We found 14 food pantries listed for Winnebago County, Illinois. Call before you go to confirm hours and what to bring. You can also see Food banks in Winnebago County, Illinois.
Salvation Army Food Pantry Locations
We have located 4 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Winnebago, Illinois. You can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Rockford & Winnebago County Office
Phone: (815) 962-7195
Address: 520 Hollister Ave, Rockford, IL 61108. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Services provided :
- Aid to Families
- Casework Services
- Clinics Services
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Community Recreation Programs
- Disaster Services
- Domestic Violence Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Emergency Shelter
- Food & Nutrition
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Pathway of Hope
- Seasonal Services
- Transitional Care & Work Release
- Transitional Housing
- Visitation Services
Appointments :
Call (815) 962-7195 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
The Salvation Army - Rockford Temple Corps Community Center
Phone: (815) 226-4400
Address: 500 S Rockford Ave, Rockford, IL 61104. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Services provided :
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Community Recreation Programs
- Day Camp Activities
- Men's Ministries
- Music & Arts Programs
- Pathway of Hope
- Senior Citizen Clubs
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Children's / Teen
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
- Worship Services - Young Adult
- Worship Services - Youth Ministries
Appointments :
Call (815) 226-4400 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
The Salvation Army - Rockford Tabernacle Corps Community Center
Phone: (815) 963-2480
Address: 210 Kilburn Ave, Rockford, IL 61101. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Services provided :
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Community Recreation Programs
- Pathway of Hope
- Seasonal Services
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
- Worship Services - Youth Ministries
Appointments :
Call (815) 963-2480 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
The Salvation Army - Rockford & Winnebago County Social Service Center
Phone: (815) 972-1135
Address: 416 S Madison St, Rockford, IL 61104. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Services provided :
- Casework Services
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Food & Nutrition
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Food Pantry
- Pathway of Hope
- Seasonal Services
- Transitional Housing
Appointments :
Call (815) 972-1135 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Church Food Pantry Locations
We have located 4 Church Food Pantry locations in Winnebago, Illinois. You can also check your eligibility.
Food Pantry at the Old Stone Church
Phone: (815) 624-6212
Address: 101 E Un, St Rockton, IL 61072. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The Pantry is an ecumenical and civic undertaking which receives groceries and financial gifts from many sources. Among those who participate in this ministry are: Churches, civic group and service organizations, individuals, schools, foundations, and businesses. The success and tenure of the Pantry has made it a reliable and trusted vehicle for helping those in need. People are treated with dignity and compassion as Christ would treat them and as anyone would want to be treated in their time of need. In addition to the weekly Pantry services to families, the Old Stone Church Food Pantry began a “backpack program†in 2011 to help children in need. The Rockton Grade School and Stephen Mack Middle School have identified children whose families may be having difficulty providing groceries for the weekend. Each week backpacks are filled with basic supplies and dropped off at the schools. The children stop in the school office on their way home from school and pick up their backpack, then return the empty pack to school on the following Monday. In the 2011-2012 school year the pantry was preparing 36 backpacks each week for those in need. In addition, this program spawned a similar program currently provided by the Roscoe United Methodist Church. Another element of the Pantry’s ministry is the Thanksgiving Baskets. The week before Thanksgiving 60 orders are taken for baskets which include a turkey and all the foods necessary for a good Thanksgiving meal. These baskets of food are especially helpful in allowing families to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with their larger family without the stress of extra costs. Finally, over the years people have given special financial gifts for the Pantry to provide some Christmas gifts for children. Since the needs of families might be better known through the personal contacts through the Pantry a list of needs can be compiled. The Pantry manager or volunteers shop for gifts for children and help to provide some of these gifts to help families in need.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 624-6212 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- St Rockton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Life Church Roscoe Campus - Food Pantry
Phone: (815) 623-7625
Address: 5910 Elevator Rd, Roscoe, IL 61073. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 623-7625 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Roscoe
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Soup Kitchen
Phone: (815) 963-4815
Address: 320 S Fifth St, Rockford, IL 61104. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Hours of operation: Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Except holidays. We serve lunch to all who are hungry in the Rockford area. The Soup Kitchen is located on the first floor of the Mission House. Two to three noon meals per week are served there feeding 1,200 to 1,500 people each month. Twenty different churches and organizations are involved in serving meals there. Each church or organization that serves buys the food and prepares the meal out of their own budgets. Emmanuel hosts and manages the monthly schedule of volunteers. All neighborhood groups are invited to join Emmanuel in cooking for and serving to our neighbors in need.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 963-4815 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Rockford
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Food Pantry
Phone: (815) 963-4815
Address: 920 Third Ave, Rockford, IL 61104. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Hours of operation: Every Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Every Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Numbers are handed out at 9:30 a.m., no earlier. Closed on Holidays. Identification is needed for everyone such as ID, driver's license, medical card, mail with name and address, etc. And, if possible, identification for children. Bathroom facilities available after the food pantry opens. The Food Pantry was started in 1977 and is located on Emmanuel's first floor in the Sunday School wing. It is open two mornings each week, and serves over 1,000 families in the Rockford area with emergency provisions each month. The need began to increase dramatically in recent years, so two years ago Emmanuel began hosting a special pantry offering at the worship service on the second Sunday of the month. This offering is in addition to our regular monetary offerings each Sunday. Parishioners pick slips of paper out of an offering tray, and we call this a reverse offering. The slips of paper have different foods and household goods typed on them. Each parishioner may take as many as he or she wishes. The chosen items are then brought back to the church on the third Sunday and placed in grocery carts that are stationed in the narthex. After all of the food and other items are collected, the (hopefully) brimming carts are brought—along with the monetary offerings—to the altar rail where they are blessed by the pastor.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 963-4815 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Rockford
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Catholic Charities Food Pantry Locations
We have located 1 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Winnebago, Illinois. You can also check your eligibility.
