A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
The Salvation Army - Syracuse Area Services
Services provided :
- Adult Day Care
- Camping Activities
- Casework Services
- Character Building Programs
- Community Recreation & Education Programs
- Community Recreation Programs
- Day Care
- Disaster Services
- Domestic Violence Services
- Emergency Financial Assistance
- Emergency Shelter
- Food & Nutrition
- Food & Nutrition Programs
- Foster Care
- Group Homes
- Group Work Services
- Latchkey Programs
- Nutrition Programs
- Residential Camping Activities
- Seasonal Services
- Senior Citizen Clubs
- Transitional Housing
- Visitation Services
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (315) 475-1688 to book your appointment.
Address :
677 S Salina St,
Syracuse, NY 13202.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Onondaga, 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 6 Church Food Pantry locations in Onondaga, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Faith Lutheran Church
The Faith Lutheran Church addresses the needs of low-income individuals and households that lack a reliable access to affordable, nutritious food and may experience hunger on a regular basis.
We support residents by providing:
-Nutritious foods
Our pantry is available on the 2nd Sunday and 3rd Monday of each month.
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 (315) 699-5224 to book your appointment.
Address :
6142 New York 31,
Cicero, NY 13039.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM EST
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: 05:00 PM - 07:00 PM EST T:
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Saint Lucy's Church
Saint Lucy's Church's 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. Because of the negative stereotypes and judgments associated with asking for help, it is much easier to give away food than it is to receive food. Therefore we seek to welcome all who come through our doors and to offer them hospitality. We want them to be able to make choices much as they do at a grocery store.
We serve everyone that comes to the pantry for food assistance, regardless of their race, color, or religion.
Required Documents:
- State Issued Photo ID
- Proof of Address (clients must reside in the Saint Lucy's service area)
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 (315) 475-7273 to book your appointment.
Address :
432 Gifford St,
Syracuse, NY 13204.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Wed: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Thurs: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church
St. Paul Food Pantry ministry provide food to those in need on Syracuses Near West Side. Hours are Tuesday evenings from 4:30 pm 5:30 pm and Wednesday & Friday mornings from 10am Noon.
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 (315) 458-1481 to book your appointment.
Address :
435 S Main St, 11,
Syracuse, NY 13212.
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:
- Onondaga
Assumption Church
The Food Pantry provides families with food parcels each month to prevent hunger. Provides food once month to households that live in our geographic region as delineated by the CNY Food Bank. They will receive enough food for 3 days equaling 9 meals.
Documents Required:
• They need photo identification
• Proof of address – Mail of any sort (eg. Rental Agreement, Utility or Phone Bill)
• Proof for everyone in his or her household (eg. Benefit Card, Health Insurance Card, Report Card, Birth Certificate)
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 (315) 473-9101 to book your appointment.
Address :
808 N Salina St,
Syracuse, NY 13208.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
- Tues: 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
- Wed: 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
- Thurs: 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
- Fri: 09:30 AM - 12:30 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Plymouth Church Food Pantry
Provides a weekly distribution of food from the pantry to individuals in need once per month. Required Documentation: Picture ID and proof of address. Hours: Thursday, 10 AM - 12 Noon
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 (315) 474-4836 to book your appointment.
Address :
232 E Onondaga St,
Syracuse, NY 13202.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Southside Church of Christ Soup Kitchen
Hours: Sat 11:15 am - 2:00 pm
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 (315) 422-4499 to book your appointment.
Address :
1327 W Colvin St,
Syracuse, NY 13207.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
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 Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Catholic Charities of Chenango County
Roots & Wings is an emergency services and self-sufficiency program which provides clothing, food, household goods and furniture for individuals and families in need. Services include food pantry, clothing from donors in the community, household goods, prescription assistance, food and sense program, snap assistance and pre-screening, disaster relief and job skills assistance. Food Pantry hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10-3pm, Thursday 10-6pm.
Services provided :
- emergency food
- food pantry
- clothing
- home goods
- furniture
- prescription assistance
- skills & training
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (607) 336-7897 to book your appointment.
Address :
34 Berry St,
Norwich, NY 13815.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Broome
- Chenango
- Cortland
- Madison
- Oneida
- Onondaga
- Oswego
Catholic Charities of Onondaga County
Catholic Charities of Onondaga County's 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 that needs 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 (315) 475-3807 to book your appointment.
Address :
264 E Onondaga St,
Syracuse, NY 13202.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Tues: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Wed: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Thurs: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Fri: 08:30 AM - 04:30 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Helping Hands Food Pantry
Helping Hands is a faith-based 501(c)(3) food pantry operated around Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, 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 Onondaga, 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 14 Food Pantry locations in Onondaga, New York which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Isaiah's Table
The Isaiah's Table 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 that comes to the pantry for food assistance, regardless of their race, color, or religion. The amount of food given depends on household size.
The Food Pantry is open on Tuesdays and on every 3rd Saturday of each month. Please contact us for required documents or any other eligibility requirements.
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 (315) 447-7065 to book your appointment.
Address :
620 W Genesee St,
Syracuse, NY 13204.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Baldwinsville Community Food Pantry
The Baldwinsville Community Food began in 1978 and presently operates five days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. During the month of August 2014 it fulfilled requests for 163 families or 502 individuals. Once a month individuals and families from within the area of the Baldwinsville Central School District are eligible to receive food for three meals a day for three days. This calculates out to approximately 4,518 individual meals that month. The Pantry outreach relies solely on gracious volunteers to staff the pantry, replenish selves and donate funds and food for distribution. A Community Dinner is offered free of charge to anyone from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month
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 (315) 635-6442 to book your appointment.
