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Where to find food pantries around Philadelphia, the suburbs, and South Jersey

Food insecurity is very real. Here are some places that can help you access food for free.

Food pantries can come in handy to access free food when in need.
Food pantries can come in handy to access free food when in need.Read moreRick Bowmer / AP

Household budgets are feeling the squeeze with inflation surging to record highs. And with the price of food, gas, and other daily goods rising faster than average incomes, many people have turned to food banks for help.

Between 2019 and 2022, the amount of Philadelphians experiencing food insecurity increased by 55%, according to calculations by Philabundance, one of the regionโ€™s leading hunger-relief agencies.

There are multiple resources available for families in need of assistance but the demand has become greater since the pandemic. What follows is a list of food pantries in the Philadelphia and South Jersey regions.

(If you want to help your community, food banks also sometimes accept cash donations and donations of hygenic items or unexpired food items. Look at each locationโ€™s specific policies online before donating.)

PHILADELPHIA

Fresh for all Wednesdays

๐Ÿ†” No identification or income proof needed, ๐Ÿ“… Wednesdays, Feb. 1 to July 19, โŒš12:30 to 1:30 p.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿฅ๐Ÿฅฌ fruits and veggies only,๐Ÿ“1854 N. 22nd St. (outside Greater Enon Missionary Baptist Church),๐ŸŒง๏ธ in case of rain or snow, call 215-227-4421 before going to check weather cancellations. Operated by nonprofit food bank Philabundance.

Grab-n-go distribution

๐Ÿ†” No ID or income proof required, ๐Ÿ“… Wednesdays, Feb. 1 to June 14, โŒš2:30 to 3:30 p.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“ฆ 5-10 lb. of produce, ๐Ÿ“6801 Cottage St. (at the back of Hamilton Disston school).

Green Light Food Pantry

๐Ÿ†” No ID or income proof needed, ๐Ÿ“… Tuesdays and Thursdays, โŒš9 a.m. to noon (Tuesday) or 3 to 5 p.m. (Thursday), ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“ฆ prepackaged food containing lean proteins, whole grain pasta and cereal, and almond or soy milk, ๐Ÿ“1321 N. Lawrence St. (door number 10), ๐Ÿ“ž 215-787-3263. Operated by the Drueding Center.

Greater Goods

๐Ÿ†” If this is your first time visiting, bring an ID, ๐Ÿ“… Monday-Friday, โŒš9 a.m. to noon, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ›’ grocery store (meat, eggs, milk, and ice cream are among the products), ๐Ÿ›๏ธ bring your own bags, ๐Ÿ“3200 Kensington Ave. Operated by nonprofit the Sunday Love Project.

Iglesia Cristiana Avivamiento

Services provided in Spanish, ๐Ÿ†” No ID or income proof required, ๐Ÿ“… Tuesdays and Thursdays, โŒš10 a.m. to 3 p.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธwalk in, ๐Ÿผ if you need diapers, baby formula, wet wipes, or toys call 215-856-3932 to schedule an appointment, ๐Ÿ“5500 Tabor Ave., ๐ŸŒ avivamientophilly.com.

Mitzvah Food Program

๐Ÿ†” No ID or proof of income required, ๐Ÿ“… Tuesdays โŒš1 to 6:30 p.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“10100 Jamison Ave., operated by the nonprofit Jewish Federation, ๐Ÿ“ž 215-832-0620. This organization also runs pantries in Bucks County.

Center for Returning Citizens Community Healing Center

๐Ÿ†” No identification or income proof needed, ๐Ÿ“… Wednesdays, โŒš9 a.m. to 2 p.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“3975 Germantown Ave., ๐Ÿ“ž 215-791-0645. In partnership with the Share Food Program.

Martin Luther King Jr. Association for Nonviolence

๐Ÿ†” No identification or income proof required, ๐Ÿ“… every third Saturday of the month โŒš9 to 11 a.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“3001 Walnut St., ๐Ÿ“ž215-751-9300. In partnership with the Share Food Program.

Katieโ€™s Cupboard

๐Ÿ†” No ID or proof of income is required., ๐Ÿ“…Thursdays, โŒš10 a.m. to noon, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“4843 N. Mascher St., ๐Ÿ“ž 215-455-1706. Partnership between the Tabor Lutheran Church and Share Food Program.

R.E.I.D Foundation

๐Ÿ†” No ID or income proof needed, ๐Ÿ“…Wednesdays, โŒš8:30 a.m. while supplies last, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“ฆ a package of produce, canned food, and assorted poultry, ๐Ÿ“9150 Marshall St., ๐Ÿ“ž484-684-9867. Operated by nonprofit R.E.I.D Foundation.

Mazzoni Center

๐Ÿฉบ Any Ryan White certified patient and their family can access the pantry with a referral from a case manager or doctor, ๐Ÿ“… Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, โŒš 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4 p.m., ๐Ÿ“ฆ you can get food twice per month, ๐Ÿ“1348 Bainbridge St.,๐Ÿ“ž215-563-0652 (extension 542), ๐ŸŒ mazzonicenter.org.

Bebashi

๐Ÿ†” People who already receive services from Bebashi can attend the food pantry without requirements. Folks who have never taken part in their health-care programs and HIV services need a referral from a social worker (that includes the last four digits of your Social Security number), ๐Ÿ“… Monday- Friday, โŒš 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., ๐Ÿ“ฆ Bebashi gives a box with meat, produce, and canned foods once per month, ๐Ÿ“1235 Spring Garden St., ๐Ÿ“ž215-769-3561 ๐ŸŒbebashi.org.

