A number of food banks, soup kitchens for hot meals and free emergency food pantries in Whitehouse, Texas 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 Whitehouse, Texas 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 Whitehouse, Texas which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Salvation Army of Tyler Social Services
This program provides food boxes containing several days' supply of food items for individuals and families in need.
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 (903) 592-4361 to book your appointment.
Address :
633 N Broadway Ave,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 04:30 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
The Salvation Army - William Booth Garden Apartments - Tyler, Texas
Services provided :
- Senior Citizens Residences
- Worship Services - Church
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (903) 595-5641 to book your appointment.
Address :
601 Golden Rd,
Tyler, TX 75701.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon:
- Tues:
- Wed:
- Thurs:
- Fri:
- Sat:
- Sun:
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Church Food Pantry
A number of churches around Whitehouse, Texas 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 9 Church Food Pantry locations in Whitehouse, Texas which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Sylvania Church
Sylvania Church Food Pantry provides food to the needy who are residents of Smith County only. We're open 1st 4 Wednesdays of each month from 5:30pm-7:30pm.
In order to access the Food Pantry you will need to bring the following:
1) Valid photo ID
2) Recent utility bill
For more information please call (903) 592-1591 or email info@sylvaniachurch.com.
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 (903) 592-1591 to book your appointment.
Address :
2806 Santa Elena Dr,
Tyler, TX 75701.
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:
- Smith
First Baptist Church of Tyler
This program provides food, clothing, and help with furniture and appliances for people in need.
Services provided :
- clothing
- home goods
- furniture
- 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 (903) 526-6707 to book your appointment.
Address :
,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 08:30 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 08:30 AM - 11:00 AM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Cities:
- Tyler
Colonial Hills Baptist Church
This program provides food to people in need.
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 (903) 561-9995 to book your appointment.
Address :
7330 S Broadway Ave,
Tyler, TX 75703.
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: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Lanes Chapel Methodist Church
Our Food Pantry provides food to meet basic nutritional needs for individuals and families in need. Our clients are children, adults or senior citizens with limited or no income, who simply have fallen on hard times or recently unemployed and simply need assistance to make ends meet.
We are open the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month. Our food pantry is located at our church in room 115.
Documents Required:
• ID
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 (903) 561-5703 to book your appointment.
Address :
8720 Old Jacksonville Hwy,
Tyler, TX 75703.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Liberty Baptist Church
This program provides food to people in need.
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 (903) 593-5632 to book your appointment.
Address :
2502 N Broadway Ave,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 05:00 PM - 06:30 PM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Sylvania Baptist Church
This program provides food to people in need.
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 (903) 592-1591 to book your appointment.
Address :
2801 S Southeast Loop 323,
Tyler, TX 75701.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Trinity Fellowship Church
This program provides food to people in need.
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 (903) 566-4226 to book your appointment.
Address :
10344 State Highway 31 E,
Tyler, TX 75705.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
West Erwin Church of Christ
West Erwin is a family of believers who worship, serve, learn and grow together as we share the good news of Christ. We hope that you will find the resources we have provided to be beneficial.
West Erwin continues to be active in mission work through both local and global efforts. Members and volunteers also distribute clothing on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30-10:30am, and food on Wednesdays at 8:30-10:30am and from 6:30-7:30pm.
In order to obtain these serves you must bring with you a form of ID.
For more information, call 903-592-0809.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (903) 592-0809 to book your appointment.
Address :
420 W Erwin St,
Tyler, TX 75702.
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:
- Smith
Shiloh Church of Christ
Karing Kitchen partners with several other congregations to offer a hot meal at the West Erwin congregation each Monday evening. Approximately 120 are served each week through this ministry.
Call (903) 561-7992 for more information.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- meals
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (212) 534-7292 to book your appointment.
Address :
1801 Shiloh Rd,
Tyler, TX 75703.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- New York
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 Whitehouse, Texas 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 Whitehouse, Texas 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 Whitehouse, Texas 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 Whitehouse, Texas 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 Whitehouse, Texas 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 Whitehouse, 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 Whitehouse, Texas 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 Whitehouse, Texas which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
Saint Vincent De Paul Society
This program provides a food pantry, clothes closet, and limited financial assistance to people in need.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
- financial assistance
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (903) 592-0027 to book your appointment.
