A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Canton, Georgia 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 Canton, Georgia 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 0 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Canton, Georgia which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Canton, Georgia 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 Canton, Georgia which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Northwest Christian Church
Food Pantry provides thousands of pounds of food to hundreds of people in our community each month. We are dedicated to helping our community by lending a helping hand to families in need who are working towards a better life! Every Tuesday - 9 am to 12 pm and 2nd & 3rd Saturdays - 9 am to 12 pm.
Services provided :
- food delivery
- 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 (770) 425-2525 to book your appointment.
Address :
3737 Dallas Acworth Hwy NW,
Acworth, GA 30101.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cobb
Heritage Presbyterian Church
Heritage Presbyterian Church serves Christ with a lively and loving faith in the strong tradition of the Presbyterian Church (USA). We work together to use the gifts that God has graciously given us as we carry out the mission to which we have been called. At Heritage, we say 'Don't just GO to church, BE the church." We believe in showing and sharing God's love in our community, both locally and globally.
The Jay Weaver Food Pantry is an emergency food pantry serving an area limited to five miles from our church address. Since our resources are limited, we have the following guidelines you should be aware of:
Appointments are filled as volunteers are available on the following days – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Please call for appointment.
NO WALK-INS please
1. Caring volunteers distribute food only with an appointment.
2. You must have proper ID for your appointment.
3. You are eligible for assistance once every three months.
4. Our volunteers are only able to serve you three times a year.
5. If you do not show up for your appointment, you will have to wait 30 days before making another appointment.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- emergency food
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (770) 926-3558 to book your appointment.
Address :
5323 Bells Ferry Rd,
Acworth, GA 30102.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cobb
World Harvest Church
Food Pantry program assists families in need by providing food as needed. There is no cost for the food. Church membership is also not required to utilize this resource, which takes place once monthly. For more information call 770-643-9223.
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 (770) 643-9223 to book your appointment.
Address :
320 Hardscrabble Rd,
Roswell, GA 30075.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Fulton
World Harvest Church
Food pantry program provides food at no cost to the needy families once monthly. For more information, call 770.643.9223.
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 (770) 643-9223 to book your appointment.
Address :
320 Hardscrabble Rd,
Roswell, GA 30075.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Fulton
First Baptist Church Woodstock - Food Pantry
This ministry provides food boxes up to 5 times a year for church members or residents of Cherokee County. We work in conjunction with Storehouse Ministries, we have yearly food drives and we receive donations from many local businesses.
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 (678) 494-2690 to book your appointment.
Address :
11905 Highway 92,
Woodstock, GA 30188.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Woodstock
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
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 Canton, Georgia 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 1 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Canton, Georgia which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church Food Pantry
One of the greatest gifts we are able to provide to families in need is the gift of a nutritious meal. Founded by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the St. Michael's Parish Food Pantry is stocked by the generous contributions of St. Michael the Archangel's parishioners. This food is distributed to those in need by a group of volunteers whose mission is to deliver food when and where it is needed. Often a family may have spent the last of their monthly income to pay a utility bill and with a week before the next paycheck, find that they are out of food. The St. Michael Parish pantry volunteers donate a week's worth of groceries so that children have a nourishing breakfast to start their day, lunches to take to school, and enough food to provide for the family meal at the end of the day.
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 (770) 516-0009 to book your appointment.
Address :
490 Arnold Mill Rd,
Woodstock, GA 30188.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Woodstock
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Canton, Georgia 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 Canton, Georgia 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 Canton, Georgia 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 Canton, 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 Canton, Georgia 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 Canton, Georgia 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 Canton, Georgia 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 12 Food Pantry locations in Canton, Georgia which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Act Together Ministries
The Food Pantry is open the 3rd Saturday of each month, except during July, November and December. Please register to reserve your spot.
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 (770) 889-8302 to book your appointment.
