Free Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens in Bell County, TX.
Bell County has dozens of food pantries, soup kitchens, and community meal programs spread across Killeen, Temple, Belton, Harker Heights, Copperas Cove, and the smaller communities in between. Every pantry and soup kitchen listed below is free and open to anyone providing requirements are met. The Central Texas Food Bank — the Feeding America affiliate for the region — supplies partner pantries throughout the county and runs its own mobile distribution events in Killeen and Temple on a rotating schedule.
The county spans a large area, so this page is organized by city to help you find the closest option. Killeen has the highest concentration of programs, including the Food Care Center, Mission Soup Kitchen, and the Killeen Empowerment Center. Temple is home to Feed My Sheep, which serves hot meals seven days a week, along with Churches Touching Lives for Christ. Belton's Helping Hands Ministry is one of the most active client-choice pantries in all of Central Texas, serving thousands of households each month and allowing weekly visits. Fort Cavazos families and veterans have additional options through military-specific programs.
Requirements vary by location — many pantries ask for a photo ID or proof of address in the county, while others accept walk-ins with no paperwork at all. Call ahead before your first visit. To apply for Texas SNAP food stamp benefits, visit https://yourtexasbenefits.com/Learn/Home or call 800-777-7328. For WIC nutrition benefits for pregnant women and children under 5, call 254-526-2033 in Killeen or contact your nearest Texas HHS office.
County-Wide Resources
These programs serve Bell County broadly or coordinate distributions across multiple cities.
Central Texas Food Bank — Bell County
Hotline: (512) 684-2559. Website: https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/
The Feeding America food bank for a 21-county Central Texas region. In Bell County, the CTFB supplies partner pantries in Killeen, Temple, Belton, Nolanville, Salado, and Harker Heights, and operates several mobile food distributions. Regular mobile pantry stops include Holy Temple Church in Killeen (generally 2nd and 4th Thursdays) and Ferguson Park in Killeen (generally 4th Wednesdays). A separate veteran-only mobile distribution is held monthly at the Temple VA Clinic (4th Thursdays). Call the hotline or visit centraltexasfoodbank.org to find the nearest partner pantry or confirm mobile pantry dates.
Meals on Wheels — Bell County (Hill Country Community Action Agency)
Belton Senior Center: 842 Mitchell St., Belton, TX 76513. Phone: (254) 939-1170. Website: https://www.hccaa.com/
Delivers hot, nutritious lunches weekdays to homebound seniors and adults with disabilities throughout Killeen, Temple, and Belton. Generally serves adults 60 and older who cannot prepare their own meals, though those under 60 with a qualifying disability and low income may also be eligible. Contact the Belton Senior Center or the Area Agency on Aging of Central Texas at (254) 770-2330 to apply.
Texas Health and Human Services — SNAP, WIC, and Medicaid
Killeen office: 215 E. Avenue D., Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 519-4666. Website: yourtexasbenefits.com
Administers Texas SNAP food stamps, WIC nutrition benefits for pregnant women and children under 5, Medicaid, and TANF. Applications can be submitted online at yourtexasbenefits.com. Additional HHS offices are located in Temple and Belton.
Killeen / Fort Cavazos
Killeen is the largest city in Bell County and has the most concentrated cluster of food programs.
Killeen Food Care Center
Address: 210 N. 16th St., Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 554-3400. Website: https://foodcare.org/
A faith-based nonprofit that has served Killeen for nearly 40 years. Provides free groceries — fresh produce, bread, eggs, dairy, canned goods, and meat — to any household in need. Generally open Tuesday through Friday mornings, with additional Friday afternoon hours. A photo ID is required and first-time visitors must register; clients can visit once per month. The center also runs a mobile pantry and carries clothing and household goods.
Mission Soup Kitchen
Address: 205 W. Avenue C, Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 634-8322
Serves free hot lunches to anyone in need, generally weekdays at midday. Walk-in service, no registration required. Closed on federal holidays. Open to anyone regardless of residency or documentation.
Killeen Empowerment Center
Address: 3629 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd., Killeen, TX 76543. Phone: (254) 554-0973
A Central Texas Food Bank partner offering a free food pantry and clothing closet. Generally distributes on the 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings and accepts appointments on weekday evenings. Serves Bell County residents of all backgrounds, including immigrants and the unemployed.
Hamilton-Manjang Mission House
Address: 1004 Jefferies Ave., Killeen, TX
Provides enough food for three full days — breakfast, lunch, and dinner — to families of any size. Generally open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday around midday. Call ahead to confirm current hours before visiting.
The Salvation Army — Killeen
Address: 501 N. 2nd St., Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 634-7172. Website: https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/bell-county
Provides a food pantry, emergency food boxes, and seasonal programs including Angel Tree Christmas gifts and Thanksgiving assistance. Also offers clothing. Call for current pantry hours and intake requirements.
Greater Christ Gospel Church
Address: 200 S. Gray St., Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 466-1520
Operates a free food pantry generally on Saturday mornings. Open to all residents. Call to confirm current schedule.
Destiny World Outreach Center
Address: 101 N.W. S. Young Dr., Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 690-0856
Free food pantry generally open on Monday and Thursday mornings. Serves low-income Bell County residents. Call for hours and any intake requirements.
ALCOG
Address: 1210 Florence Rd., Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 526-4598
Distributes free food generally on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. Call for details on eligibility and what to bring.
Assembly of Prayer
Address: 1013 Massey St., Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 466-3432
Food pantry and soup kitchen serving low-income and food-insecure residents in Killeen. Call for current distribution days and hours.
