Well, unfortunately you’re not alone. According to a report carried out by Feeding America in 2014, 1 in 7 Americans rely on food banks to get free food.
The number of Americans turning to food banks increased during the COVID-19 pandemic with Feeding America seeing a 60% average increase in food bank users. About 4 in 10 were first-timers.
Sometimes, there just isn’t enough money left after rent, car payments, etc., to be able to afford food for yourself and/or your family. If you are on a low income, it can seem impossible.
If you have children, you may have found yourself skipping meals so that they can eat instead. Nobody should have to go hungry. If you are finding yourself in a situation where you simply can’t afford to feed yourself or your family, then do not hesitate to visit your local pantry or food bank. There are a lot of places that offer free food and free groceries near you.
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What’s the difference between a food bank and a food pantry?
Food pantries are usually independent community food distribution centers that distribute food.
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A food bank, on the other hand, is usually a storehouse for millions of pounds of food and other products that go out to the community.
Both can help you to feed yourself and your family.
How do I find food pantries in my area?
I’ll be listing some great websites and organizations that you can use to find food pantries and food banks near you.
Most of the time, you just have to enter your zip code or address, and you will get a list of pantries and food banks. It’s pretty simple.
Free Food Pantries
So, if you need assistance, please do check out the sites and organizations below.
1. Feeding America
Feeding America is a nationwide network of food banks that secures and distributes 4.3 billion meals every year. It does this through a variety of food pantries and meal programs throughout the country. You can find your local community food bank on the website, which is linked in the section heading above.
2. Food Pantries
FoodPantries.org is a website that gathers food pantries from across the country. You can use the website to search for food pantries, soup kitchens, food shelves and other food help in your area. The website is easy to use, and it offers pantry hours, details, and more.
3. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Next on the list we have the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This isn’t technically a food bank or food pantry in and of itself, but rather a government program that helps to supplement the food budget of families in need.
Through the program, families get access to SNAP benefits on an Electric Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card. You can use this EBT card to purchase groceries at authorized food stores and retailers. This includes things like fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, and fish, bread and cereals, and dairy products.
To get SNAP benefits, you will need to apply in the state in which you currently live, and meet certain requirements, like resource and income limits. You can learn more about SNAP on the page linked in the section heading.
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4. AmpleHarvest.org
AmpleHarvest.org is a wonderful website that connects gardeners with more than 8,600 food pantries in order to eliminate hunger and food waste in the United States. According to AmpleHarvest.org, these food pantries help to nourish one out of six Americans, including a quarter of all kids under six years old. You can use the website to find a food pantry near you.
5. PantryNet.org
PantryNet.org is a website that lists local food pantries around the country. It has a network of partners including pantries, soup kids, and shelters. You can find a location near you by using the map on the website. You can click on places to view addresses, days, and hours. Overall, it’s a useful site for finding food help near you.
6. United Way 211
211 is a really great service from United Way that helps people in need with lots of different things including food. If you need help paying for or finding charitable food, then contact 211 and it will be able to assist you.
Your local 211 agency can offer up to date information about local assistance that could be available to you.
All you need to do is call 211 from your cell phone or landline and you can speak with a live, trained service professional. Or, if you prefer to text, or chat online, then you can also find other contact information on the site linked above. Check the page linked above for more details on getting food assistance through 211 as the site also lists food resources and programs.
7. Use Google to find free food pantries and banks near you
A really easy way to find food pantries and food banks near you is to use Google. Just open up Google, and then enter the term, “food pantries near me,” or “food banks near me,” and you will get lots of results for places near you that can assist you in feeding yourself and your family.
What’s good about using Google is that you can get details like directions, opening hours, and contact numbers all in one place. It’s a great way for finding food assistance near you.
Getting Help from Food Distribution Centers
I know how hard it can be to struggle with feeding yourself. When money is tight, it can be really tough to afford groceries.
There really is no shame in asking for help. Sometimes we just don’t have enough cash left over at the end of the month to pay for food no matter how hard we work. If you are finding yourself in a situation where you are short of money for food, take a deep breath, know that assistance is out there, read the list above, and start finding the help that you and your family deserve.
I am legally blind and can only see this since it is on a big TV. I cannot drive and have a very hard time trying to get to a food pantry and can only carry a little bit. I turn 60 this year. Is there any way to get food brought to me?
Diane, I am so sorry to hear that. Every food pantry has its own policies so you’d have to call them up and see if they do offer delivery. If you lived near me, I would happily pick up the food and deliver it to you. I am sure you can find someone around you to pick up food on your behalf and deliver it to you. Maybe friends, family or even neighbors.
If you can’t find help, please let me know and I’ll try to find somebody near you who might be able to help.
I hope you situation improves, Diane.