Address :
410 Rucker Rd,
Alpharetta, GA 30004.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
- Cobb
- Forsyth
- Fulton
- Gwinnett
Drake House Inc
Food Pantry is stocked with canned goods, dry items such as pasta, cereal and rice, paper and cleaning products, toiletries, diapers and baby items, condiments and juices. Through gift card donations, fresh foods such as milk, cheese and eggs are purchased each week to supplement the canned and dry items.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- baby supplies
- diapers & formula
- personal care items
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (770) 587-4712 to book your appointment.
Address :
10500 Clara Dr, STE A-5,
Roswell, GA 30075.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Fulton
Lighthouse Food Pantry
Our Food Pantry provides free food to feed families and individuals in need. We supply groceries for residents that do not have enough food because they lack the resources to purchase it. We serve everyone from low income families, single parents, senior citizens, unemployed individuals, disabled veterans, working poor, and anyone else that comes to the pantry that needs food.
There are no limits on food so you may visit all three days we serve but we can only help one family per address.
Documents Required:
• Proof of address
• Picture ID for all 18 and older in residence
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 (678) 363-7470 to book your appointment.
Address :
294 W I Pkwy,
Dallas, GA 30132.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Fri: 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Barrow
- Bartow
- Butts
- Carroll
- Cherokee
- Clayton
- Cobb
- Coweta
- Dawson
- Dekalb
- Douglas
- Fayette
- Forsyth
- Fulton
- Gwinnett
- Haralson
- Heard
- Henry
- Jasper
- Lamar
- Meriwether
- Morgan
- Newton
- Paulding
- Pickens
- Pike
- Rockdale
- Spalding
- Walton
Fountain of Hope
We respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person and treat all with justice, equity and compassion. We honor the lives, concerns and stories of people in need and expect our partners to do the same. We accept one another and encourage diversity of thoughts and ideas. Because of this we are proud to supply Boxes of Hope.
A “Box Of Hope” is an assortment of Nutritious Foods donated by local companies from all over Georgia. The box is valued at $35 and includes Whole Grains & Breads, Fresh & Canned Fruits/Vegetables, Assorted Proteins, Beverages and Snacks.
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 (678) 456-4673 to book your appointment.
Address :
829 Hollywood Rd NW,
Atlanta, GA 30318.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Thurs: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
- Fri: 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Barrow
- Bartow
- Butts
- Carroll
- Cherokee
- Clayton
- Cobb
- Coweta
- Dawson
- Dekalb
- Douglas
- Fayette
- Forsyth
- Fulton
- Gwinnett
- Haralson
- Heard
- Henry
- Jasper
- Lamar
- Meriwether
- Morgan
- Newton
- Paulding
- Pickens
- Pike
- Rockdale
- Spalding
- Walton
North Fulton Community Charities
NFCC is a leader in North Fulton offering assistance to over 5,000 families annually. Food was distributed over 20,000 times, over 2,000 families utilized clothing vouchers, and $1.3 million dollars was expended for direct aid to our clients in need of financial assistance. Our Education Center offers an array of classes and opportunities to help residents move toward financial stability and self sufficiency. Although the demand for these services has increased significantly since its founding, NFCC continues to help hands-on, one family at a time. Food Pantry: NFCC distributes non-perishable and donated food along with recovered bread, bakery, produce and other fresh or frozen items. Staple goods including toiletries, paper goods and cleaning products may also be 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 (770) 640-0399 to book your appointment.
Address :
11270 Elkins Rd,
Roswell, GA 30076.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
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- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Roswell
Help Residents of Counties:
- Fulton
The Drake House - Food Pantry
The Drake House food pantry is stocked with canned goods, dry items such as pasta, cereal, and rice, paper and cleaning products, toiletries, diapers and baby items, condiments, and juices. Through gift card donations, fresh foods such as milk, cheese, and eggs are purchased each week to supplement the canned and dry items. Mothers complete a grocery need list each Monday evening during their workshop, volunteers fill the orders, and families return to their apartments with provisions for the week. The pantry is stocked through donations from individuals, businesses, faith-based organizations, and civic groups.
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 (770) 587-4712 to book your appointment.
