Free food pantries, groceries and meals Lancaster County Pennsylvania.
There are dozens of non-profit food banks, free emergency pantries, soup kitchens and charities in Lancaster County that are focused on preventing hunger. The organizations often partner together in order to help a larger number of families. The food distribution centers near you, many of which give free immediate groceries today, can also refer residents to government programs such as SNAP food stamps or free school lunches. Find information below as well as a referral number at the bottom of the page.
The pantries rely heavily on donations and volunteers from the community, so therefore the amount and type of assistance provided will vary by center and even season. Some of the Lancaster pantries may offer hot meals and fresh fruits or produce, while others will just be limited to canned and non-perishable items. There are also community soup kitchens as well as Meals on Wheels across the Lancaster PA region as well. The locations are also open limited hours, and more information on the addresses and phone number of the food banks are below.
Ephrata Area Social Services
227 North State Street
Ephrata, PA, 17522
Call 717-733-0345
Up to five days of free food may be provided, including non-perishable canned goods, eggs, cheese, baby formula, meat and milk. They can also help females, including single moms in Lancaster, apply for WIC vouchers.
Salvation Army food pantries are located at 131 South Queen Street (dial 717-397-7565), 401 Locust Street in Columbia (phone 717-684-8047) as well as a center in Elizabethtown. Call 610-383-0868. Each may have food and groceries for special needs, serve hot meals (including at Thanksgiving and Christmas), offer shelter and other support, such as clothing. They also have limited financial aid as well as applications to SNAP food stamps.
Lancaster Food Hub (formerly County Council of Churches)
Main address is 812 N Queen St
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603
Call the pantry at 717-291-2261
Food, including home delivered meals for senior citizens, are available from the charity. They run a client choice pantry.
East Donegal as well as Conoy Area Christian Food Bank
Location - Coffee Goss Road
Maytown, PA, 17550
Lititz Warwick Community Chest
Lititz, PA, 17543
Dial 717-627-0770 for information.
A free food pantry is on site. There are also vouchers to a clothing bank for Lancaster County low income families.
Conestoga Community Food Pantry
3716 Main Street
Conestoga, Pennsylvania, 17516
The charity may have free milk, eggs, bread, and fruit as well as baby food or formula in an emergency.
Hempfield Area Food Pantry
Address is 85 East Brandt Boulevard
Landisville, Pennsylvania, 17538
717-898-2954
Grace Chapel Church
2535 Colebrook Road
Elizabethtown, PA, 17022
Telephone: 717-944-5571
Volunteers feed the poor, homeless, and elderly. Programs range from a free food pantry to soup kitchen.
Peter's Porch, Food Bank
Address is 435 Main Street
Akron, PA, 17501
717-859-2100
Lancaster families can get groceries, donated clothing, free personal hygiene items, and more for low income residents.
San Juan Bautista
Main address - 425 South Duke Street
Lancaster, PA, 17602
Call 717-392-4118 for hours.
Manheim Central Food Pantry
Location of pantry - 334 West Gramby Street
Manheim, PA, 17545
They operate an emergency food pantry.
Freedom Life Christian Center Food Bank
447 Noble Rd
Christiana, PA, 17509
Call 610-593-5959 for hours.
Based on donations, there may be canned goods and more for the low income and homeless.
Mount Joy Helping Services
The pantry is at Corner of Mount Joy & Concord Streets, 407 Howard Avenue
Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, 17552
717-653-5585
Lighthouse Assembly of God, His Helping Hands
105 Earland Drive
New Holland, Pennsylvania, 17557
Call 717-354-0056
Both bags of groceries or boxes of food are available as well as referrals and case management from the faith based charity.
CVCCS operates a Food Pantry
Address is 2420 Gehman Lane
Lancaster, PA, 17602
717-208-3711
Items available in Lancaster include soap and shampoo, free food, canned items, toilet paper, and more. Thanksgiving meals are served too.
Northeastern Lancaster County Food Bank
Terre Hill, PA, 17581
717-354-3776
Partners with local charities and churches to offer vouchers for food needs.
Water Street Ministries
Main address is 210 South Prince Street
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17603
717-393-7709 x281
Lancaster Brethren in Christ
Address - 1865 Fruitville Pike
Lancaster, PA, 17601
717-569-5011
Emergency food for people in poverty, the homeless, and working poor is available.
Jean Polite Food Bank
512 East Strawberry Street
Lancaster, PA, 17602
717-393-8379
A small pantry for people to pick up items from, and they may have vegetables too.
Elanco Social Services Network
10 West Farnum Street
Lancaster, PA, 17603
717-393-3035
In a crisis, low income families can get help. Services include free hygiene supplies, a bag of groceries, or even diapers as well. There are also Christmas toys for kids, meals for the family, and financial help.
Lancaster County Assistance Office
Applications to SNAP, WIC, cash aid from TANF for groceries, and other aid is provided too. Grants and loans may help very low income families.
Factory House
3098 Lincoln Highway East
Paradise, PA, 17562
Telephone - 717-687-9594
They run an emergency food bank for residents that have completed an assessment process.
Willow Street UCC - Community Meal
Address: 2723 Willow Street Pike
Willow Street, PA 17584
For intake, call 717-464-3462
St Luke's UCC
Address: 222 North Broad Street
Lititz, PA 17543
Call 717-626-7100
A soup kitchen and pantry are on site. Clients range from kids to the homeless, seniors, and the low income.
Meals only from Helping Hands Ministries - Mount Joy Mennonite Church
Note this organization has a free community meal the 3rd Wednesday of each month from September to April only. The meal is at 5:30 pm. There is not a food pantry on site. address of the organization and the meal is 320 Musser Road, Mount Joy, PA 17552, dial 717-653-5660.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Columbia Food Bank
340 Locust Street
Columbia, PA, 17512
Main phone 717-449-5101
Petra Christian Fellowship
565 Airport Road
New Holland, PA, 17557
717-354-5394
Lancaster County Project for the Needy
650 North Prince Street
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17603
The Christmas Food Basket and holiday meals are offered too.
Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown
206 South Market Street
Elizabethtown, PA, 17022
717-361-8149
A client choice food pantry is available on site, with boxes of groceries, canned goods, and more.
Alpha & Omega Family Life Center
708 Wabank Street
Lancaster, PA, 17603
717-394-3021
Assistance is for people facing a crisis only.
Pet Pantry of Lancaster County
26 Millersville Road
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17607
717-983-8878
This unique service may have free dog, cat and small animal food to qualifying residents, including senior citizens.
Community Action agencies in Lancaster (CAP) will be able to help too. The centers offer referrals to pantries and soup kitchens. Applications for programs such as SNAP food stamps are offered too. Some locations of CAP include 40 West Main Street, Ephrata (717-733-6562), 601 South Queen Street (call 717-299-7301), 349 Buck Road in Quarryville (call 717-786-4468), and there are several other agencies too.
Find more free food services in Lancaster PA near you
For additional locations, call 610-434-0875. Or receive referrals to other Lancaster County programs, such as Home-Delivered Meals or free Christmas gift baskets or meals. Or learn about the TEFAP - Emergency Food Assistance resource.
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