We found 15 food pantries listed for Mercer County, New Jersey. Call before you go to confirm hours and what to bring. You can also see Food banks in Mercer County, New Jersey.
Salvation Army Food Pantry Locations
We have located 1 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Mercer, New Jersey. You can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Trenton Citadel
Phone: (609) 599-9373
Address: 575 E State St, Trenton, NJ 08609. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Services provided :
- Aid to Families
- Bible Study - Correspondence
- Camping Activities
- Casework Services
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Disaster Services
- Food & Nutrition
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Men's Ministries
- Military Personnel Assistance
- Missing Persons
- Music & Arts Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- Visitation Services
- Women's Ministries
- Worship Services - Children's / Teen
- Worship Services - Church
- Worship Services - Sunday School
Appointments :
Call (609) 599-9373 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Church Food Pantry Locations
We have located 1 Church Food Pantry locations in Mercer, New Jersey. You can also check your eligibility.
Sacred Heart Church - Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen
Phone: (609) 393-2801
Address: 343 S Broad St, Trenton, NJ 08608. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Food Bagging and Distribution takes place in Toomey Hall - Bagging from 1:15 to 2:30PM; Distribution from 1:15 to 5:15PM; The Lord’s Table - Once a month a hot meal is prepared and served to the needy of our area in Toomey Hall from 12:30 to 1:30PM
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 393-2801 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Catholic Charities Food Pantry Locations
We have located 1 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Mercer, New Jersey. You can also check your eligibility.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton - Community Food Pantry (Mercer County)
Phone: (609) 394-8847
Address: 132 N Warren St, Trenton, NJ 08608. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Pre-packed food bags provide 3 meals per day for 3 days of each household member.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 394-8847 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Food Pantry Locations
We have located 12 Food Pantry locations in Mercer, New Jersey. You can also check your eligibility.
Rise: A Community Service Partnership - Food Pantry
Phone: (609) 443-4464
Address: 225 Franklin St, Hightstown, NJ 08520. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
As part of a county-wide Nutritional Alliance in partnership with St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, Panera Bread andWhole Foods Market, we maintain a year-round pantry of perishable and non-perishable food, as well as personal care items, baby supplies and pet food. Our Food Pantry patrons have also benefitted from the very generous donations from Church & Dwight Co., NJ Farmers Against Hunger, Trader Joe’s, First United Methodist Church of Hightstown, Mrs. Green’s Natural Market, Wawa in Monroe, the Molly Pitcher Service area, Down to Earth of Colts Neck, First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck, St. Paul Lutheran Church, The Windsor-Hightstown Area Ministerium (WHAM), ShopRite of East Windsor, Target#1345 of East Windsor, L’Oreal USA, Conair Corp., 1st Presbyterian Church of Hightstown and St. David’s Episcopal Church. Once eligibility is determined, families are entitled to visit the pantry on a weekly basis. The pantry is located at 225 Franklin Street in Hightstown, NJ. Hours are Mon. – Wed. 9am – 12pm. We have expanded our hours to include the first and third Wednesday of every month from 5:00pm-7:00pm.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 443-4464 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Hightstown
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
New Hope Food Pantry
Phone: (609) 393-3293
Address: 400 Hamilton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08609. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
New hope Food Pantry Hours - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 1st & 3rd Saturday Monthly
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 393-3293 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Princeton Deliverance Center - Food Pantry
Phone: (609) 392-9161
Address: 301 Southard St, Trenton, NJ 08609. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Wednesday Food Distribution 12:30pm (not the 1st Wednesday of the Month); Friday Food Distribution 9:00am
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 392-9161 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Trinity Cathedral Food Pantry
Phone: (609) 392-3805
Address: 801 W State St, Trenton, NJ 08618. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The food pantry is another way the cathedral addresses the problem of hunger in our community, serving both the needs of our parishioners, as well as those of our brothers and sisters in surrounding neighborhoods. Through generous monetary contributions and donations of perishable and nonperishable food items from: cathedral members, partner congregations, local grocery stores, and the federal Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the State Food Purchase Program (SFPP); and with hands-on assistance from local university students, two Saturdays each month the cathedral distributes healthy and nutritious food to residents of the greater Trenton area, totally more than 4000 bags, annually. In the spirit of Christian fellowship, food pantry guests are also invited to assist in preparing food for distribution, and to join us for our annual Thanksgiving brunch for our parish and community.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 392-3805 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Arm in Arm - Food Pantry
Phone: (609) 396-9355
Address: 714 S Clinton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08611. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Monday through Thursday, 9:30AM-12PM. Can we help you fill a financial gap by providing food? You are welcome to visit any two of our three food pantries each month. Each visit provides enough food to feed each member of your household for three days. Please have the following documentation with you: Proof of residence in Mercer County, including any recent piece of mail; Photo ID for head of household; Proof of family members in your residence; For anyone in your household under the age of 18, please provide one of the following every six months: birth certificate, immunization record, WIC folder, passport, court-ordered custody paper.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 396-9355 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Rescue Mission of Trenton