Address :
10500 Clara Dr,
Roswell, GA 30075.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
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- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Roswell
Help Residents of Counties:
- Fulton
Feed My Sheep
Providing canned and dried goods to Cherokee and surrounding counties. Distribution is the first Saturday of every month from 9:00a - 12:00p. No documentation or proof of residency is required at this time.
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 (770) 479-5538 to book your appointment.
Address :
1 Mission Pt,
Canton, GA 30114.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
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- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Canton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
MUST Ministries - Cherokee Program Services
The MUST Ministries Program Services in Cherokee County offer Food, Clothing, Employment Services as well as Breads & Sweets. Here, clients receive food and clothing assistance, referral assistance, and Employment Assistance. Clients participate in a variety of classes in the classroom and the computer lab, both staffed by volunteers. Services open Monday - Friday 10am - 2pm.
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 (770) 479-5397 to book your appointment.
Address :
111 Brown Industrial Pkwy,
Canton, GA 30114.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Canton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
Papa's Pantry - Canton Branch
Papa’s Pantry is a food ministry in which our mission is to partner with families who are going through a sudden, unexpected financial set-back whereby food is at-risk in the household. It is our goal to “partner†with these families as they go through the steps of getting back on their feet, until they have re-stabilized by providing the tools needed. We are all about whole-ness; Feeding the spirit, mind, and body… but our bodies were not created to live and thrive on processed fake-foods, chemicals and preservatives! No, we were created to be nourished on vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fruit. For this reason, we take an intent approach to nutrition for the households of the families we work with. With your financial contribution, we provide meat, milk and produce for our “partnered families†as well as offering the wide variety of non-perishable food items that come in through various donation processes. Papa's Pantry Canton Branch: Tuesday: 4:00pm to 7:00pm; Friday: 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Grocery Assistance is by appointment only.
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 (770) 479-0729 to book your appointment.
Address :
500 Crisler St,
Canton, GA 30114.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Canton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
Papa's Pantry
Papa’s Pantry is a food ministry in which our mission is to partner with families who are going through a sudden, unexpected financial set-back whereby food is at-risk in the household. It is our goal to “partner†with these families as they go through the steps of getting back on their feet, until they have re-stabilized by providing the tools needed. We are all about whole-ness; Feeding the spirit, mind, and body… but our bodies were not created to live and thrive on processed fake-foods, chemicals and preservatives! No, we were created to be nourished on vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fruit. For this reason, we take an intent approach to nutrition for the households of the families we work with. With your financial contribution, we provide meat, milk and produce for our “partnered families†as well as offering the wide variety of non-perishable food items that come in through various donation processes. Monday & Friday: 9:30am to 2:30pm; Tues, Wed, & Thurs: 9:30am to 4:30pm. Grocery Assistance is by appointment only.
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 (770) 591-4730 to book your appointment.
Address :
6551 Commerce Pkwy Ste 200,
Woodstock, GA 30189.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
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- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Woodstock
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
WCC Food Pantry
Now more then ever it seems that people are having a tough time providing for their families. As Christians, we understand our responsibility to our neighbors. We are committed to helping struggling individuals and families through the WCC Food Pantry. The WCC Food Pantry is open once a week on Thursdays, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Individuals and families may come and receive food that will carry them through their current situation. If you or someone you know could use assistance with food, come on by and we would be happy to share with you. The Food Pantry assists individuals within a 5 mile radius of the church. Due to overwhelming need, we are unfortunately unable to assist with financial difficulties. We also need to limit each family to 4 visits a year to 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 (770) 926-8238 to book your appointment.
Address :
7700 Highway 92,
Woodstock, GA 30189.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Woodstock
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
Irwinton Toomsboro Salem United Methodist Charge - Food Pantry
Our Food Pantry is available to to all those in need. Basic food items are available to any who may need help in providing food for their families. Canned vegatables, canned meats and dry food are 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 (478) 946-2493 to book your appointment.
Address :
104 Brookwood Dr,
Irwinton, GA 30142.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Irwinton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cherokee
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 Canton, Georgia
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.