Struggling Florida residents can get free or low cost food, groceries, meals, or other items from food pantries and food banks that are located across the state. This page links to local city and county programs in Florida as listed below. Most people receive free shelf-stable food from neighborhood churches, local charities, or community centers that are supplied by a regional food bank. The distribution schedules as well as what is available, and requirements to get free food, vary widely by county and metro area.

Most large, regional food banks in Florida are part of the Feeding America network. These food banks supply items to local pantries as well as soup kitchens. Those local centers then distribute the items, such as a box of groceries, hygiene supplies, pet food, produce and more to qualified people. Smaller pantries may also rely on local donations or church support.

In addition to passing out food directly or operating a soup kitchen for a hot meal, some food pantries in Florida can help people get started with long term benefits. This includes support such as SNAP as part of ACCESS Florida online applications. Note the local pantries do not approve benefits. They may help explain the process or direct someone to a Department of Children and Families office or other program that may be needed, such as Meals on Wheels.

Local Florida food banks and meal programs

The county and city links below list food pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs across Florida. Listings may include an address, phone number, and other details around the basic service provided. Programs are grouped by county or city to make it easier to find a place for free food or a meal in your area with another option being pantries with free pet food in Florida. Each distribution location sets its own hours and rules, therefore people should call ahead before visiting.

Citrus County Clay County

Collier County

Duval County as well as food pantries in Jacksonville

Orange County including Orlando FL

City of St. Petersburg FL

Regional food distribution centers in Florida

In addition to the list above of local options, Florida is served by several large regional food banks noted below. These organizations, most of which are part of Feeding America, supply food and other items such as household supplies or hygiene items to local pantries across multiple counties. Most people receive food through a local pantry, not directly from a regional warehouse but the organizations below can be a place for more information, including about government food assistance, or referrals.

Feeding Florida offers resources too. The location is a clearinghouse for the state with details on many local food banks and places that help feed people in need. Non-profits such as Feeding America have other hunger prevention programs too. If needed, dial 855-352-3663 for more information on locations of distribution centers or pantries in your town or county. More info is here. https://www.feedingflorida.org/.

Farm Share organizes free food distribution events across many local communities. While the schedule varies, food may be given away at scheduled events in North, Central, and South Florida. These are scheduled food giveaways where individuals can pick up groceries and produce at no cost. A real time, updated calendar on the Farm Share site (website: https://www.farmshare.org/food-distributions-florida) lists upcoming distributions by region.

Feeding the Gulf Coast provides assistance in the Florida Panhandle. They in effect support over counties, but they also provide free food in neighboring states. Anyone in the panhandle can try this location at 5709 Industrial Blvd, Milton, FL 32583. Call (850) 626-1332. The location is for people in Bay, Escambia, Holmes, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington Counties as well as others.

Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida has multiple locations in SW part of the state. Get referrals to free food, cooking and shopping classes, snack backpacks for students, Meals on Wheels and more. Assistance is offered in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. The locations are:

3760 Fowler St., Ft. Myers, FL 33901. Call 239.334.7007 for referrals.
Fort Myers Grocery and Meals Distribution Center is at 3760 Fowler St., Fort Myers, FL 33901
Collier County Center address - 3940 Prospect Ave., Naples, FL 34104. Dial (239) 334-7007

Treasure Coast Food Bank has multiple sites. Learn about mobile food pantries or soup kitchens, pet food services, Summer Hunger Programs, SNAP applications and more. Families in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie County can get help.

401 Angle Rd., Ft. Pierce, FL 34947. Telephone 772.489.3034
Martin County is supported by 3816 SE Dixie Hwy, Stuart, FL 34997. Phone: 772.489.3034
A Health and Wellness Center, which also has cooking classes, information on shopping and eating well from 1203 Orange Ave, Fort Pierce, FL 34950. For information, dial 772.489.3034

Feeding Northeast Florida is for Jacksonville FL as well as residents of the counties of Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns Counties. Call this center when faced with a crisis. A referral to a free box of food, baby formula or groceries may be provided. Children and students can also receive snacks or meals when they are out of school, during the summer. The main Feeding America location is at 5245 Old Kings Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32254. Call 904.513.1333, and there are also free drive thru pantries too.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has a focus is seniors, the unemployed, and working poor families faced with an emergency. Get referrals to free groceries, WIC applications, Meals on Wheels, and local pantries among other social services, including for pet food or surplus commodities. The Feeding America location is for Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia County and operates from 411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, FL 32805. Telephone - 407.295.1066

Other satellite locations include Bread of the Mighty Food Bank in Gainesville, FL 32601. Dial 352.336.0839
First Step Food Bank, Inc is at 4045 NE 36th Ave, Ocala, FL 34478. Telephone - 312.732.5500
Florida Gateway Food Bank address is 553 NW Railroad St, Lake City, FL 32055. Call 386.754.9180

Free food banks in FL Feeding South Florida is the Feeding America affiliate for Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe County and Palm Beach. A number of free assistance programs, hunger prevention resources and more is offered, including to immigrants and non-English speakers. The location is 2501 SW 32 Terrace, Pembroke Park, FL 33023. Call 954.518.1818. Or try Feeding Palm Beach County at 4925 Park Ridge Blvd, Boynton Beach, FL 33426. Telephone - 561.331.5441

All Faiths Food Bank runs assistance programs for Sarasota and DeSoto County. There is a Kids Cafe, congregate meal sites for the elderly, frozen food home delivery and other support. Location is 8171 Blaikie Ct., Sarasota, FL 34240. Call 941.379.6333 for details.

Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Inc. also assists residents of NW Florida, and specifically what is known as Big Bend. Whether applications to benefit programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Hunger Outreach, or referrals to a charitable pantry, try them for information at 4446 Entrepot Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32310. Call 850.562.3033.

Feeding Tampa Bay has everything from Nutrition Education to SNAP Outreach Program or USDA benefits. The free food bank is for families in Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, or Sumter. Address is 4702 Transport Dr., Tampa, FL 33605. Main number is 813.254.1190

Bradenton and Manatee County is covered by a Feeding America affiliate at 811 23rd Avenue East, Bradenton, Florida 34208. The programs range from a soup kitchen with free hot meals to a pet food pantry, low-salt food boxes for people in need and more. Dial: 941-747-3663

Bread of the Mighty is part of NW and NE Feeding America. A food bank provides vouchers as well as boxes of groceries. They also operate cooking schools, a mobile food pantry and other services. The main center is at 325 NW 10th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601. They have referrals and databases of local pantries. Some assistance may be provided to senior citizens as well, including home delivered meals or lunches. Phone: 352-336-0839. It is for Alachua, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette and Levy Counties.

Florida Gateway Food Bank is for single adults or families in Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee & Union Counties. The location is 772 E. Duval Street, Lake City, Florida 32055. Programs range from Afterschool Snack Program to nutrition education as well emergency, same day food distribution. Call 386-755-5683

Get help with food in Florida from local referrals. Most counties should be listed above. However, if not, or to locate additional food assistance programs near you, other options that are available. They include, but are not limited to, low cost groceries from discount stores. This will help people save money and can be combined with EBT card vouchers from the SNAP food program, or Meals on Wheels for the homebound in FL.

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