NYC Hunger Hotline: How to get help with food today
New York City’s Hunger Hotline, which is also called the NYC Emergency Food Line connects people to nearby food pantries and community kitchens across all five boroughs. Callers to these services can get referrals to centers that they may be qualified for. The services are available to any resident, regardless of their income, age, race, or religion. Find more information below and contact information for the Hunger Hotline in NYC.
What the Hunger Hotline does
When you call, an operator looks up food pantry and/or soup kitchen locations by your address or ZIP code. The Hotline staff then share what to bring (if anything), hours, and accessibility details. Several city resources point residents to 866-888-8777 for these referrals; it’s the go-to city number for emergency food information, with 311 as a parallel entry point.
The main number is 866-888-8777, and you can also dial 311 and ask for emergency food help. Both routes provide locations, hours, and directions to sites that can give you groceries or hot meals the same day. Residents of the downstate region, including New York City, Long Island, Westchester, and the surrounding area can dial the Hunger Hotline at 1212-566-7855 or 1-866-888-8777. All information is available in Spanish as well as English.
The services also offer information on public aid, including how to apply for government food benefits in New York State. Callers can get information on application sites for food stamps (SNAP), Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) and other state or federal government food assistance benefits. In fact, there are several different programs that focus on offering food and in general preventing hunger.
Most pantries provide free groceries or ready-to-eat meals. Some may ask for basic information like your name, address, or household size to keep counts, but many do not require ID. Hours and rules vary by location, which is why calling the Hotline or checking the map at City Harvest (website: https://www.cityharvest.org/food-map/) before you go is helpful. Note City Harvest is a key partner of the Hotline.
- Many volunteers also work with the NYC Hunger hot-line as well as the food pantries themselves. People can receive a wide range of food from the centers that are from staples, baby formula, meals, and more. In some cases the hotline can refer a caller to a free Thanksgiving or Christmas meal site too, or there are mobile pantries in the city that can make it more convenient for residents to get the help they need. There is also details on what Catholic Charities does to help feed people.
Who in the NYC area can use it
Anyone who needs food in New York City (or the downstate region) can call. There is no immigration status requirement to receive referrals to free pantries and community meals. If that’s a concern for your family, city and congressional resource pages confirm referrals regardless of status.
Kids - teens can use it too. One key service in New York City is the Food Summer Meals Program, and this is for children, teenagers, and young adults. The Hunger Hotline can provide details on how to apply for a free breakfast for children, and were the application sites are located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.
When it’s open
Most weekday’s the hotline is offered. Though it deoes reley on donations and volunteers so it can vary. The business hours for the Hunger Hotline are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you’re calling outside those hours or can’t get through, use 311 or the online map options below to find food right away.
Have your address or nearest cross streets ready so the Hotline can find the closest sites, with more details on NYC food pantries here. If you have dietary needs, mobility concerns, or need a site open at a specific time, tell the operator so they can filter by hours and accommodation. Language assistance is available through city lines; HRA notes you can get help in most languages.
Contact information for the Hunger Hotline
As noted, there are two main numbers to call in the NYC to reach immediate assistance programs. Dial the Hunger Hotline at 212-566-7855 (NYC Food Bank) or 646-412-0600 for City Harvest.
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