Food Resources

The resources listed below provide information about food pantries, food resources, and food aid programs (like SNAP and WIC). Check out the sources linked for additional information.

Food Pantry and Food-Related Resources

• Neighborhood Resources: Use the Hunter College NYC Food Resource Guide to select pantries by neighborhood or ZIP code. Visit nycfoodpolicy.org/coronavirus-nyc-food-reports.

 

• Plentiful App: Find food pantries and reserve a pick-up time for the food that you want with this app. Text “FOOD” to 726897 to download Plentiful. Visit www.plentifulapp.com to learn more.

 

• New York Common Pantry: Become a client of the Choice Pantry Services. Choose your food goods and pick them up at the NYCP sites in either Manhattan’s East Harlem or the Bronx’s Longwood. Find pick-up times available in this New York Common Pantry Flyer. Learn more at nycommonpantry.org.

 

• Food Bank NYC: Get food and nutritional information at bank stations throughout the city. Find more information at foodbanknyc.org/get-help or call (212) 566-7855 to get in touch.

Hot Meals/Brown Bags Lunch

• School Meals: Children who go to public, private, non-profit, or residential child care centers get free or low-cost food at their schools. Visit schools.nyc.gov/school-life/food/school-meals to learn more.

 

• Summer Food Service Program: Children and young adults under the age of 18 can get free breakfast or lunch during the summer. Text “NYC Food” to 304-304 for locations.

 

• Hot Meals: Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY or text “Food” to 877-877 for free meals at nearby locations. Text “COMIDA” for resources in Spanish.

Food Aid Programs

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Get aid with cash to buy groceries each month. Income and US residence requirements apply. Learn how to apply at hungersolutionsny.org/snap. Read the handout “Steps to Apply for SNAP in NYC” to prepare an effective SNAP application. For Spanish go to Aplicando_a_SNAP_en_Español.

 

• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Get nutritious food every month for children ages 0 to 5. Requirements for US citizenship or residence do not apply. Apply by calling a WIC office near your home. Find an office by visiting signupwic.com or call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline anytime at 1-800-522-5006.

Baby Formula

• Free Baby Formula: WIC gives free baby formula to moms. For specialty formula, ask for a prescription form from your doctor and give it to your WIC office. Call a WIC office to make an appointment and apply for benefits. Find a WIC office at signupwic.com or call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline at 1-800-522-5006.

 

• Free Delivery of Baby Formula: WIC members can have baby formula delivered for free. Order from Benjamin’s Pharmacy at (718) 405-9111.

Other Resources

• Community Fridges: Maintained by community members, they offer free food to whoever wants it. Find fridges nearby by going to Google.com/maps and typing “Community fridges near me”.

 

• Health Bucks: All NYC farmers markets accept Health Bucks for fresh produce. Get your bucks from hospitals and non-profits. Text “SOGOOD” to 877877 to find local farmer’s markets.

Updated on February 8, 2024.