Address :
410 S College Ave,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 01:00 PM
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Food Pantry Delivery Program
Food Pantry Delivery Program delivers food and other products once a month at twenty points in around Whitehouse, Texas 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 13 Food Pantry locations in Whitehouse, Texas which provides a wide array of services. We have partnered so you can also check your eligibility.
St Paul Children's Foundation
This program provides an emergency food pantry and clothes closet to people in need.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (903) 531-9455 to book your appointment.
Address :
,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Society of St Stephen - Lindale
This program provides a food pantry to people in need.
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 (903) 882-8506 to book your appointment.
Address :
402 W Hubbard St,
Lindale, TX 75771.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
People Attempting to Help (PATH) Services
This program provides a three day supply of food to hungry families. Assistance is generally limited to once every thirty days.
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 (903) 597-4044 to book your appointment.
Address :
402 W Front St,
Tyler, TX 75702.
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 Counties:
- Smith
PATH - People Attempting To Help
Food pantry provides nutritious non-perishable food to thousands of families in need every year.
PATHs food pantry is one of the only food pantries serving the local community Monday through Thursday 8:00 am - 6:00 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 (903) 597-7284 to book your appointment.
Address :
402 W Front St,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 07:00 PM EST
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 07:00 PM EST
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 07:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 07:00 PM EST
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Noonday Community
This program provides food to people in need.
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 (903) 581-2500 to book your appointment.
Address :
16662 County Road 196,
Tyler, TX 75703.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Tyler AIDS Services
This program provides a food pantry and support services to people with AIDS/HIV and their families.
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 (903) 592-0757 to book your appointment.
Address :
[327 - 399] S Bois D Arc,
Milford, TX 76670.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Youth And Family Enrichment Centers Inc
Youth and Family Enrichment Centres provides daily care for residents including therapy, shelter, food, clothing, medical care, supervision and education.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- residential housing
- clothing
- medical care
- specialized therapy
- more education
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 :
14023 TX-155,
Tyler, TX 75703.
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:
- Smith
St Paul Childrens Foundation Inc
Food Pantry provides food assistance to children and their families in need. We are open from 9:00 am 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm 5:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
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 (903) 531-9455 to book your appointment.
Address :
,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
Mt. Calvary Baptist
This program provides food to people in need.
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 (903) 595-3241 to book your appointment.
Address :
,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: Closed
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
St Paul Childrens Foundation
Food Pantry program provides assistance such as canned vegetables, fruit, cereal, pasta, meat and Dairy (when available), fresh vegetables (seasonal), diapers as well as soap and shampoo to children and their families in need. Everyone is eligible for assistance regardless where you live or how much money you make. Food Pantry office is located at 1358 East Richards and it opens from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. To get more information, please call (903) 531-9455
Services provided :
- food pantry
- diapers & formula
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (903) 531-9455 to book your appointment.
Address :
1358 E Richards St,
Tyler, TX 75702.
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:
- Smith
Youth With A Mission
This program provides a food pantry to people in need.
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 (903) 882-7673 to book your appointment.
Address :
20131 FM 16 W,
Lindale, TX 75771.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: Closed
- Wed: Closed
- Thurs: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
St. Paul Children’s Foundation
Food pantry program provides canned vegetables, fruit, cereal, pasta, meat and dairy, fresh vegetables (seasonal), diapers, soap and shampoo for children and their families in need. We are open from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information contact us at 903-531-9455.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- diapers & formula
- 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 (903) 531-9455 to book your appointment.
Address :
1358 E Richards St,
Tyler, TX 75702.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Tues: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Wed: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Thurs: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Fri: 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM EST
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
We Care Too
This program provides a food pantry to people in need. They can also provide clothing while they have it.
Services provided :
- food pantry
- clothing
Appointments :
You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7. For the full set of services, you can call (903) 859-2353 to book your appointment.
Address :
107 W Main St,
Frankston, TX 75763.
Get Directions
Hours Of Operations :
- Mon: Closed
- Tues: 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
- Wed: 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
- Thurs: 10:00 AM - 02:00 PM
- Fri: Closed
- Sat: Closed
- Sun: Closed
Help Residents of Counties:
- Smith
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 Whitehouse, Texas
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.