A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Tulare, 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 Tulare, 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 4 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Tulare, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - TULARE, CA: Silvercrest Senior Citizens' Residence
Services provided :
- Senior Citizen Clubs
- Senior Citizens Residences
- Visitation Services
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (559) 688-0704 to book your appointment.
Address :
350 N L St,
Tulare, CA 93274.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
The Salvation Army - VISALIA, CA: Corps Community Center
Services provided :
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Men's Ministries
- Music & Arts Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- 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 (559) 733-2784 to book your appointment.
Address :
1501 W Main St,
Visalia, CA 93291.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
The Salvation Army - TULARE, CA: Corps Community Center
Services provided :
- Casework Services
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation Programs
- Day Camp Activities
- Disaster Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Emergency Shelter
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Men's Ministries
- Music & Arts Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- 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 (559) 687-2520 to book your appointment.
Address :
314 E San Joaquin Ave,
Tulare, CA 93274.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
Salvation Army Del Oro Division - Lodi Corps
Salvation Army Lodi Corps helps alleviate the symptoms of poverty - and works to address the root issues that cause it by providing programs that serve the body, mind and soul.
Family services endeavor to strengthen and unify the family unit, whether it is a traditional two-parent family, a blended family, or a household led by a single adult. Emphasis is placed upon the importance of the family unit. We assist families in need by providing food, housing and utility assistance. Best of all, these programs enable parents to stay with their children, even when placed in emergency shelters.
Our program services are constantly expanding:
•Shelter-Housing insecurity and prolonged poverty are strongly linked, and that's why we work to provide short and long-term housing assistance to displaced families and individuals. We offer many programs that offer refuge to struggling men, women, children and families from overnight and emergency shelters for those finding themselves homeless for the first time to transitional living centers that help rebuild lives. Along with meeting immediate physical needs such as food and shelter, these establishments provide educational, counseling and vocational services to help individuals develop vital life skills and independence for reentry into society.
•Meal Assistance-Many families and individuals facing poverty often must make the painful choice heating and eating - that is, they must decide whether they'll pay their bills or pay for food. Without sufficient funds, many are forced to go without a warm, nutritious meal in order to keep a roof over their head.
•Bill Pay Assistance-We help struggling families and individuals avoid falling into the cycle of crisis by supplementing their income with utility, rent and other vital payments. This assistance often becomes the difference between shelter and eviction, between maintaining honest work and selling drugs or services for money, and between keeping kids in one place and moving them out of their home and onto the streets.
•Employment Assistance-As part of our comprehensive approach to helping families and individuals overcome poverty, we offer educational resources, career coaching and job placement opportunities to assist those in need secure stable and gainful employment.
Please contact the location closest to you for services.
Services provided :
- help pay for housing
- help pay for utilities
- temporary shelter
- food pantry
- help find housing
- help find work
- skills & training
- disaster response
- spiritual support
- meals
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (209) 369-5896 to book your appointment.
Address :
525 W Lockeford St,
Lodi, CA 95240.
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:
- Butte
- Colusa
- El Dorado
- Fresno
- Glenn
- Kern
- Kings
- Madera
- Merced
- Sacramento
- San Joaquin
- Shasta
- Stanislaus
- Sutter
- Tehama
- Tulare
- Yolo
- Yuba
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Tulare, 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 1 Church Food Pantry locations in Tulare, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Church of Christ Exeter - Food Pantry
The Food Pantry ministry seeks to provide non-perishable food to those who are hungry and financially challenged. Jesus fed the 5000 and the 4000 of his followers during his ministry, having compassion upon them for their hunger. In seeking to be a church modeled after Christ, we want to also have compassion upon those who are in need.
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 (559) 592-2909 to book your appointment.
