How to get alerted to mobile pantries, soup kitchens, and pop-up food distributions in your area
Many food banks and nonprofits organize mobile pantry events, hot meal distributions, and pop-up grocery giveaways - but these are often announced on short notice and can be hard to track. If you're in need of free emergency food, being alerted in real time can make a huge difference and find how to set up alerts below.
Why real time alerts to free same day free food or meal giveaways matter
|
Some groups, whether a local charity, church or even corporation such as a restaurant, hand out free food daily and the demand is high - this the need for real time alerts. Or they give out surplus meals, baked goods and other items, but the places that give away the don’t post it widely and it is often last minute. It can be challenging to track, as the giveaways can take place at everything from a local grocery store (that had surplus baked goods or prepared meals) to a small, local church food pantry.
The way the information is published varies. Some places, such as free hot food from a restaurant, in generally only shared through social media or text message lists. Others post it with local news or on their website. With the right tools and networks, you can get notified when food is being distributed near you, before it’s all gone.
Get alerted to mobile or pop up food bank distribution near you
|
Feeding America often publishes local mobile and pop up pantries that take places on a daily basis. The first place to try for a mobile or pop up pantry (or even soup kitchen) is a local charity or non-profit. As almost all communities, including most likely near you, have some form of pantry or place that gives out free food in local communities. Therefore sign up with your local food bank's notification system. Most Feeding America-affiliated food banks, and there are tens of thousands of them in most (all?) local towns and cities, now offer some or all of the following.
- Text alerts
- Email sign-ups
- Weekly or daily food distribution calendars
To find your local Feeding America food bank alerts the information is as follows. They often cover certain counties or even entire states, so the alerts will include mobile or pop up giveaways that occur daily in your area, but some may be just outside of your town or not as relevant. The detail for finding a local alert is here. https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank.
The exact steps to take are as follows. However the alert for daily or local, same day giveaways vary by Feeding America site. In general, the process is.
- Enter your ZIP code.
- Look for any “Get Alerts,” “Mobile Pantry Schedule,” or “Subscribe” links.
As some examples of Feeding America pop up soup kitchen or pantry alert systems, Second Harvest (TN): Text “FOOD” to 877-877 for alerts. However, another example is for Cook County / Chicago. For this area, the Greater Chicago Food Depository sends weekly emails of popup locations. Sometimes a website keeps a list, like in Harris County where the Houston Food Bank has real-time, free real time meal and food giveaways calendar updates online.
Use food finder apps or websites to find local same day food giveaways
|
Some mobile apps or websites, that can be operated by non-profits or “for profit” companies that focus on helping low-income families, specialize in real-time food as well as meal assistance alerts. Some of them also send alerts to other free giveaways that can benefit people in need – such as clothes, furniture, and more.
When using these sites or apps, enable location services and push notifications in these apps for instant alerts. Some of the best ones to try are as follows.
- AmpleHarvest is web-based. This service focuses on alerting people to mobile pantries, long term food banks and other programs. The site connects you to nearby food pantries that were just set up by the day.
- Propel (formerly Fresh EBT / Providers) has information on mobile pop up food pantries and soup kitchens as well as other programs. It is on Android & iOS. Find more details on Propel EBT app.
Follow local churches and community centers
|
Social media can be used to find pop up food and meal programs. Many churches, local rec centers such as the YMCA, synagogues and mosques do not have websites much less update a site daily even if they have one. Many of those organizations do try to help struggling people, including by giving out free grocery boxes, but it can be hard to know when it occurs.
But in general, they post pop-up food events using different services. Or you even read to be alerted to real time updates on the websites. To find these local often same day giveaways, search the following.
- Facebook
- Instagram
- TikTok
- WhatsApp groups
It can also be beneficial to search for these groups (rec centers, churches, etc.) daily pop ups or mobile pantries using Bing or google. But this is not as automated but a “manual” process. To do this, search for terms such as “[Your City] Mobile Food Pantry”, “[Your City] Church food giveaway”, "[Your County] food distribution", "[Your Town] Pop Up Food giveaway” or similar terms.
If/when you find a local community center or church, see if they have a social feed. If so be sure to turn on Facebook “Favorites” or “Notification Bell” for pages.
Alerts to national charities that have local pop up and mobile food pantries
|
Many national non-profit and charity organizations that help low-income families have thousands (if not more) of locations, and it can be hard to find these much less to be alerted to a real time, same day food giveaway. It is a great idea to sign up for food or meal alerts from these national groups with often a local presence. As the number of pop up pantries offered in countless cities, on a daily basis, is incredible.
These organizations coordinate or share free food pop-up info across multiple states. The main charities, which have thousands of possible sites, include the Salvation Army USA, Catholic Charities, Saint Vincent or community action among others. Find more details on these programs as well as help from a charity.
Use community Mutual Aid Groups/Websites to be alerted
|
Some “hyper-local” food events are ONLY shared through the following services. They can publicize pop up meal or food giveaways, restaurants or say local bakeries giving away surplus items that day and so much more. These sites, many that have apps too, include the following.
- Nextdoor.com: Use the “Free Stuff” and “Events” tabs
- Reddit: Try subs like r/Food_Pantry or city-specific subs (e.g. r/LosAngeles)
- Facebook Groups: Search “[Your City] Mutual Aid” or “[Your City] Free Food”
- Eventbrite.com (Search “free food” + your city)
- Craigslist “Free” section
- Freebies Alert is on Android & iOS. They give free alerts to local giveaways of food, groceries and so much more in towns across the US, and find Freebie Alert giveaways.
Some are easier to navigate then others. Some require people to register for an account, but they are all free. As an example search to find these, try something like this on google or Bing (of course using your city). “Dallas food giveaway mutual aid group” or “Brooklyn pop-up pantry schedule”
Final tips to be alerted to pop up or mobile pantries or meal sites
While unfortunately it not simple to find a free food or hot meal giveaway that occurs in real time, the fact is these programs exist in most area. We recommend sign up for multiple sources (apps, text, Facebook, email). No single system catches all events.
Some of the key takeaways include join community WhatsApp or SMS chains if available. Or if you are aware of local places ask your local food pantry or church if they offer alert systems.
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
