Food Pantry in Hartford, Connecticut

A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 6 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Hartford, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

The Salvation Army - Greater Hartford Area Services

Services provided :

  • Alcohol and Drug Treatment
  • Boys' & Girls' Club
  • Camping Activities
  • Casework Services
  • Character Building Programs
  • Christian Education
  • Community Recreation & Education Programs
  • Community Recreation Programs
  • Day Camp Activities
  • Day Care
  • Disaster Services
  • Emergency Financial Assistance
  • Emergency Shelter
  • Food & Nutrition
  • Food & Nutrition Programs
  • Foster Care
  • Group Work Services
  • Missing Persons
  • Music & Arts Programs
  • Nutrition Programs
  • Rehabilitation
  • Residential Camping Activities
  • Seasonal Services
  • Senior Citizen Clubs
  • Women's Ministries
  • Worship Services - Sunday School

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (860) 543-8413 to book your appointment.

Address :

217 Washington St,
Hartford, CT 06106.
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  • Hartford

The Salvation Army - Hartford North End Corps

Services provided :

  • Character Building Programs
  • Christian Education
  • Community Recreation & Education Programs
  • Community Recreation Programs
  • Day Camp Activities
  • Food & Nutrition Programs
  • Latchkey Programs
  • Men's Ministries
  • Music & Arts Programs
  • Residential Camping Activities
  • Seasonal Services
  • Women's Ministries
  • Worship Services - Children's / Teen
  • Worship Services - Church
  • Worship Services - Sunday School
  • Worship Services - Young Adult

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (860) 543-8419 to book your appointment.

Address :

100 Nelson St,
Hartford, CT 06120.
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The Salvation Army - Laotian Corps

Services provided :

  • Christian Education
  • Food & Nutrition
  • Music & Arts Programs
  • Worship Services - Children's / Teen
  • Worship Services - Church
  • Worship Services - Sunday School

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (860) 966-2714 to book your appointment.

Address :

855 Asylum Ave, hartford,
Hartford, CT 06105.
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The Salvation Army - Marshall House

Services provided :

  • Casework Services
  • Emergency Shelter

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (860) 543-8430 to book your appointment.

Address :

225 S Marshall St,
Hartford, CT 06105.
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The Salvation Army - Hartford Citadel

Services provided :

  • Boys' & Girls' Club
  • Character Building Programs
  • Christian Education
  • Community Recreation Programs
  • Food & Nutrition
  • Men's Ministries
  • Music & Arts Programs
  • Rehabilitation
  • Residential Camping Activities
  • Seasonal Services
  • Visitation Services
  • Women's Ministries
  • Worship Services - Children's / Teen
  • Worship Services - Church
  • Worship Services - Sunday School
  • Worship Services - Young Adult

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (860) 543-8413 to book your appointment.

Address :

225 Washington St,
Hartford, CT 06106.
Get Directions

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The Salvation Army - Hartford Sigourney Child and Family Center

Services provided :

  • Character Building Programs
  • Day Care

Appointments :

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (860) 543-8488 to book your appointment.

Address :

[89 - 89] Sigourney St,
Hartford, CT 06105.
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Church Food Pantry

A number of churches around Hartford, 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 0 Church Food Pantry locations in Hartford, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

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 Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 Hartford, 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 14 Food Pantry locations in Hartford, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.

Hands On Hartford - MANNA (Community Meals/Senior Community Cafe)

Behind the red door of our soup kitchen, Community Meals, lies an important place for those we serve: a place to eat, a place to relax, and a place to socialize with others. Community Meals serves over 500 people per month. This includes homeless individuals and families along with those who are considered to be the “working poor”. Every Monday-Thursday and holiday, each person who walks in receives a full lunch, served to them at their table by a volunteer. In addition, student nurses visit twice per week, providing essential medical checks and advice. When the items are available, guests also have access to toiletries, reading glasses, socks, and winter accessories.

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 (860) 246-3700 to book your appointment.

Address :

45 Church St,
Hartford, CT 06103.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Community Health Services, Inc - Food Pantry

Food Pantry & WIC Program – CHS operates a Food Pantry program that is available every other Friday from 12-1 pm, and provides food assistance for about 100 families. Emergency food assistance is available Monday through Thursday between 8:30 am – 1pm. CHS also serves as a WIC site, where eligible parents are linked to the program. Annually CHS sponsors a Thanksgiving Day Food Drive in November and a Toy Drive in December to help spread the joy of the holidays to over 600 families in our area.

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 (860) 808-8746 to book your appointment.

Address :

500 Albany Ave,
Hartford, CT 06120.
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  • Hartford

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  • Hartford

Hands On Hartford - MANNA (Community Pantry and Assistance and Advocacy/Backpack Nutrition Program)

For many clients at our food pantry, being able to shop at a grocery store without concern for money seems far-fetched. However, a recent re-model to our food pantry has helped families realize that dream. Our Community Pantry now utilizes the full choice shopping model. Each family who enters our pantry can grab a cart and walk through aisles, choosing which items fit their families’ needs best. Because poverty is not just about food, our pantry also has case management services to help these families toward further success by helping them gain to housing, medical care, and utility assistance through referrals. Like at our soup kitchen, student nurses also visit the pantry to provide free medical checks and advice.

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 (860) 246-6757 to book your appointment.

Address :

1 Buckingham St,
Hartford, CT 06106.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Love Kitchen Ministry of Youth Challenge of Connecticut Inc. - Food Pantry

Love Kitchen is a hunger relief program motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings of helping the hurting. People from all religious, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds are welcome. None of our clients are asked to engage in any kind of religious service in order to be served. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical disability, or national or ethnic origin. The Food Pantry operates the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month, from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.

