A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls, 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 1 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Niagara Falls, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Lockport Corps
Services provided :
- Camping Activities
- Casework Services
- Character Building Programs
- Christian Education
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Community Recreation Programs
- Day Camp Activities
- Disaster Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Food & Nutrition
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Homemaker Services
- Latchkey Programs
- Men's Ministries
- Missing Persons
- Music & Arts Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- Senior Citizen Clubs
- 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 (716) 434-1276 to book your appointment.
Address :
50 Cottage St,
Lockport, NY 14094.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Counties:
- Niagara
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Niagara Falls, 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 1 Church Food Pantry locations in Niagara Falls, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Bible Presbyterian Church
Caring & Sharing Pantry program provides food for those of our congregation who are in need. We all work together in love to lighten their load. For more information call (716) 773-7303.
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 (716) 773-7303 to book your appointment.
Address :
1650 Love Rd,
Grand Island, NY 14072.
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Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Fri: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Erie
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 Niagara Falls, 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 0 Catholic Charities Food Pantry locations in Niagara Falls, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls, 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 Niagara Falls, 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 0 St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry locations in Niagara Falls, New York 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 Niagara Falls, 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 8 Food Pantry locations in Niagara Falls, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Evergreen Health
As a member agency of The Food Bank of Western New York, our pantry distributes over 12 tons of food each year. A generous and healthful pantry bag is available once a month to any person that receives services from an Evergreen program (regardless of HIV status) or who is a resident of the 14201 zip code.
Services provided :
- emergency food
- 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 to book your appointment.
Address :
206 S Elmwood Ave, 3 floor,
Buffalo, NY 14201.
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Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Tues: 10:00 AM - 08:00 PM
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Thurs: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Fri: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Erie
- Niagara
Inter-Community Services Inc
Care-n-Share Food Pantry food pantry serves children, adults or senior citizens with limited or no income, who simply have fallen on hard times or recently unemployed and need assistance to make ends meet.
Services provided to our community include:
- Food to meet basic nutritional needs
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 (716) 628-0409 to book your appointment.
Address :
3924 Ransomville Rd,
Ransomville, NY 14131.
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Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 03:30 PM - 05:30 PM EST
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 05:30 PM - 08:00 PM EST
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM EST
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Niagara
Evergreen Health
Evergreen offers nutritional health education and services designed to address the unique health needs of individuals who are HIV positive. This programming includes nutritional counseling with a Registered Dietitian, pantry services, home delivered meals and monthly vouchers to assist in purchasing approved food items. Volunteer shoppers are also available (by request) to assist you if you are unable to go shopping or have difficulty shopping by yourself.
Services provided :
- food delivery
- food pantry
- help pay for food
- nutrition education
- translation & interpretation
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (716) 847-2441 to book your appointment.
Address :
67 Prospect Ave,
Buffalo, NY 14201.
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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:
- Erie
- Niagara
Niagara Community Action Program, Inc. - Lockport Neighborhood Center
The Neighborhood Centers Program is an umbrella program that plays an integral part in the organization’s countywide efforts to reduce poverty and empower individuals to reach their fullest potential.
Services provided through the Neighborhood Centers Program:
• Information and Referral
• Application Assistance
• Budget Counseling
• Food Pantries
• Clothing Pantries
• Professional Clothes Closet
• Fair Housing Advocacy
• Housing Location Services
• Landlord/Tenant Advocacy
• Asset Management
• Family Development – a strength-based philosophy encouraging families to work toward a healthy interdependence within their community
Services provided :
- food pantry
- help find housing
- clothing
- financial education
- navigating the system
- help fill out forms
- one-on-one 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 (716) 433-6632 to book your appointment.
Address :
180 Washburn St,
Lockport, NY 14094.
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Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Niagara
Niagara Community Action Program - Rose Marra
Our food pantry provides free food to feed families and individuals in need. We supply groceries for residents that do not have enough food because they lack the resources to purchase it. We serve everyone from low income families, single parents, senior citizens, unemployed individuals, disabled veterans, working poor, and anyone else that comes to the pantry for food assistance. We serve everyone regardless of their race, color, or religion. The amount of food given depends on household size.
Documents required:
• Proof of income
• Proof of address
• Identification (for all in household)
To receive food from our food pantry you must live in our designated district defined by the food bank. Please call us to find out if you live in our district.
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 (716) 282-4375 to book your appointment.
Address :
564 19th St,
Niagara Falls, NY 14301.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Tues: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Thurs: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Fri: 07:00 AM - 03:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Niagara Falls
Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc.
Food Pantry Program provides emergency food for individuals and families residing within the designated area served by the Community Missions Food Pantry. Emergency food distribution is provided at any time on a one-time basis. Individuals will be asked to pre-register for a regular distribution from the Food Pantry (or referred to the correct pantry if they live outside of our designated WNY Food Bank service area). Proof of income and identification will be requested when you pre-register.
Please call 716-285-3403 to get services.
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 (716) 285-3403 to book your appointment.
Address :
1590 Buffalo Ave,
Niagara Falls, NY 14303.
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:
- Niagara
Heart Love & Soul Inc
The food pantry serves over 700 individuals each month. We provide food to families who are able to prepare it at home, chronically poor, those on fixed incomes and many waiting for their first check for unemployment and prople with disability. Our participants are also invited to choose items from the extra shelf. The extra shelf includes items purchased with donations and given by individuals, churches and community groups. This shelf contains food and toiletries, including many items unavailable for purchase with SNAP benefits (food stamps).
Services provided :
- food pantry
- personal care items
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (716) 282-5681 to book your appointment.
Address :
939 Ontario Ave,
Niagara Falls, NY 14305.
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:
- Niagara
LPOT Food Pantry
The LPOT Food Pantry is open the third and fourth Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. A client, who lives in the area, may visit once a month and fill a standard grocery bag. We have one pound of ground beef available as well as one quart of chowder made by St. Mark. The Pantry is kept supplied by the people of LPOT, as well as groups that run food drives for us.
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 (716) 832-5390 to book your appointment.
Address :
2669 Sheridan Dr,
Tonawanda, NY 14150.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
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- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Cities:
- Tonawanda
Help Residents of Counties:
- Erie
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 Niagara Falls, 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.