Diane, I agree there needs to be an easier way for those of us who are visually impaired to have food boxes delivered to us. Maybe contacting your local NFB .org chapter to let them Know! I know they aren’t responsible for distribution But maybe they can contact the Food Bank organizations also. Please contact your senator this weekend to let them know that the Debt ceiling needs to be done too. You and I cannot work a frier at Mcdonalds’! I’ll write the NFB, ACB, and AFB. groups. We have to oil that squeaky wheel. My spouse can’t haul it is difficult to use the white cane and haul 35 Lbs. of food! These Senators don’t get it.Thank you for speaking up!
The last food pantry – Madison Heights – gave out so little food that it was hardly worth waiting for 2 hours. I got 2 cans of veggies, celery, no paper products, no fresh fruit or veggies, no dairy at all, one small bag of powdered sugar, a small bag of coffee and a few tea bags. And I wonder why this is?
I waited 3 hrs for the last pantry I went to and it wasn’t worth the gas I used. I thought pantry was to help you to be able to make food for yourself. What do I do with a gallon of half and half ? I was given mac & cheese. It was so full of fat I had to throw it out. I also have 1 bruised apple and 1 orange and 6 lbs of almonds. I’m not trying to sound ungrateful, I will use everything, but it didn’t help me make a meal.
Usually a person has to get very creative and utilize what you get. If you are low on money, hit up the food bank first and then coordinate your small amount of cash with the food pantry stuff so it makes it easier. I take two ramens Teriyaki beef flavor a bottle of Kikkoman’s and Hamberger add a generous amount of green beans you only add about a 1/3 c of the Kikkoman’s glaze. It is a tasty stretcher meal. this is good for two but add more Ramen if more family. It isn’t easy to live this way. Use the internet to find recipes for what you get. If you have friends or family go. Have a trade event amongst yourselves. I do with a neighbor.
when i get ha;f and half, i do exacly that i thin it out till it is milk for my coffee, cereal and other items. you can also freeze part of it for later.
So sorry to hear that the pantries a couple of you went to had very limited food to share. The need is always growing. I hope you have found better sources by now. Some food pantries are not attached to larger food bank or other resources … they quickly get overwhelmed by the growing needs. Most pantries are pure volunteer efforts. They count on community support (again communities themselves may be under pressure with limited resources. My only suggestion is to see if someone can check out other pantries for you and help you get linked to them. Larger pantries are part of a network of pantries that work with food banks. Food banks are not-for-profit entities (basically holding and distribution centers) that work with larger food suppliers (grocery stores, etc.) to get large donations of food (some very perishable) that need to get sent to smaller pantries. Food banks also rely heavily on volunteers but may have a small # of paid employees. Try to find pantries that have connections to food banks or other distribution options (government, farmers, etc.).
I know this doesn’t help you get food … buy may explain the why and perhaps suggest other resources.
Hello, I used to volunteer at a non-profit food bank. We relied on donations from grocery stores and the public. The one I volunteered at didn’t know what we would get, how much, or in what condition they would be. It’s difficult to convey these places aren’t in a position of making a list of what is needed or wanted. We considered ourselves fortunate to get a little or a lot as both are better than nothing.
What blows me away is when people literally complain about it loudly. I am grateful for anything. If I don’t like something I share. Our food banks give away very generous portions of vegetables, Let someone who is a shut-in know. maybe they would take what you don’t like. I look for those who like Lima Beans and Beets, Avocados,
oh you can let me know about limas, beets avocados anytime!!! i make my own pickled beets, limas can be made into nice stew and you can add some sausage maybe or lima bean salad, avocadoes too many to mention!!! i lost my food bank because this church started giving food out on saturdays and i keep the sabbath. so any info let me know call or text me 9513153263
I say thank you for the food pantries and banks because, if they give a little or a lot, it had to be more than what you had in your refrigerator or cabinets or else you wouldn’t of had to go get the help that you received from them regardless of what you were given. I think also that these pantries and banks, are doing a wonderful job because it is a lot of hungry families or individuals out there and they come in handy, whoever thought of doing this in the beginning was thinking of others besides themselves and now people are doing it everywhere I think that was a wonderful idea and it is really helping.
Totally agree Amy. They provide a lot of help to families in need.
Blessing Bags food Pantry 296 Broadmoor Blvd San Leandro Ca 94577 Every Friday 5-7:30 pm No ID required just one time enrollment process that takes 5 min to fill out if that. Fresh fruits vegies meat bread milk eggs and snack and diapers (sometimes)
Thanks for all the good work you guys do!
The food provision from United Way has been inconsistent. My friends in Van Nuys have been without food for 2 weeks, one of them can’t take his meds because of it so he has nearly passed at least once in that time. Why isn’t the Government and Congress talking about starvation in the US? It should be a priority.
I agree, Joy. I have a hard time accepting the fact that as one of the richest nations in the world, we still have people in this country that go to bed hungry!