Below are free, trusted resources — locators that find a pantry near you in seconds, government programs you may qualify for, and real people you can call right now. You are not alone in this.
Each of these covers the whole country. Enter your ZIP code — or just pick up the phone.
Type in your ZIP code and it shows the food bank that serves your area, which can point you to free food pantries, soup kitchens, and mobile food distributions nearby. It’s free, and you don’t need any paperwork just to search — 200 food banks cover every county in the U.S.
Find your food bankDial 2-1-1 from any phone to talk to a real person who will help you find food pantries, free meals, and help with bills — free, confidential, and available 24/7 in many languages. You can also search online at 211.org.
Dial from any phone2-1-1 Search on 211.orgA free national hotline (run by Hunger Free America for the USDA) that tells you where to get food near you today — meal sites, food banks, and other help. Call Monday–Friday, 8am–8pm ET, or text a word like “food” any time.
A free map website and app that shows food pantries near your ZIP code, with hours, addresses, and phone numbers. No account is needed to search, and it works on any phone.
Open the FoodFinder mapA nonprofit directory of more than 8,500 food pantries across all 50 states — many receive fresh fruits and vegetables donated by local gardeners. Search by ZIP code to find a pantry near you.
Find a pantryThese are ongoing programs — applying costs nothing, and many families qualify without realizing it.
SNAP puts money for groceries on a debit-style EBT card every month. You apply through your own state — the USDA state directory shows exactly where to apply online, by phone, or in person in your state.
Find where to apply in your stateFree healthy food, nutrition help, and breastfeeding support if you’re pregnant, just had a baby, or are raising a child under 5 — dads, grandparents, and foster parents can apply for the child too. SignUpWIC.com helps you find your local WIC office and get started.
Sign up for WICKids can get free or low-cost breakfast and lunch at school — ask the school office for the application any time of year, not just in the fall. If your family gets SNAP, your kids usually qualify automatically.
How school meals workWhen school is out, kids and teens 18 and under can eat free at thousands of summer meal sites — use the map to find one nearby, or call the National Hunger Hotline. Many states also load $120 in summer grocery money (Summer EBT / SUN Bucks) per eligible child.
Find a summer meal siteDelivers meals to seniors at home and serves meals at community locations, through more than 5,000 local programs across the country. Enter your ZIP code on their site to find and contact the program that serves your neighborhood.
Find meals near youThe Commodity Supplemental Food Program gives low-income adults age 60 and over a free box of groceries every month, usually picked up at a local food bank. It’s not offered everywhere — call 211 or your local food bank to ask if it’s available near you.
About CSFPA nonprofit hotline that connects you to food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal sites anywhere in the U.S. Call 1-800-5-HUNGRY, or text your ZIP code to the same number to get a list of free food near you.
Call or text your ZIP code — 1-800-5-HUNGRY1-800-548-6479 WhyHunger Find FoodA free U.S. government service that connects seniors and their families to local help, including home-delivered meals and other food programs. Call on weekdays or search online by ZIP code.
Call weekdays1-800-677-1116 Search the Eldercare LocatorOur “Feed the Hungry” program operates through a network of dedicated volunteers who prepare and distribute meals at consistent locations within communities most impacted by food insecurity. We provide high quality meals.
We help people everywhere — from our locations in Los Angeles, North Bay Village, Las Vegas, and Camino, and wherever the need finds us.
Ask us for help — we’ll call you backPlease note: These organizations are independent public resources — Chesed Foundation is not affiliated with them and cannot guarantee their services. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
