We found 6 food pantries listed for Tolland County, Connecticut. Call before you go to confirm hours and what to bring. You can also see Food banks in Tolland County, Connecticut.
Salvation Army Food Pantry Locations
We have located 1 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Tolland, Connecticut. You can also check your eligibility.
Drop Box Vernon Salvation Army Store
Phone: (860) 872-5423
Address: 295 Hartford Tpke, Vernon Rockville, CT 06066. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Services provided :
- Drop Box
- Salvation Army Family Store
Appointments :
Call (860) 872-5423 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Church Food Pantry Locations
We have located 1 Church Food Pantry locations in Tolland, Connecticut. You can also check your eligibility.
Community United Methodist Church - Food Pantry
Phone: (860) 872-0798
Address: 278 Sandy Beach Rd, Ellington, CT 06029. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
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 :
Call (860) 872-0798 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Ellington
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Food Pantry Locations
We have located 4 Food Pantry locations in Tolland, Connecticut. You can also check your eligibility.
Safe Net Ministry - Food Cupboard
Phone: (860) 851-9987
Address: 86 Main St, Stafford Springs, CT 06076. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
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 :
Call (860) 851-9987 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Stafford Springs
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Hebron Interfaith Human Services
Phone: (860) 228-1681
Address: 20 Pendleton Dr, Hebron, CT 06248. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
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 :
Call (860) 228-1681 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Hebron
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Town of Bolton Senior/Social Services - Food Pantry
Phone: (860) 647-9196
Address: 104 Notch Rd, Bolton, CT 06043. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
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 :
Call (860) 647-9196 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Bolton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
Safe Net Ministry - Flo's Friendship Kitchen
Phone: (860) 851-9987
Address: 8 Church St, Stafford Springs, CT 06076. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
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 :
Call (860) 851-9987 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Stafford Springs
Help Residents of Counties:
- Tolland
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 offers free food help through local centers. Contact the branch nearest Tolland, Connecticut to confirm hours and requirements. 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.
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.
Church pantries often rely on food donations gathered through food drives.
Some churches also deliver food items to older adults who are unable to drive to a nearby community food pantry. Please contact your local church directly.
Catholic Charities Food Pantry
Resources provided by Catholic Charities organizations can include help with food, holiday, and immigration needs.
Families of all religions, backgrounds, and cultures can contact Catholic Charities centers for help.
Catholic Charities locations in and around Tolland, Connecticut may offer groceries, food boxes, and items to prepare a meal. Hours and walk-in rules vary, so call before you go.
Some of these food pantries work like grocery stores, letting clients choose the items they need from the groceries available on site.
First-time clients may need to fill out a short application with basic household information.
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Some independent food pantries use the Helping Hands name. Any Helping Hands pantries we have listed around Tolland, Connecticut appear on this page.
Food supplies, hours, and services differ from one pantry to the next, so call before you go.
These pantries often rely on donations and volunteers from their local communities.
Find a local helping hands food pantry open near you.
Mobile Food Pantry
Mobile food pantries bring free food directly to families in need in communities around Tolland, Connecticut, often during large one-day distributions.
Some mobile pantries hand out pre-packed boxes, while others let you shop market-style.
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 2026
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 pantries often 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.
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
Some St. Vincent de Paul food pantries around Tolland, Connecticut may operate much like a grocery store, where people in need can choose their own food.
Services vary by location, so call the pantry near you to ask what is available.
Food Pantry Delivery Program
Some food banks run delivery programs that bring food and other products to partner agencies in more remote areas. Ask a food pantry around Tolland, Connecticut whether delivery is available near you.
Drive-thru Food Pantries
Drive-thru food pantries are a convenient and efficient way to distribute food to neighbors in need. Many are open to anyone who needs help with food, but rules vary by location, so call ahead if you can.
Who can visit a drive-thru pantry?
Drive-thru pantries are generally open to anyone who needs help getting food. Requirements vary, so check with the pantry before you go.
You may be asked to provide:
- Your zip code, and
- Number of people in your household.
You usually do not need an appointment. Drive-thru pantries are generally first-come, first-served, so plan to arrive early because lines can fill quickly and popular items may run out.
How do drive-thru pantries work?
Volunteers and staff manage the distribution line. Here is how most drive-thru pantries operate:
Staff and volunteers direct visitors to the distribution area.
Visitors pull up in their car and are guided into a clearly marked queue. Staff move cars forward to keep the line moving quickly.
Check-in.
You may be asked about your zip code, household size or income for the pantry's records.
Food is loaded into your car.
Pre-packed bags of food — typically including shelf-stable items like pasta, canned fruit, and peanut butter, as well as fresh produce and meats — are loaded by volunteers directly into your trunk.
Pet Food Pantry
Some pet owners give up their pets because they cannot afford to care for them. Pet food pantries help fill a gap left by assistance programs such as SNAP, which cannot be used to buy pet food.
Pet food pantries may provide free pet food for a limited time to pet owners who cannot afford to feed their pets in Tolland, Connecticut.
Who is eligible for a pet food pantry?
Rules vary by pantry, but many help 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.
Some 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.
This is often a 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, Infants, and 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?
Food pantries typically provide shelf-stable items such as:
- Peanut butter
- Canned soup
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Pasta
- Canned beans
- Canned stew
- Canned fish
3. Who can go to a food pantry?
Rules vary by food pantry. Many ask only that you say you need help, while others may ask for ID, proof of address, income information, or a referral. Call ahead to find out what to bring.
4. What is the difference between a food pantry and a soup kitchen?
A food pantry often provides food packages meant to last a few days 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 food from the food industry and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. Those organizations then provide this food directly to families in need.