Address :
17 W Genesee St,
Baldwinsville, NY 13027.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Baldwinsville
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
PEACE, Inc. - County West Family Resource Center (FRC) Emergency Food Pantry
The food pantries provide emergency food to eligible individuals and families in need. Hours: 8:30a.m. – 4:30p.m. Monday – Thursday and 8:30a.m. – 4:00p.m. on Friday
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 (315) 638-1051 to book your appointment.
Address :
93 Syracuse St,
Baldwinsville, NY 13027.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Baldwinsville
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Brewerton Community Food Pantry
Provides a food pantry for individuals in need. Required Documentation: Proof of address in the form of driver's licence, utility bill, or rental agreement. Hours: Tuesdays 10:00 - noon, Thursdays 4:30 - 6:30 pm
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 (315) 676-5528 to book your appointment.
Address :
5395 Orangeport Rd,
Brewerton, NY 13029.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Brewerton
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
PEACE, Inc. - County East Family Resource Center (FRC) Emergency Food Pantry
The food pantries provide emergency food to eligible individuals and families in need. Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 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 (315) 437-7071 to book your appointment.
Address :
215 W Manlius St Ste 2,
East Syracuse, NY 13057.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- East Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Basilica of Sacred Heart Food Pantry
Provides a food pantry for individuals in need. Required Documentation: Proof of residency, proof of all members of the household. Hours: Tuesday, 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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 (315) 492-9325 to book your appointment.
Address :
1001 Park Ave,
Syracuse, NY 13204.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Blessed Sacrament Food Pantry
Provides a food pantry for individuals in need. Required Documentation: Proof of residency. Hours: January - October: Thursday, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM; Saturday, 11/12/16 and 12/10/16: 8 AM - 11:30 AM
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 (315) 437-4462 to book your appointment.
Address :
3127 James St,
Syracuse, NY 13206.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
New Salem Baptist Food Pantry
Provides a food pantry for individuals in need. Hours: Food Pantry Third Friday: 9:30am-12:00pm, Soup Kitchen Tuesday & Thursday: 12 noon-1pm
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 (315) 378-4209 to book your appointment.
Address :
516 South Ave,
Syracuse, NY 13207.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
PEACE, Inc. - Eastside Family Resource Center (FRC) Emergency Food Pantry
Food Bank Hours: Monday 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. Individuals are required to provide center with a current proof of address, photo ID for each individual in the household and must live within the specified area of the center.
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 (315) 470-3325 to book your appointment.
Address :
202 S Beech St,
Syracuse, NY 13210.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
PEACE, Inc. - Emma L. Johnston Southside Family Resource Center (FRC) Emergency Food Pantry
The food pantries provide emergency food to eligible individuals and families in need. Hours: Thursdays 2:30 p.m. – 6:00 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 (315) 470-3342 to book your appointment.
Address :
136 Dr,
Martin Luther King West Syracuse, NY 13205.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Martin Luther King West Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Prince of Peace Missionary Food Pantry
Provides a food pantry for individuals in need. Hours: 2nd & 4th Saturday: 10:30am-12 noon
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 (315) 474-1238 to book your appointment.
Address :
317 E Jefferson St,
Syracuse, NY 13202.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Syracuse Northeast Community Center Food Pantry
Provides a food pantry for individuals in need. Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11 AM - 3 PM
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 (315) 472-6343 to book your appointment.
Address :
716 Hawley Ave,
Syracuse, NY 13203.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
Temple Society of Concord Food Pantry
Temple Concord has the most utilized food pantry in Onondaga County- serving an average of 140 families each week with three days worth of packaged, canned, fresh and frozen food. Our purpose is to share our blessings with people of all faiths, and to give our members a chance to volunteer and to help to make a difference. The Food Pantry is strictly volunteer operated, under the leadership of Suzanne and Ernie Wass, and ALL donations are used to buy food to help those in need. Support comes from individual gifts and grants from the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, FEMA and local foundations. Almost all food is obtained from the Food Bank of Central New York. Temple Concord's Food Pantry Serves Hundreds of Families Every Month.
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 (315) 475-9952 to book your appointment.
Address :
910 Madison St,
Syracuse, NY 13210.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
The Samaritan Center
The Samaritan Center is an interfaith effort of community members who are committed to serving the hungry and those in need in Central New York in order to promote their welfare, dignity and self-sufficiency. Samaritan Center offers hot meals 365 days a year without preconditions or questions, serving more than 118,000 meals annually with the help of over 1100 community volunteers a month who prepare and serve meals, collect and distribute toiletries and make and distribute sandwiches. The Center also provides direct case management as well as on-site access to information about and referrals to services and programs in the community of interest to its guests - services which provide resources, hope and opportunity for a better future. Hours: Mon - Thu 3:30 - 4:30 pm (except holidays); Fri - Sun 1:30 - 2:30 pm; Mon - Fri 7:30 - 8:30 am
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 (315) 472-8156 to book your appointment.
Address :
215 N State St,
Syracuse, NY 13203.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
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Help Residents of Cities:
- Syracuse
Help Residents of Counties:
- Onondaga
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 Onondaga, 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.