A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Silver Spring United Methodist Church - Arleeta’s Pantry
Every Saturday from 9-11 am volunteers distribute nonperishable food items at the Pantry’s Downtown Campus location to approximately 30-50 families per week. Reflecting these economic times, the number of families coming to the Pantry and the number of bags of food distributed has increased significantly in the last year. Food comes the Capital Area Food Bank, area supermarkets, and donations from the congregation. Items needed on a regular basis include: canned soup, canned vegetables and fruit, boxes of cereal, peanut butter, jelly, canned and dry pasta, rice, canned and dry beans, canned and dry pasta, rice and tuna and other canned meats.
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 (301) 587-1215 to book your appointment.
Address :
8900 Georgia Ave,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Silver Spring
Help Residents of Counties:
- Montgomery
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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St. Camillus Catholic Church (Silver Spring Pantry)
Food security is access to safe, adequate, sufficient, easy-to-use, and culturally appropriate food at all times of the year. The largest activity of this ministry is the operation of two Food Pantries, one in the rectory basement and one in Langley Park, which provide emergency food assistance to families in need.
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 (301) 434-8400 to book your appointment.
Address :
1600 St Camillus Dr,
Silver Spring, MD 20903.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Silver Spring
Help Residents of Counties:
- Montgomery
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, 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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 Silver Spring, Maryland 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 5 Food Pantry locations in Silver Spring, Maryland which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington (ACSGW)
Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington (ACSGW) collects food donations from throughout the community and keeps it available at our center for people who need some assistance. The food that is available varies throughout the month. It just depends on what ACSGW has received. Typically, we have nonperishable food, such as canned goods and pastas, as well as perishable food, such as fruits and vegetables. Sometimes we meat or poultry for our clients. Usually, we also have breads.
Qualified clients can visit the center once a month for food. People needing food must first visit our center to talk with a case manager to explain their need and provide the information necessary to ensure they meet current qualifications. You can request an appointment with a case manager by calling us at 301-585-6556. People who qualify can receive food the same day. Since we often provide more food than a person can carry, you should consider bringing a shopping cart or someone else with you to help you carry the food home.
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 (301) 585-6557 to book your appointment.
Address :
501 Sligo Ave,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 10:00 AM - 02:30 PM
- Tues: 10:00 AM - 02:30 PM
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 02:30 PM
- Thurs: 10:00 AM - 02:30 PM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alexandria City
- Arlington
- Calvert
- Charles
- Clarke
- Culpeper
- District Of Columbia
- Fairfax
- Fairfax City
- Falls Church City
- Fauquier
- Frederick
- Fredericksburg City
- Jefferson
- Loudoun
- Manassas City
- Manassas Park City
- Montgomery
- Prince Georges
- Prince William
- Rappahannock
- Spotsylvania
- Stafford
- Warren
Rainbow Community Development Center Inc
The Rainbow Community Development Center (RCDC), Inc.’s mission is building better lives for those in need. We have been helping families to become self-sufficient and became a non profit entity. One of our programs is the Food Pantry.
With food prices soaring, obesity, diabetes and other health-related diseases are on the incline. Healthy, nutritious foods (such as fresh produce) are more expensive and less likely to be purchased, a factor in many health-related issues.
The RCDC Community Food Distribution program consists of the food pantry and nutritional education programs geared toward serving low-income individuals and families in need.
This program is staffed by a group of dedicated volunteers. Our pantry is the only pantry in the local area that provides fresh produce on a consistent weekly basis. Clients are served from throughout the Maryland, DC and Virginia area and can self-refer based on need.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- nutrition education
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (301) 625-2561 to book your appointment.
Address :
2120 Industrial Pkwy,
Silver Spring, MD 20904.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Alexandria City
- Arlington
- Calvert
- Charles
- Clarke
- Culpeper
- District Of Columbia
- Fairfax
- Fairfax City
- Falls Church City
- Fauquier
- Frederick
- Fredericksburg City
- Jefferson
- Loudoun
- Manassas City
- Manassas Park City
- Montgomery
- Prince Georges
- Prince William
- Rappahannock
- Spotsylvania
- Stafford
- Warren
Jesus House DC
Feed-A-Soul program provides food and fellowship for the less privileged who frequently visit Franklin Park in Washington, DC every 2nd and 4th Sunday. For more information call 301-650-1900 or email info@jesushousedc.org.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- spiritual support
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (301) 650-1900 to book your appointment.
Address :
921 Philadelphia Ave,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 12:00 PM - 08:00 PM
- Tues: 12:00 PM - 08:00 PM
- Wed: 12:00 PM - 08:00 PM
- Thurs: 12:00 PM - 08:00 PM
- Fri: 12:00 PM - 08:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- District Of Columbia
Shepherd’s Table
The food service program is at the heart of the mission of Shepherd’s Table. Through the extraordinary efforts of thousands of volunteers, dedicated staff and countless donors, the evening meal has been served without interruption since December, 1983. That’s 32+ years of feeding hungry people in our community. In November of 2008, we served our 1,000,000th meal.On Sunday, December 16, 2012 we served our first brunch meal, beginning our 30th year of service. Through a special appeal in October 2012, funding for the Thierry Musel Brunch Program was secured for 2013. No longer will our clients and dinner guests be hungry during the day on the weekends. Thanks to all of our donors and volunteers for bringing this program to life. Shepherd’s Table is mightily blessed with the support of the local Silver Spring community, folks throughout Montgomery County and the greater DC region. Strong financial support, consistent donations of in-kind gifts, amazing food recovery from local grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries and farmer’s markets along with the fabulous service by volunteers, and a dedicated staff all combine to make the evening meal and brunch program possible. Our dinner/brunch volunteers are composed of a wide array of people: adults, youth, young adults, court ordered folks, service learning students and teams of people from churches and synagogues, businesses and schools, and organizations throughout the area. Brunch Meal Served Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.; Evening Meals Served Daily, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 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 (301) 585-6463 to book your appointment.
Address :
8210 Dixon Ave,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Silver Spring
Help Residents of Counties:
- Montgomery
The St. Anthony Food Pantry/ La Despensa de San Antonio (Langley Park Pantry)
Food security is access to safe, adequate, sufficient, easy-to-use, and culturally appropriate food at all times of the year. The largest activity of this ministry is the operation of two Food Pantries, one in the rectory basement and one in Langley Park, which provide emergency food assistance to families in need.
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 (301) 328-5105 to book your appointment.
Address :
8102 Tahona Dr,
Silver Spring, MD 20903.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Silver Spring
Help Residents of Counties:
- Montgomery
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 Silver Spring, Maryland
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.