Operation Phantom Support
Address: 317 E. Avenue C, Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 233-1441
Primarily serves military veterans and their families in the Killeen and Fort Cavazos area. Provides food assistance and other support. Call for current program details and eligibility.
Five Star Food Market (ASYMCA) — Military Families Only
Harker Heights location: 110 Mountain Lion Rd., Harker Heights, TX 76548. Killeen location: 415 N. 8th St., Killeen, TX 76541. Phone: (254) 690-9622
A grocery-style food market operated by the Armed Services YMCA providing approximately 30 pounds of groceries per household. Exclusively for active-duty service members, veterans, and their families with valid military ID. Generally open Thursday and Saturday. No registration required.
ACS Food Pantry — Fort Cavazos
Address: Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood), TX 76544. Phone: (254) 553-0493
On-post food pantry operated by Army Community Service for military families and veterans needing additional food support. Call for current hours and access procedures, as on-post access requires a military ID or sponsorship.
Temple
Temple is Bell County's second-largest city and home to several well-established food programs.
Feed My Sheep
Address: 116 W. Avenue G, Temple, TX 76504. Phone: (254) 239-9863. Website: https://www.feedmysheeptemple.org/
One of the most active feeding programs in Central Texas. Serves free hot meals seven days a week through a community cafe, along with sack lunches, to anyone who arrives — no questions asked and no ID required. Also offers showers, laundry facilities, and a resource center that can assist with identification documents and referrals. Operated entirely by volunteers.
Churches Touching Lives for Christ (CTLC)
Address: 702 W. Avenue G, Temple, TX 76504. Phone: (254) 778-6885. Website: https://ctlcministries.org/
A coalition of Bell County churches that has operated its food pantry and clothing ministry since 1994. Distributes free groceries and clothing generally on Tuesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. A photo ID and proof of Bell County address are requested. Serves around 18% of the Temple community that faces food insecurity, including families, seniors, and the homeless.
Taylor's Valley Baptist Church Food Pantry
Address: 2470 W. FM 93, Temple, TX 76502. Phone: (254) 939-0503
Free food pantry operating generally on Wednesdays, with clients able to visit twice per month. Stock can include cereal, pasta, rice, canned proteins, yogurt, and other staples. In limited cases, homebound residents may be eligible for delivery — call to inquire.
The Salvation Army — Temple
Address: 120 S. 21st St., Temple, TX 76504. Phone: (254) 774-9996.
Provides a community food pantry, emergency food boxes, and holiday assistance programs including Thanksgiving meals and Angel Tree Christmas support. A community kitchen offers meals on a regular basis. Call for current pantry hours and program availability.
St. Vincent de Paul — Temple
Address: 702 W. Avenue G area, Temple, TX 76504. Phone: (254) 773-7591
United Way partner pantry serving East Bell County residents. Generally open Thursday mornings. Provides groceries and referrals. Call to confirm current address, hours, and intake requirements.
Open Arms UMC
Address: 112 S. 1st St., Temple, TX 76501. Phone: (254) 742-0650
Community food assistance program through a United Methodist congregation in Temple. Call for current distribution schedule and what to bring.
Belton / Nolanville / Salado
The county seat area and surrounding eastern Bell County communities.
Helping Hands Ministry of Belton
Address: 2210 Holland Rd., Belton, TX 76513. Phone: (254) 939-7355. Website: https://www.helpinghandsbelton.org/
The largest food pantry in this part of Bell County, supported by 30 local churches and serving over 2,500 households each month. Operates as a client-choice pantry where visitors select their own produce, bread, meat, dairy, non-perishable groceries, and personal hygiene items — amounts scaled by family size. Clients can visit every week, not just monthly. Generally open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Home delivery is available for homebound residents within 3 miles who cannot come to the pantry. A partner of the Central Texas Food Bank.
Christ the King Catholic Church
Address: 210 E. 24th St., Belton, TX 76513. Phone: (254) 939-0806
Provides emergency food boxes by appointment, stocked with meats, dairy, and baby supplies depending on availability. Serves Bell County households from children to senior citizens. Call to schedule.
Nolanville Food Pantry
Address: 300 W. Avenue I, Nolanville, TX 76559. Phone: (254) 698-6820
A community pantry serving Nolanville residents with free groceries. Call for current distribution days, hours, and any requirements before visiting.
Salado Community Pantry
Salado, TX 76571. Phone: (254) 947-5465
Serves southeast Bell County including Salado, Academy, and Holland. Generally distributes on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month. Call for the current location and any eligibility requirements.
Harker Heights
House of Mercy
Address: 627 E. Veterans Memorial Rd., Harker Heights, TX 76548. Phone: (254) 699-6920
Free food and emergency assistance program serving Harker Heights and the surrounding area. Call for current hours, available items, and any documentation requirements.
First Baptist Church of Harker Heights — Food Pantry
Harker Heights, TX 76548. Phone: (254) 768-2061
Operates a free food pantry generally on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Saturday of each month during morning hours. Open to the public. Call to confirm the current schedule and address.
Copperas Cove
Baptist Benevolence Ministry
Address: 507 N. 5th St., Copperas Cove, TX 76522. Phone: (254) 542-6780
Provides canned goods and other groceries to low-income residents. Generally open weekday mornings. Also offers seasonal holiday meal programs including Thanksgiving and Easter. Call for current hours and intake process.
Holy Family SVDP — My Brother's House
Address: 1001 Georgetown Rd., Copperas Cove, TX 76522. Phone: (254) 547-3735
St. Vincent de Paul ministry offering a combination of soup kitchen meals and food pantry assistance in Copperas Cove. Call for meal service days and pantry hours.
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