Address :
320 E Firebaugh Ave,
Exeter, CA 93221.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Exeter
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
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 Tulare, 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 0 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Tulare, California 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 Tulare, 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 Tulare, 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 Tulare, 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 Tulare, 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 Tulare, 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 Tulare, 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 Tulare, 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 5 Food Pantry locations in Tulare, California which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Bethlehem Center
Providing food and clothing to those in need in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. Our vision is for the fundamental needs of our families and individuals in our community to be recognized and assisted. To achieve this goal, Bethlehem Center provides two hot meals during the week and special occasional dinners during the holidays. Bethlehem Center also provides clothing to qualifying individuals or families in the community. Bethlehem Center serves 6,000-7,000 meals each month with the assistance of regular volunteers, CalWorks, and AARP employees. Bethlehem Center also dispenses over 500 boxes of food and at least 1,000 items of clothing each month. The Center dispenses 500 -600 food bags/boxes through a voucher system to the needy of the Visalia area every month. To obtain food: Qualified clients sign in at the Center office with an intake clerk. Intake hours are: Monday - Friday (except holidays) from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Qualified clients are issued a food order voucher which is then filled at the Center's food pantry. To qualify, an individual or family must have an income below 150% of the U. S. poverty level. This is determined at the time of intake. Our volunteers help serve 6,000 - 7,000 nutritious meals each month in Bethlehem Center's dining room. Dining Room Serving Hours: Breakfast 7:30 - 8 a.m., Monday. - Friday; Lunch 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Every day, seven days a week. Special dining events are provided for Easter, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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 (559) 734-1572 to book your appointment.
Address :
1638 N Dinuba Blvd,
Visalia, CA 93291.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Visalia
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
FoodLink for Tulare County
FoodLink for Tulare County, a nonprofit organization, has been working to end hunger in Tulare County since 1978. FoodLink warehouses and distributes millions of pounds of food annually to a network of more than 80 local nonprofit agencies, which directly feed needy families. “FoodLink is committed to ending hunger for those in need by providing healthy food and nutrition education through community involvement “
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 (559) 651-3663 to book your appointment.
Address :
7427 W Sunnyview,
Visalia, CA 93291.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Visalia
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
Visalia Emergency Aid Council
Every year we assist 14,000 families with children and seniors that do not have the resources to keep pace with inflation. They turn to Visalia Emergency Aid Council (VEAC) for a ray of hope as they cope with poverty-driven circumstances. While it’s not always possible to fulfill everyone’s needs we provide a wide variety of services that support our mission…to promote self sufficiency. Our food pantry is the largest in Tulare County. We assist over 1000 families every month with basic nutritional food such as rice, beans, oatmeal, juice products, dairy products, and fresh fruit or vegetables. Qualified families must meet the guidelines based on household income and number of members living in a residence. Basic provisions help alleviate hunger.
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 (559) 732-0101 to book your appointment.
Address :
217 N E 3Rd St,
Visalia, CA 93291.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Visalia
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
Visalia Rescue Mission - Community Kitchen
We provide 3 meals a day/365 days a year--to anyone who comes to our doors hungry. Breakfast: 7:00am, Lunch: 11:30am, Dinner: 5:00pm
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 (559) 740-4178 to book your appointment.
Address :
322 Ne First Ave,
Visalia, CA 93291.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Visalia
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
Open Gate Ministries
Open Gate Ministries of Dinuba, CA is a private nonprofit corporation, serving the needy of Northern Tulare and Southern Fresno Counties since 1974. The purpose of Open Gate Ministries is to assist and support the homeless and hungry of our community with emergency services, provided according to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Food Distribution: We serve our communities with regular food distribution. We are also now receiving weekly deliveries of food from Wal-Mart through it’s Community Giving program. Starting July 1, we became the ONLY USDA food distributor in Northern Tulare County. This means that we will receive USDA food every month, instead of every-other month, and there will be more of it. We also anticipate the number of clients coming to our food distribution program to increase significantly, perhaps even doubling. This change necessitates some revisions in our procedures and we will be refining our operation as we proceed. USDA food, while nourishing and helpful, does not supply all of the needs of the individuals it serves.
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 (559) 591-1241 to book your appointment.
Address :
511 N Âœkâ St,
Dinuba, CA 93618.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Dinuba
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tulare
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 Tulare, 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.