A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Albany, New York 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 Albany, New York 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 Albany, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Albany Corps
Services provided :
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation Programs
- Day Camp Activities
- Disaster Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Emergency Shelter
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Music & Arts Programs
- Seasonal 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 (518) 463-6678 to book your appointment.
Address :
20 S Ferry St,
Albany, NY 12202.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
The Salvation Army - Albany, GA
Services provided :
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Disaster Services
- Emergency Shelter
- Music & Arts Programs
- Store
- 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 (229) 435-1428 to book your appointment.
Address :
[400 - 498] West St,
Albany, NY 12206.
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- Albany
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Albany, New York 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 2 Church Food Pantry locations in Albany, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Church of the Blessed Sacrament - Food Pantry
Our Parish based food pantry serves an average of 225 families each month. As a member of “The Food Pantries of the Capital Districtâ€, we follow the geographic boundaries put in place by this group. We are open every Monday and Thursday from 10:00 – 11:15 AM except holidays or days in which schools may be closed due to weather conditions.
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 (518) 482-3375 to book your appointment.
Address :
607 Central Ave,
Albany, NY 12206.
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church - Food Pantry
Sacred Heart Outreach provides a food pantry to those in need within the community. Food Pantry hours:Tuesday 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Thursday 10:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Friendship Table: Wednesday 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 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 (518) 434-0680 to book your appointment.
Address :
33 Walter St,
Albany, NY 12204.
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
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 Albany, New York 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 2 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Albany, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany
St. John's/St. Ann's Center Program provides food services through a welcome table soup kitchen as well as a food pantry. The Outreach Center assists with providing clothing and furniture to individuals as needed. Additional seasonal programs are offered to include holiday and back to school programs.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
- furniture
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (518) 472-9091 to book your appointment.
Address :
88 4th Ave,
Albany, NY 12202.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Tues: 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Thurs: 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Fri: 10:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Sat: 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
Catholic Charities Tri-County Services - St. John's/St. Ann's Outreach Center
St John’s St Ann’s Outreach Center serves the community of South Albany. The Outreach Center provides food services through a “Welcome Table†soup kitchen as well as a food pantry. The Outreach Center assists with providing clothing and furniture to individuals as needed. Additional seasonal programs are offered to include holiday and back to school programs. There are no residence or eligibility requirements for the Welcome Table (no ID is required) and it operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. St. John’s/St. Ann’s Food Pantry has provided our neighbors in the South End of Albany with emergency supplemental food for over 25 years. The Pantry provides sufficient food for 3 meals for 3 days or a total of nine meals per month for each individual registered to a household. It also provides toiletries (which cannot be purchased with food stamps), infant formula, baby food and diapers when available. The neighbors we serve learn about us from a variety of sources including health and human service organizations, family, friends, and neighboring churches. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 A.M. – Noon, 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. You must show current proof of address every time you pick up your 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 (518) 472-9091 to book your appointment.
Address :
88 Fourth Ave,
Albany, NY 12202.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Albany, New York 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 Albany, New York 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 Albany, New York 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 Albany, 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 Albany, New York 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 1 St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry locations in Albany, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Church of Saint Vincent de Paul - Food Pantry
Food Pantry Guests must live in the Pine Hills or Eagle Point neighborhoods. Come to the Food Pantry on a day we are open. Please bring a piece of current mail and identification with date of birth for all members of your household. Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 12:30 - 2:30 PM Closed 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 (518) 694-3153 to book your appointment.
Address :
984 Madison Ave,
Albany, NY 12208.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
Food Pantry Delivery Program
Food Pantry Delivery Program delivers food and other products once a month at twenty points in around Albany, New York 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 Albany, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Sister Maureen Joyce Center - Food Pantry
Services provided include a food pantry,information and referral, holiday assistance and back to school. The Sister Maureen Joyce Food Pantry is located at 315 Sheridan Avenue in Albany and is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:00am – 1:00pm.
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 (518) 465-8262 to book your appointment.
Address :
315 Sheridan Ave,
Albany, NY 12206.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
Sister Maureen Joyce Center - Soup Kitchen
Our Soup kitchen is open to anyone looking for a nice meal or just a friendly environment. Our Volunteers are dedicated to serving our guests with dignity and respect. Our Soup Kitchen hours are Monday & Thursday – opens at 11:30-1:00pm
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 (518) 462-9885 to book your appointment.
Address :
369 Livingston Ave,
Albany, NY 12206.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
The FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry
Over 40,000 people each month rely on food pantries in the Capital Region. The FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry provides families from the Capital Hill, Center Square, Hudson, Washington and Park South neighborhoods, and beyond, with a 6-day supply of food. Families may visit the pantry twice each month. In addition to a balanced and nutritious food package, the pantry provides personal care items, fresh fruit, vegetables, and milk vouchers. The Interfaith Food Pantry also helps households by supplying information about additional community resources such as job training, housing, healthcare, food stamps, WIC and nutrition education. Guests are also provided with advocacy and referral services. FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry is funded and operated through the collaborative efforts of the FOCUS Churches and several other faith affiliates. Hours of Operation:The pantry is open Monday – Friday 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. & on the last Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. – 1 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 (518) 443-0460 to book your appointment.
Address :
275 State St,
Albany, NY 12210.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
Trinity Alliance Emergency Food Pantries - Arbor Hill Center
To qualify, please visit us with a photo ID and a piece of mail or lease arrangement to prove an area address. Visitors are allowed 1 or 2 visits every 30 days, and will receive three days worth of food for each member of their family. Other household items such as kitchen supplies, hygiene products, diapers and formula are also 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 (518) 463-1516 to book your appointment.
Address :
47 N Lark St,
Albany, NY 12210.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
Trinity Alliance Emergency Food Pantries - Trinity Center
To qualify, please visit us with a photo ID and a piece of mail or lease arrangement to prove an area address. Visitors are allowed 1 or 2 visits every 30 days, and will receive three days worth of food for each member of their family. Other household items such as kitchen supplies, hygiene products, diapers and formula are also 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 (518) 449-5155 to book your appointment.
Address :
15 Trinity Pl,
Albany, NY 12202.
Get Directions
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Albany
Help Residents of Counties:
- Albany
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 Albany, New York
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.