St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center - Soup Kitchen/Food Pantry
Phone: (815) 965-6993
Address: 1505 S Main St, Rockford, IL 61102. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Soup Kitchen: We serve hot and nutritious meals to those in need. Meals are prepared and served by parishioners from the area churches and volunteers from our community. The soup kitchen operates from September thru May, yearly. Hours of Operation: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 11 am - 12:30 pm. Food Pantry: Our pantry provides a 2 - 3 day supply of food. Clients may visit our pantry once a month. We are partners with Northern Illinois Food Bank as well as many local parishes. Our pantry is staffed by parish and community volunteers. Hours of Operation: Monday thru Thursday 1 pm - 2:30 pm, Fridays 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 965-6993 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Rockford
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Food Pantry Locations
We have located 5 Food Pantry locations in Winnebago, Illinois. You can also check your eligibility.
Rockford Rescue Mission
Phone: (815) 965-5332
Address: 715 W State St, Rockford, IL 61102. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
For the homeless, survival is day to day, which often means searching for the next meal. At the Mission, a hot, nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered free of charge every day of the year for any hungry man, woman or child in the community. The Mission serves approximately 427 meals a day. Breakfast is served at 7 a.m., lunch at noon, and dinner at 6 p.m. following the 5:30 p.m. chapel service in the Great Room. Guests enter through the food service doors on the Northeast corner of the Mission (off Rockton Avenue). Special holiday banquets are also provided at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 965-5332 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Rockford
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
God's Glory Food Pantry
Phone: (815) 580-8184
Address: 1250 S Perryville Rd, Rockford, IL 61108. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
God's Glory Food Pantry is a private non-government funded food pantry. The food available from our pantry is purchased or donated by the members of Total Faith Community Church and Cornerstone Community Church. Occasionally we get special donations from outside sources as well. Most of the food available at the pantry is purchased from the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The churches started the work at the pantry as a way to show God's love for the people in our surrounding community. Currently serving households in ZIP codes 61108, 61109 and 61016. We are open on the third Saturday of every month from Noon to 2PM.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 580-8184 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Rockford
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Rock River Valley Pantry - Crusader Clinic Pantry
Phone: (815) 965-2466
Address: 1100 Broadway, Rockford, IL 61104. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Rock River Valley Pantry fights hunger in the community by providing nutritious food to those in urgent need.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 965-2466 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Rockford
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Pecatonica Community Food Pantry
Phone: (815) 239-1110
Address: 528 Washington St, Pecatonica, IL 61063. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Pecatonica Community Food Pantry Distribution Schedule: 2nd Saturday of each month 10:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon; 4th Tuesday of each month 10:00 a.m. through 12:00 noon
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 239-1110 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Pecatonica
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
Rock River Valley Pantry - Main Location
Phone: (815) 965-2466
Address: 421 S Rockton Ave, Rockford, IL 61102. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Rock River Valley Pantry fights hunger in the community by providing nutritious food to those in urgent need.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (815) 965-2466 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Rockford
Help Residents of Counties:
- Winnebago
A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Winnebago, Illinois 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 Winnebago, Illinois 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 Winnebago, Illinois 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 Winnebago, Illinois 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 Winnebago, Illinois 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 Winnebago, Illinois, 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 Winnebago, Illinois 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 Winnebago, Illinois 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 Winnebago, Illinois.
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.