A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Salvation Army Family Store
Services provided :
- Drop Box
- Salvation Army Family Store
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (203) 384-6934 to book your appointment.
Address :
345 Huntington Tpke,
Bridgeport, CT 06610.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Fairfield
The Salvation Army - Bridgeport Corps
Services provided :
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Disaster Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Nutrition Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- Visitation Services
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Children's / Teen
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
- 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 (203) 334-0995 to book your appointment.
Address :
30 Elm St,
Bridgeport, CT 06604.
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- Fairfield
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 5 Church Food Pantry locations in Bridgeport, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Calvary New Testament Church of God Inc. - Food Pantry
Open to the local community.
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 (203) 334-3727 to book your appointment.
Address :
1880 Barnum Ave,
Bridgeport, CT 06610.
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- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
Faith Revival Center Church - Fresh Start Program Outreach Ministry Food Pantry
Mission Statement: With the power of God we shall feed the hungry, quench the thirsty, heal the broken hearted, renew the troubled mind with the word, and demonstrate the Love of God. Hours of operation Saturdays 12:00p.m. - 2:00p.m. Sundays 8:30am- 9:30am. Open every 2nd and 4th week of the month. Serving those who live in the 06607 and 06608 zipcode areas. However, we will serve those who live out of those areas once. Please contact Vickey if you have any questions (203)576-6310 or (203)545-5325.
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 (203) 576-6310 to book your appointment.
Address :
600 Hallett St,
Bridgeport, CT 06608.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
Refuge Temple Church of God Food Pantry
Our local mission department is committed to carrying out the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ, as admonished to us in Matthew 25:42. We apply this by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, the oppressed and the imprisoned while making disciples for Christ. We service the community through a Bi Monthly Food Pantry open every 2nd and 4th Saturday.
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 (203) 373-0622 to book your appointment.
Address :
3050 Main St,
Bridgeport, CT 06606.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
Saint Charles Borromeo Church Food Pantry
Since opening our door on January 2013 we have helped 93 families in Bridgeport who live in 06608 and 06610 area codes (only). By presenting a validate Connecticut I.D. and utilyty bill that is no more then 30 days old we can assist you. Friday (only) 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
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 (203) 367-1489 to book your appointment.
Address :
391 Ogden St,
Bridgeport, CT 06608.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament - Food Pantry
Our pantry currently operates on Thursdays from 9:30 to 1:00 PM (closed the First Thursday of the month). We are again blessed from generous local Catholic Parishes and donors who allow us to stock the shelves. We also provide clothing, books, toiletries and small appliances for those in need. As of today, we average over 150 families served per week. We buy from the Connecticut Food Bank to maximize our buying power.
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 (203) 333-1202 to book your appointment.
Address :
275 Union Ave,
Bridgeport, CT 06607.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 Bridgeport, Connecticut 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 8 Food Pantry locations in Bridgeport, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Bishop Jean Williams Food Pantry
The late Bishop Jean Williams dedicated her life to making a vital and positive impact to all her neighbors in Bridgeport's East End community. She opened her heart and her home by feeding the hungry and mentoring children and teens. The Bishop Jean Williams Food Pantry is a lasting legacy to her life's work. Her children and grandchildren carry on her legacy by provoding nearly 7,362 meals to over 816 people each month. The Pantry has increased its critical services by stocking grocery items on the Park City Metro Kidz mobile unit and the distribution of food to those in need throughout the City of Bridgeport.
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 (203) 873-0260 to book your appointment.
Address :
4 Worth St,
Bridgeport, CT 06604.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
Black Rock Food Pantry
The families we serve are good working families that have little or nothing left after they pay their rent and utilities. Most of our families have young children that will go without ample meals daily without help.
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 (203) 521-0647 to book your appointment.
Address :
15 Princeton St,
Bridgeport, CT 06605.
