Find soup kitchens and hot meal programs that help feed the hungry as well as the low income, people with no money or the homeless. There are a number of places that serve a free breakfast, lunch, dinner or even offer a holiday meal service. Free soup or food kitchens for meals may be run by the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, churches, Feeding America as well as other charity organizations, and find where to get a free meal below.

Also, in general, senior citizens, the disabled, and single moms or dads can often get a free hot meal from a soup kitchen regardless of their income. There are no income restrictions, age or faith requirements, or applications that need to be complete. However, every location of a charity (whether Salvation Army or St. Vincent, etc.) will not have a feeding program or soup kitchen on site, however many do serve a free hot emergency meal. It is recommended to call in advance to learn more or to get hours, or to learn about other hunger prevention services.

Daily soup kitchens that serve hot meals

Free meals as well as soup kitchens are arranged by Feeding America. The organization is a nationwide hunger fighting non-profit. They partner with the federal government, charities, mobile food pantries or soup kitchens, and the USDA among others. They try to feed the working poor, low income, homeless and others who are in a crisis. They also help with SNAP food stamps and other benefits. More information on Feeding America near you.

Catholic Charities has free meals. The charity helps anyone in need, regardless of their religion. Immigrants can also get a free hot meal or food box. Free soup kitchens for a breakfast or hot dinner, or maybe a box lunch is available. There is also clothing, kitchen items like pots or plans, clothes, emergency hygiene supplies and food pantries as well. Locate Catholic Charity food assistance programs near you.

St. Vincent is another nationwide charity that has many free soup kitchens as well as hot meal assistance programs. The homeless, veterans, and low income among others get help. They also feed single moms as well as kids. A big part of there programs are run by volunteer Venetians. More on St Vincent near you.

Children can often get free snacks (or a breakfast or lunch) during the summer or holiday vacations. The assistance programs are from Feeding America, churches as well as other charities. Both pantries and soup kitchens may offer this form of assistance. It is not only for those who are at a summer camp that the Salvation Army or another charity like St. Vincent runs, but the programs are generally open to anyone.

The free snacks or even boxes of nutritious food can help battle hunger for children that rely on the USDA school lunch program. There are often also free meals as well as snacks for kids at the charity run summer camps. Find a free summer lunch program for kids.

Daily cold or free hot nutritious meals may be served from a soup kitchen or charity in your area. Volunteers as well as part or full time staff work at the locations and play a major role in offering free food or meals to the low-income as well as homeless. There may be breakfast, lunch, or dinner served. Many soup kitchens also feed immigrants or students during the summer when they do not have school breakfast or lunches available to them.

While the make up of each meal will vary based on location as well as what food has been donated, there may be some or all of the following served. A soup kitchen may serve meats, vegetables, dairy, sandwiches, bread, and more to anyone that is hungry. Another service will be free hot meals on the holidays and they also feed children during the summer months. They also tend to give out a box of food to the low-income, and find a list of free food distribution centers in your community.

Area Agency on Aging congregate meals help feed senior citizens over the age of 60 and disabled adults. Most of these non-profits offer some type of programs that feeds people. The free lunches, dinners or even a breakfast can be held at a senior center near you or other site, and there are also holiday meals for the community. Locate senior programs from Area Agency on Aging.

Free frozen or hot meals may be delivered too. Many charities that help feed the poor or families with little or no money realize some low income homebound individual can’t make it to a meal site. They will generally be senior citizens and/or the disabled. When this occurs the volunteers from the Salvation Army, Agency on Aging or other feeding sites will either try to (1) deliver a free frozen or hot meal to the client or (2) refer the person to a local Meals on Wheels delivery program.

Classes and healthy eating or arranged by many local soup kitchens. In addition to serving food to low income families, many soup kitchens also offer a free cooking program. This program shows families how to cook healthy meals on a budget and also grocery shop more efficiently. Locate free cooking matters program.

Free hot restaurant quality meals are an option as well for people with food stamps / EBT cards. Families living in poverty, that get food assistance from the government, can use their EBT card (or state equivalent) to pay for fast food, hot meals, and higher quality prepared items. Learn about how to buy hot food with EBT.

Faith based groups serve meals, operate soup kitchens, and help feed local communities. There are churches of all faith that low-income families or single adults can turn to for free hot food. There are generally breakfasts, lunches and dinner served in most communities by volunteers and members of the community. Locate church programs for the low-income.

Free holiday meal services are offered at most soup kitchens. Charities, in particular the Salvation Army, serve free hot meals from soup kitchens and give out holiday food boxes. The soup kitchens and Salvation Army social services tend to serve the following meals around the holidays. It is always recommended to call in advance for locations and hours, as some of these holiday programs are run in partnership with other groups in the communities.

Easter – This is not as common to be served, but some centers give free Easter baskets for kids, candy, sweets, and more. A meal, when offered, is usually at lunchtime.
Thanksgiving – Almost every charity, including Catholic Charities, churches or the Salvation Army also serves free Thanksgiving meals with turkeys, vegetables, deserts, and all the sides.
Free Christmas meals – The Salvation Army will usually serve these around the holiday. Kids can get small toys and the entire family a free, hot Christmas lunch or dinner with all the toppings.

Salvation Army free soup kitchens

No matter where you live, what state, county, or city, the vast majority of Salvation Army centers, including those near you, serve free meals to the low income, homeless, unemployed or low income. They combine that service with other social services, including applications to food stamp benefits, free groceries from a pantry, and other hunger prevention programs. Call or stop by a Salvation Army soup kitchen or social service office near you.

Hawaii and Honolulu County