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 (860) 728-5199 to book your appointment.

Address :

19 May St,
Hartford, CT 06105.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Chrysalis Center, Inc. - Freshplace

Freshplace is a fresh food pantry serving the Upper Albany and Asylum Hill neighborhoods in Hartford. At typical food pantries, people receive a bag of food that may or may not meet their family’s needs. At Freshplace, patrons choose foods to meet the health and cultural needs of their families. Patrons also learn how to prepare the fresh vegetables they select. Freshplace is a collaborative project among Chrysalis Center, the Junior League of Hartford and Foodshare.

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 (860) 263-4400 to book your appointment.

Address :

255 Homestead Ave,
Hartford, CT 06132.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Loaves & Fishes Ministries Inc. - Pantry Program

A typical bag contains: pasta or rice, sauce, either Spam or corned beef, large can of beef stew, 2 canned vegetables (one yellow, one green), large soup and regular size soup, canned fruit, box of cereal, cake mix, pudding mix, 2 qts. of powdered milk, 2 cans of tuna fish, peanut butter (every third week), toilet paper (2 rolls), bread (from supermarket donations), 6 jars of baby food when applicable, small personal items when available, diapers and other baby items when available

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 (860) 524-1730 to book your appointment.

Address :

646 Prospect Ave,
Hartford, CT 06105.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Love Kitchen Ministry of Youth Challenge of Connecticut Inc. - Soup Kitchen

Love Kitchen is a hunger relief program motivated by our faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings of helping the hurting. People from all religious, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds are welcome. None of our clients are asked to engage in any kind of religious service in order to be served. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical disability, or national or ethnic origin. Soup Kitchen: Last Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m.

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 (860) 728-5199 to book your appointment.

Address :

15 May St,
Hartford, CT 06105.
Get Directions

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Help Residents of Cities:

  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Minister Walker Outreach Ministries Food Pantry

Minister Walker Outreach Ministries Food Pantry is open every Second and Forth Saturday of each Month @ 11A.M to anyone in need of food. Every Third Saturday of each Month: Minister Walker Ministries Staff, and Volunterrs deliver to homebound Senior Citizens, Disabled Veterans, and Individual in the City of Hartford, CT., who request our service.

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 (860) 233-3482 to book your appointment.

Address :

1407 Park St Unit 135-A,
Hartford, CT 06106.
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  • Hartford

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  • Hartford

The Cathedral of St. Joseph Food Pantry

The mission of our Food Pantry is to give food, clothing, house wares and comfort to the poor without discrimination. We refer our clients to ohter agencies that may be helpful to them and we provide information for daily living. The pantry is staffed by an amazing group of volunteers who serve our clients with great compassion and dignity. "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine you did for me" (Matt. 25:40).

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 (860) 249-8431 to book your appointment.

Address :

140 Farmington Ave,
Hartford, CT 06105.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

The Joan C. Dauber Food Bank at Saint Francis

Some Facts About Our Food Bank: Opened in 1976; 1st hospital-based food bank in the nation; Serves over 1,100 families each month; Distributes over 134 tons of food annually; In 2013, served over 1,500 families at Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas; In 2013, hospital employees contributed 4,000 pounds of food and raised over $25,000 - just for the holiday food drive

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 (860) 714-5174 to book your appointment.

Address :

500 Blue Hills Ave,
Hartford, CT 06112.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Town of West Hartford Division of Human Services - Food Pantry

Back in the late 1970’s, the Town of West Hartford’s Division of Human Services established a Food Pantry to provide food to West Hartford residents with emergency needs. Qualifying residents are eligible for a bag of non-perishable groceries. Donations of food and money to support the Food Pantry come from a variety of sources throughout West Hartford; faith communities, schools, businesses, civic organizations and clubs, neighborhood groups, families and individuals.

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 (860) 561-7561 to book your appointment.

Address :

50 S Main St W,
Hartford, CT 06107.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Crossroads Community Cathedral - Food Pantry

The Food Pantry at Crossroads strives to help people within the Church Body. There are a couple of ways to help in this ministry. You could be a part of the team that helps organize and maintain the food that comes in on a regular basis, or you could serve by finding sponsors, such as local businesses and corporations, to help fill our food pantry.

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 (860) 895-1231 to book your appointment.

Address :

1492 Silver Ln E,
Hartford, CT 06118.
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Help Residents of Cities:

  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

Latino Community Services - Food Pantry

LCS clients may access the food pantry, once a month. Referrals are sent with 24 hours notice directly to our food pantry coordinator by LCS Service Providers. Food is also available to LCS non-clients one time only for emergency, as they are in the process of becoming clients of the agency. The food pantry is stocked by Foodshare, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and donations from small community grants.

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 (860) 296-6400 to book your appointment.

Address :

184 Wethersfield Ave,
Hartford, CT 06114.
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Help Residents of Cities:

  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

The House of Bread, Inc. - Soup Kithen & F.E.A.S.T

The House of Bread Soup Kitchen was established on February 4, 1980. Our mission was to alleviate hunger among indigents, transients and low-income people in the north Hartford area. We continue to serve approximately 300 to 400 meals daily.

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 (860) 278-3561 to book your appointment.

Address :

27 Chestnut St,
Hartford, CT 06120.
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  • Hartford

Help Residents of Counties:

  • Hartford

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 Hartford, 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.