Phone: (609) 695-6479
Address: 89 Ewing St, Trenton, NJ 08605. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The Mission operates a daily Day Center providing respite from the elements, outreach services, and lunch daily. Under the Emergency Services Program, the Rescue Mission also operates a weekend soup kitchen every Sunday and the fifth Saturday of the month.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 695-6479 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Mount Carmel Guild Emergency Assistance
Phone: (609) 392-3402
Address: 73 N Clinton Ave, Trenton, NJ 08609. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
The Emergency Assistance program provides emergency food to almost 8,000 families per year, feeding over 17,000 household members. Not only are some of our clients homeless, but our low-income clients also include a significant number of disabled and/or aged persons living on fixed incomes. Clients are referred to this program by numerous Mercer County agencies. Our staff assesses the needs of the entire family. Five days a week we distribute bags of food, according to family size. The Emergency Assistance program’s primary purpose is to provide direct and immediate support and relief to individuals and families in both chronic and temporary crisis. This program assists clients in crisis by providing them with an array of social services that includes the following: Three to five day supply of nutritious food items, both perishable and non-perishable; As funds are available, utility assistance to prevent shut off or to restore services; Limited financial assistance to those who have no prescription coverage; Basic staples for newborns and infants, such as diapers, formula, baby food; Personal hygiene and grooming items, basic household items, and clothing, as available; Referrals to additional services within the community.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 392-3402 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Arm in Arm - Food Pantry
Phone: (609) 396-9355
Address: 61 Nassau St, Princeton, NJ 08542. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, 1:30PM-3:30PM; Tuesday, 4PM-6PM. Can we help you fill a financial gap by providing food? You are welcome to visit any two of our three food pantries each month. Each visit provides enough food to feed each member of your household for three days. Please have the following documentation with you: Proof of residence in Mercer County, including any recent piece of mail; Photo ID for head of household; Proof of family members in your residence; For anyone in your household under the age of 18, please provide one of the following every six months: birth certificate, immunization record, WIC folder, passport, court-ordered custody paper.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 396-9355 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Princeton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
A Better Way
Phone: (609) 392-1224
Address: 416 Bellevue Ave Ste 202, Trenton, NJ 08618. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Our mission is to help those re-entering society, at-risk youth and their families to find A Better Way to live. Food Pantry hours: Monday & Friday 12 -1:30 PM
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 392-1224 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Arm in Arm - Food Pantry
Phone: (609) 396-9355
Address: 123 E Hanover St, Trenton, NJ 08608. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
Monday through Thursday, 9:30AM-12PM. Can we help you fill a financial gap by providing food? You are welcome to visit any two of our three food pantries each month. Each visit provides enough food to feed each member of your household for three days. Please have the following documentation with you: Proof of residence in Mercer County, including any recent piece of mail; Photo ID for head of household; Proof of family members in your residence; For anyone in your household under the age of 18, please provide one of the following every six months: birth certificate, immunization record, WIC folder, passport, court-ordered custody paper.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 396-9355 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK)
Phone: (609) 695-5456
Address: 72 Escher St, Trenton, NJ 08609. Get Directions
Hours: Call for hours
A mid-day meal is served Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. Late trays are available at the side door from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. An evening meal is served Monday through Thursday, 3:30 to 4:50 p.m. Children receive breakfast bags in addition to a hot meal. Late trays are available at the side door from 5 to 5:30 p.m.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Appointments :
Call (609) 695-5456 to ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and what to bring.
Help Residents of Cities:
- Trenton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
Cornerstone Community Kitchen
Address: 7 Vandeventer Ave, Princeton, NJ 08542. Get Directions
Hours: Hours not listed
The Cornerstone Community Kitchen (CCK) offers a free and nutritious meal every week, even on holidays. Volunteers from the community serve the meal from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. In partnership with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK), this ministry of PUMC now serves more than 100 people each week. Some come for the food, some for the fellowship and friendly atmosphere. All are welcome, no questions asked.
Services provided :
- food pantry
Help Residents of Cities:
- Princeton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Mercer
A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Mercer, New Jersey 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 Mercer, New Jersey 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 Mercer, New Jersey 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 Mercer, New Jersey 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 Mercer, New Jersey 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 Mercer, New Jersey, 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 Mercer, New Jersey 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 Mercer, New Jersey 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 Mercer, New Jersey.
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.