A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 0 Salvation Army Food Pantry locations in Lancaster, South Carolina which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Our Lady of Consolation Church
We are a Beacon of Hope, as an outreach ministry, to those who are in need of food in times of emergency. We also direct them to other agencies which may provide further assistance. The pantry is supported by generous donations from our church members, the Diocese of Charlotte and other Catholic churches. Food is distributed on Tuesdays and Fridays by appointment only.
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 to book your appointment.
Address :
1235 Badger Ct,
Charlotte, NC 28206.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: 11:30 AM - 01:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cabarrus
- Chester
- Gaston
- Iredell
- Lancaster
- Lincoln
- Mecklenburg
- Rowan
- Union
- York
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church
Belair UMC Food Pantry donates food and gospel booklets that they make available for residents in the Indian Land School District. The food pantry operates the first and third Thursdays from 9 am-12 noon.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- books
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (803) 548-7208 to book your appointment.
Address :
211 Marvin Rd,
Fort Mill, SC 29707.
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:
- Lancaster
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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, 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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina 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 Lancaster, South Carolina which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Mercy Matters
Mercy Matters works to provide the mercy of fresh water, basic food, clothing, beds, and other necessities in North Carolina, South Carolina and abroad. Our goals are pretty simple. We try to go where God leads us and provide basic necessities. Our focus is on children and families. We work primarily around Charlotte, NC, Charleston, SC and Nicaragua.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- baby supplies
- baby clothes
- clothing
- furniture
- supplies for school
- toys & gifts
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (704) 756-9539 to book your appointment.
Address :
300 Eagle Bend Dr,
Waxhaw, NC 28173.
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:
- Cabarrus
- Chester
- Gaston
- Iredell
- Lancaster
- Lincoln
- Mecklenburg
- Rowan
- Union
- York
- Berkeley
- Charleston
- Dorchester
Open Arms Community Outreach
Open Arms Community Outreach'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 for food assistance. We serve everyone regardless of their race, color, or religion.
All new applicant applications are processed every Wednesday between the hours of 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Documents Required:
- completed form
- picture ID
- proof of residence
- proof of income
If you do not have these documents available, we will still do our best to give you the food that you need, as a one-time exception.
Once you qualify you are entitled for a period of one year. We would like for you to commit to pick-up for three months in a row. After you qualify you will receive services for the current month and assigned an appointment for the next month. If for some reason you don’t qualify you will receive services for the current month only.
Tuesday and Thursday are regular food pick-up days. Wednesday is an emergency food pick-up day.
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 (980) 269-1828 to book your appointment.
Address :
4603 Lancaster Hwy,
Monroe, NC 28112.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Thurs: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Anson
- Union
- Lancaster
Hope In Lancaster Inc
This Program offers food pantry to residents of Lancaster County and Fort Lawn who are coping with short-term financial emergencies.
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 (803) 286-4673 to book your appointment.
Address :
2008 Pageland Hwy,
Lancaster, SC 29720.
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: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Lancaster
HOPE in Lancaster, Inc.
Food Pantry program provides food to the Lancaster county and Fort Lawn residents in need, Monday through Friday from 8.30am to 11.30am. For more information call 803-286-4673 or email HOPEAdmin@comporium.net.
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 (803) 286-4673 to book your appointment.
Address :
2008 Pageland Hwy,
Lancaster, SC 29720.
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: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Lancaster
Hearts and Hands Food Pantry
The Hearts and Hands Food Pantry exists to provide temporary and emergency food aid to individuals and families in Huntersville and the greater Charlotte area. We not only provide for food needs, but to also stock personal care items and baby care items which tend to be sacrificed first in financial crisis.
If you cannot make regular service hours, you can call to make an appointment.
Services provided :
- emergency food
- food pantry
- baby supplies
- 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 (704) 885-5828ext to book your appointment.
Address :
202 S Old Statesville Rd,
Huntersville, NC 28078.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 03:00 PM - 06:00 PM EST
- Fri: 04:00 PM - 07:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Cabarrus
- Chester
- Gaston
- Iredell
- Lancaster
- Lincoln
- Mecklenburg
- Rowan
- Union
- York
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 Lancaster, South Carolina
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.