Feast of Justice

๐Ÿ†” You must bring an ID and your Feast Justice card. If you donโ€™t have one, ๐Ÿ“งemail registration@feastofjustice.org to sign up, include a picture of your ID, date of birth, and two items that display your name and current address. ๐Ÿ“…Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, but folks can only pick up a box once per week, โŒš 9 a.m. to noon (Tuesday), 10 a.m to noon (Wednesday and Saturday), 4 to 7 p.m. (Wednesday), and 1 to 3 p.m. (Saturday), ๐Ÿ’ป Appointments are mandatory on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk-ins are welcome on Tuesday (from 11 a.m. to noon) and Saturday (3 to 4 p.m.) ๐Ÿผ If needed, folks can get baby supplies and period products along with their food box.๐Ÿ“3101 Tyson Ave. (enter through Sackett Street), ๐Ÿ“ž215-258-3510. Operated by nonprofit Feast of Justice.

Temple University

๐Ÿ†” Bring your Temple student ID, ๐Ÿ“…Tuesdays and Fridays, โŒš10 a.m. to noon.(Tuesday), and 3 to 5 p.m. (Friday), ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“1601 Park Ave. on the side of Morgan Hall South, ๐Ÿ“ง pantry@temple.edu, ๐ŸŒtemple.edu.

Bucks County

Quakertown Food Pantry

๐Ÿ“… Monday-Friday, โŒš10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), 6 to 8 p.m. (Tuesdays and Thursdays), ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“ฆ three-day emergency food supply box, ๐Ÿ“101 N. Third St., Quakertown, ๐Ÿ“ž215-536-0240, ๐ŸŒ quakertownfoodpantry.org.

Warminster Food Bank

๐Ÿ“… Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, โŒš9:30 a.m. to noon (Monday and Friday), open until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, ๐Ÿ“75 Downey Dr., Warminster, ๐Ÿ“ž call 215-323-4797 to book an appointment, ๐ŸŒ warminsterfoodbank.org.

New Britain Baptist Church

๐Ÿ“… Mondays, and Wednesdays, โŒš 8 a.m. to noon, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“22 East Butler Ave., New Britain, ๐Ÿ“ž215-345-9170.

Bible Evangelical Methodist Church

๐Ÿ“… Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays โŒš 6 to 8 p.m. (Wednesday), noon to 2:30 p.m. (Thursday), and noon to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“ฆ for seniors or folks who are sick, ask for Pastor Brown to schedule a delivery,๐Ÿ“1601 Lakeland Ave., Bristol, ๐Ÿ“ž215-498-1179.

Chester County

Act In Faith

๐Ÿ“… Monday-FridayโŒš 10 a.m. to noon (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays), and 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“Church of the Holy Trinity, 212 S. High St., West Chester, ๐Ÿ“ž484-324-8492, ๐ŸŒactinfaithgwc.org.

Honey Brook

๐Ÿ†” You must register before visiting the pantry, have proof of residency, and a household income below the 150% federal poverty line โ€” that is $21,870 for a single household, and $45,000 for a family of four. ๐Ÿ“… Second and fourth Wednesdays of every month, โŒš 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (second Wednesday), 4 to 6 p.m. (fourth Wednesday), ๐Ÿ“ฆ 35-40 lb. box that includes meat, eggs, cheese, and peanut butter, ๐Ÿ“5064 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook, ๐Ÿ“ž 610-273-6102, ๐ŸŒhoneybrookfoodpantry.org

St. Rocco Center

๐Ÿ“… Monday-FridayโŒš 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,๐Ÿ“ž call 610- 268-3365 to schedule an appointment, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk-ins are welcome on Fridays between 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., ๐Ÿ“ 9016 Gap Newport Pike, Avondale.

Delaware County

Media Food Center

๐Ÿ“… Thursdays, second and fourth Saturdays of the month โŒš 7 to 8 p.m. (Thursday), 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, ๐Ÿ“350 W. State St., ๐Ÿ“ž610-566-3172.

Neighbor to Neighbor Community Center

๐Ÿ“… Thursdays, โŒš 6 to 8 p.m., ๐Ÿ“814 Clifton Ave., Sharon Hill, ๐Ÿ“ž610-461-8140.

Loaves and Fishes

๐Ÿ“… Tuesdays and Thursdays, โŒš 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Tuesday), 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, ๐Ÿ“703 Lincoln Ave., Prospect Park, ๐Ÿ“ž610-532-9000.

New Jersey

Touch New Jersey

๐Ÿ†” No ID or income requirement,๐Ÿ“… Saturdays, starting Feb. 4, โŒš9 a.m. to 1 p.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿฅซ produce and shelf stable food, ๐Ÿ›๏ธ bring your own bags, ๐Ÿ“ 2120 Woodlynne Ave., Woodlynne at the Word of Life Outreach Center, ๐Ÿ“ž609-313-4996. Operated by ๐ŸŒ Touch New Jersey.

Rutgers University

๐Ÿ†” Bring your student ID, ๐Ÿ“…Tuesdays and Thursdays, โŒš1 to 3:45 p.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“Student Wellness Center, second floor in the Campus Center, ๐Ÿ“ž856-225-6005, ๐Ÿ“งmadridm@camden.rutgers.edu,๐ŸŒ rutgers.edu.

Cherry Hill Food Pantry

๐Ÿ“… Tuesdays to Thursdays, โŒš6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“910 Beechwood Ave., Cherry Hill, ๐Ÿ“ž856-910-9090

Circle of Hope

๐Ÿ“… Saturdays, โŒš8:30 to 9:30 a.m., ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™€๏ธ walk in, ๐Ÿ“30800 Marlton Pike, Pennsauken, ๐Ÿ“ž856-320-8230.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the cityโ€™s push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org.