Get Directions
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- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
Bridgeport Rescue Mission
Our residents and emergency shelter guests join low-income individuals and families for three free meals in our dining room, seven days a week. Families struggling to make ends meet can receive a Pantry Box filled with enough food to feed a family for one week. Often, families tell us this support allows them to pay for other necessities such as rent, utilities or medical bills. Our two Mobile Kitchens visit impoverished neighborhoods in Bridgeport and South Norwalk. Caring Volunteers provide nourishing meals, kind words, and prayer for individuals who rely on the Mission for food and who are unable to come to our dining room at the main campus.
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 (203) 333-4087 to book your appointment.
Address :
1088 Fairfield Ave,
Bridgeport, CT 06605.
Get Directions
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- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
Bridgeport Tabernacle of Seventh-day Adventists - Food Pantry/Soup Kitchen
Our Food Pantry is open Wednesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Our Soup Kitchen is open Sundays from 12:00pm - 1:30pm
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 (203) 522-4460 to book your appointment.
Address :
717 Clinton Ave,
Bridgeport, CT 06604.
Get Directions
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- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood - Food Bank
Mission Statement: To provide food in a safe, nurturing, and compassionate environment to those in need; To offer support and recognize the inherent worth and dignity of all people regardless of race, sex, creed or age; To maintain and encourage a more independent lifestyle. The food bank was established in 1999. Groceries are distributed Wednesday mornings beginning at 9am until noon, or earlier if our food supply is exhausted. Qualified recipients must demonstrate need and must be pre-registered and re-register annually.
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 (203) 334-7000 to book your appointment.
Address :
1490 North Ave,
Bridgeport, CT 06604.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
Healing Tree Economic Development, Inc. - King's Pantry
The King's Pantry serves forgotten and needy populations such as the elderly, veterans, persons with disabilities, homeless and the indigent. King’s Pantry programming keeps inner city and urban youth off the street and engaged in productive community enhancing activities. The King's Pantry provides much needed prevention and education to high-risk populations resulting in reduced exposure to the HIV virus.
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 (203) 576-0522 to book your appointment.
Address :
30 Florence St,
Bridgeport, CT 06607.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bridgeport
Help Residents of Counties:
- Fairfield
St. John's Family Center
St. John's Family Center was founded in 1996 by the Rev. Ann Jensen, then Associate Rector of St. John's Parish. What started with the assistance of the Child Guidance Center and representatives from other non-profit social service agencies has now grown to make The Family Center a focal point for children and their families. Parishioners and volunteers collaborate with a variety of services and programs to serve the community. Food Pantry: Our food pantry is open the second and the fourth Saturday of the month from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Referral letter and ID are necessary in order to participate in this program. Community Suppers: A meal is available to anyone who needs it on Tuesday evenings from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
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 (203) 335-2999 to book your appointment.
Address :
1067 Park Ave,
Bridgeport, CT 06604.
Get Directions
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- Bridgeport
Help Residents of Counties:
- Fairfield
The Thomas Merton Center
THE THOMAS MERTON CENTER was founded in 1974 by a group of concerned individuals who saw a need for services to the economically disadvantaged people in the city of Bridgeport. As the times have changed and the needs of the people we serve have changed we have developed programs that address issues such as housing, nutritional needs, healthcare needs, parenting issues and youth at risk. The Thomas Merton House of Hospitality provides breakfast, lunch and day shelter to approximately 210 people each day Monday through Saturday. We serve about 85,000 meals a year. St. Stephen’s Food Pantry provides groceries for 5 days of nutritious meals per month for families and individuals living in the 06604, 06605, and 06606 zip codes in Bridgeport. We serve over 500 families per month and operate in collaboration with ABCD, Inc. The emphasis of the pantry is providing healthy food to our guests, as currently 50% of the food we distribute is quality food rescued from local grocery stores; mostly fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy prepared foods that would have been thrown out due to a short shelf life, but are perfectly safe and OK to eat. House of Hospitality: Monday-Friday 8:30am-1:30pm, Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm; St. Stephen's Food Pantry: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10:00am-1:00pm
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 (203) 367-9036 to book your appointment.
Address :
43 Madison Ave,
Bridgeport, CT 06604.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bridgeport
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- Fairfield
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 Bridgeport, Connecticut
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.