Turning the Hearts Center recently opened the doors to the Food Distribution Center (FDC) in order to help feed low income families in the South Bay. Each family that comes in to the FDC will be given an experience like no other food distribution program in town. Visit us at 345 5th Avenue, Chula Vista, CA, every Saturday from 9am-1pm!
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 (619) 691-9643 to book your appointment.
Address :
345 5th Ave,
Chula Vista, CA 91910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Chula Vista
Help Residents of Counties:
- San Diego
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 Chula Vista, California
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.