A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 1 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Tolland, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Drop Box Vernon Salvation Army 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 (860) 872-5423 to book your appointment.
Address :
295 Hartford Tpke,
Vernon Rockville, CT 06066.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Tolland, 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 1 Church Food Pantry locations in Tolland, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Community United Methodist Church - Food Pantry
The food pantry program helps approximately 35 families in the community. Families who have fallen on hard times come to our food pantry to get several bags of groceries a week to subsidize their weekly shopping. Food donations are taken and dispursed among these families. The food pantry is open every Monday at 11 AM to noon. Anyone interested should contact the Church.
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) 872-0798 to book your appointment.
Address :
278 Sandy Beach Rd,
Ellington, CT 06029.
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Ellington
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
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 Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 Tolland, 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 4 Food Pantry locations in Tolland, Connecticut which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Town of Bolton Senior/Social Services - Food Pantry
Thank you to all of our recent donors who continue to help us keep our Food Pantry well stocked and diverse.
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) 647-9196 to book your appointment.
Address :
104 Notch Rd,
Bolton, CT 06043.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Bolton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Safe Net Ministry - Flo's Friendship Kitchen
Flo’s Friendship Kitchen (“Flo’sâ€) is an original Incorporator of Safe Net Ministries and is located in the First United Methodist Church, 8 Church Street (primary access and parking from Main Street). Since 2003 Flo’s has served approximately 30,000 meals. Flo’s provided 5,496 hot meals in 2011. They are in need of volunteers. Flo’s is a different program from the Food Cupboard and has their own budget. Last year they raised $12,711 and it cost $4,543 to operate the kitchen. They are also a Foodshare partner enabling them to buy food at an average of 17 cents per pound. Wednesday Luncheon is served at 11:30 a.m. - If there is no school due to weather there is no Luncheon held that day. Friday Evening Dinner is served at 5 p.m. and everyone gets a take out meal. - If there is no school due to weather there is no Friday Evening Dinner held that day. These meals are open to the public and are without cost.
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) 851-9987 to book your appointment.
Address :
8 Church St,
Stafford Springs, CT 06076.
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Stafford Springs
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Safe Net Ministry - Food Cupboard
In January 2010 our ministry opened the Safe Net Food Cupboard at 68 Main Street in Stafford Springs, CT. The Food Cupboard was relocated to 86 Main Street February 2011. This Food Cupboard serves Stafford and Union residents and any member of their congregations. In 2011 Safe Net distributed 101,000 pounds of food to 283 families that represents 767 people, of which 265 our children. This is 75,160 meals. Over the past 2 years we have distributed a total of 190,979 pounds of food, for a total 144,160 meals. Our volunteers logged an astounding 3,990 hours. An average distribution takes a 173 volunteer hours to perform. For the second year the food cupboard team also distributed about 65 backpacks to children with school supplies appropriate to their grade levels. This not only helps the children, it also assists the teachers, many of whom purchase school supplies with their own money. The team also started a new program for children during August called “Breakfast and Beyond.†Children were able to pick up a bag of food for breakfast and snacks for later in the day. We distributed 444lbs. of food. This filled a void after the town recreational programs ended. We also distributed 130 turkeys this Thanksgiving along with a $20 gift card to The Stafford Food Center for the fixings. The Gift Cards were donated by Stafford Family Services, for which we are all very grateful. Increased community support was exhibited by the 20,560lbs. of food collected by local food drives: Feinstein challenge 3,415lbs.; Postal Food Drive 3,715lbs; TTM 1,600lbs. and the 11,560lbs donated by private collections. In 2011 it cost $31,766 to operate this cupboard. Safe Net is a Foodshare partner which enables us to obtain food at an average cost of 17 cents a pound. According to Foodshare the Safe Net Ministries Food Cupboard is one of the top performing cupboards in their network. This is a remarkable advantage to Safe Net in meeting our goal of eliminating hunger in our town. There is no reason someone should be hungry in Stafford or Union! Qualification for food stamps (or as it is now called SNAP) is 185% of poverty; however Safe Net is able to distribute to families at 235% of poverty. This enables us to assist those who fall just short of the mark, along with those on SNAP and other state and federal programs. We do this at no cost to the people we serve. Safe Net’s primary mission is to assist those whose income is just a little over the cut off for services. All we require is that prospective recipients come to the Food Cupboard with a picture ID and fill out a self-declaration of income form.
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) 851-9987 to book your appointment.
Address :
86 Main St,
Stafford Springs, CT 06076.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Stafford Springs
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Hebron Interfaith Human Services
Hebron Interfaith Human Services (HIHS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1983 by the local houses of worship to fill a void in the community by providing emergency food assistance to town residents. In 1992, due to increasing needs of the community, a social services director was hired and HIHS expanded to include a year round food bank, fuel bank and human services. Since this time, HIHS has sustained a commitment to advocacy, whenever possible, to assist town residents in need. Recent changes to our economy require that we make every effort to expand programs and services to assist our community. We are currently supported by the local houses of worship, The Hebron Lions Club, local businesses, other civic organizations such as The Hebron Women's Club, fundraisers, participation in fundraising events, grants, and private donations. Food Pick-up Hours: (Food pick up is every other week) - Tuesday: 9:00am - 11:30am; Thursday 9:30am - 11:30am, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
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 (860) 228-1681 to book your appointment.
Address :
20 Pendleton Dr,
Hebron, CT 06248.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Hebron
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
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 Tolland, 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.