A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, Michigan 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 2 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Lansing, Michigan which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Lansing MI Capital Area Command
Services provided :
- Bible Study - Correspondence
- Camping Activities
- Casework Services
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Community Recreation Programs
- Day Camp Activities
- Day Care
- Disaster Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Food & Nutrition
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Men's Ministries
- Music & Arts Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- Transitional Care & Work Release
- Visitation Services
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Children's / Teen
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
- Worship Services - Young Adult
- Worship Services - Youth Ministries
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (517) 482-9715 to book your appointment.
Address :
525 N Pennsylvania Ave,
Lansing, MI 48912.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Ingham
The Salvation Army Lansing South Corps - Food Pantry
Households in need of food can receive assistance from one of two local Salvation Army Food Pantries one time each month, which may not be sufficient for some households. The amount of food each household receives is based on the number of individuals in the family/household. If you are in zip code areas 48912 or 48906 call the Citadel Corps at 484-4424 to make an appointment. If you are in zip code areas 48910 or 48911 call the South Corps at 394-6945 to make an appointment. You must have with you at the time of your appointment: Picture ID for all adults; Last 4 digits of social security number for everyone in the home; Medical cards or social security cards for children under 18; A piece of mail dated within 28 days that has Your name​, The correct address, A date within 28 days. Appointments are required!
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 (517) 394-6945 to book your appointment.
Address :
701 W Jolly Rd,
Lansing, MI 48910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Lansing
Help Residents of Counties:
- Ingham
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, Michigan which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Christ Lutheran Church Soup Kitchen
The "soup kitchen" at Christ Lutheran church has been assisting with serving the needs of the Lansing community for some time. Seeking to provide assistance when other churches or charities were not open, the kitchen serves an important need of "carrying a cup of hot soup (or other good food) in Jesus' name to those in need. Soup Kitchen Hours: Saturdays from 11:30am to 1:30pm
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 (517) 482-2252 to book your appointment.
Address :
122 S Pennsylvania Ave,
Lansing, MI 48912.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Lansing
Help Residents of Counties:
- Ingham
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 Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, Michigan which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Catholic Community of St. Jude - Food Pantry
Our pantry is located at the parish offices at 409 Wilson Street. Our food pantry is open to local (DeWitt, north Lansing zip 48906, Bath, St. Johns) residents. We do ask that you can provide proof of residency with either a valid drivers license and or a copy of a utility bill with your correct name and address. You are welcome to visit once every 4 weeks. Due to supply and demand you may receive 1 to 3 bags of non perishible food items. The best times to visit are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9 AM to Noon or 1:30PM to 5PM. We are closed on the usual holidays.
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 (517) 669-8335 to book your appointment.
Address :
409 Wilson St,
Dewitt, MI 48820.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Dewitt
Help Residents of Counties:
- Clinton
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, 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 Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, Michigan 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 Lansing, Michigan which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Redeemer Food Pantry
The Redeemer Food Pantry is a year-round outreach that provides food and other items to families referred through local human services organizations. Sometimes unexpected situations happen. When they do, the “Pantry†provides a little extra help to stretch the budget. Paper products, cleaning supplies, baby and personal care items, and non-perishable food products are collected through community food drives and from member donations. These contributions and targeted purchases help to keep the Redeemer Food Pantry filled with necessary product items. The Redeemer Food Pantry is open every Tuesday from 10:00am - 2:00pm and 5:30 - 7:00pm. Under our grant guidelines you must live in Clinton county and are allowed to visit our pantry only once every 30 days. A referral is required and can be received through the following agencies: Department of Human Services 989-224-5500 or Christian Services 517-394-5411.
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 (517) 669-3430 to book your appointment.
Address :
13980 Schavey Rd,
Dewitt, MI 48820.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Dewitt
Help Residents of Counties:
- Clinton
City of Lansing Mobile Food Pantry
City of Lansing Human Relations and Community Services Department & the Greater Lansing Food Bank announces the Mobile Food Pantry! The Mobile Food Pantry will be distributing FREE, fresh, non-perishable food items. Who can participate? The disadvantaged and vulnerable; Senior citizens on fixed incomes; Families/individuals with limited or low income jobs. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BRING A VALID STATE IDENTIFICATION CARD OR DRIVER'S LICENSE. If you or someone you know must choose between buying food and filling prescriptions, please tell them about this important program. Participants should bring a box or bag to carry food.
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 (517) 483-4477 to book your appointment.
Address :
1518 S Washington Ave,
Lansing, MI 48910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Lansing
Help Residents of Counties:
- Ingham
Immaculate Heart of Mary Soup Kitchen
Immaculate Heart of Mary offers a free meal to support those in need in our community. The meal is served on the 3rd Sunday of the month from 2:00 to 3:00 pm in the Parish Family Center. We have been blessed to have many volunteers to support this outreach.
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 (517) 393-3030 to book your appointment.
Address :
3815 S Cedar St,
Lansing, MI 48910.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Lansing
Help Residents of Counties:
- Ingham
Lansing Adventist Community Services Center
Our Community Service Center is in the red-brick building, located behind our church. We are open Wednesdays from 9am – 3pm and can be reached at 517-321-8238. Note: We do not allow pets of any kind in the service center. Assistance is normally given on an emergency basis. Every client must be interviewed before distributing clothing or food to establish their needs. You may be asked for information regarding your source of income and how much time elapses between income checks. A client with a referral from another agency (FIA/DHS/FOC, Red Cross, or another church) need not be interviewed except for the size of the family. Eligibility for assistance will also depend on whether the recipient is in the Lansing geographical area. All persons receiving clothing or food must be present at the center when distribution is made. All family members receiving goods must be present with the care giver to receive them. All children must live with the client. Extended family members should be treated as a separate client. You may be referred to another service center for assistance based on your location. To receive a food box or clothing, you will need a referral from the Greater Lansing Food Bank. Please contact them first at 517-887-5357. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, national origin, disability, or religion; therefore if a church has no poor fund or cannot help their own members adequately, they may refer them to the center. Adventist members and center volunteers may also become our clients and should abide by the rules of the center as any other client. We guarantee confidentiality to all our clients.
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 (517) 321-8238 to book your appointment.
Address :
5400 W St,
Joe Hwy Lansing, MI 48917.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Joe Hwy Lansing
Help Residents of Counties:
- Eaton
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 Lansing, Michigan
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.