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Food Pantries Image

Food Pantries

Food pantries, meal programs, and community gardens are all part of our efforts to make sure all stomachs are fed and to erase food insecurity.

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At The Salvation Army, we know that one of the first results to occur in times of crisis is food insecurity. Many families don’t know where their next meal will come from. Whether the cause is a natural disaster, financial strain, or a pandemic, many families in need struggle to find nutritional food on a regular basis.

According to the USDA, in 2020, 6.7% of all U.S. households reported using a food pantry, an increase from 4.4% in 2019. For some, food pantries are a source of emergency aid to solve a hunger crisis. For others, food pantries supplement low-income families with nutritious meals. At The Salvation Army, our food pantries provide a variety of healthy food and basic-need items for those seeking food assistance and to help them regain household food security.

Our vision is to provide people facing food insecurity with the resources and support needed to improve their health and well-being through nutritious food in welcoming environments.

If you or your family are hungry and don’t know where to get your next meal, you are not alone. Find the nearest Salvation Army Food Pantry near you.

 

Our Food Pantry Services

The Salvation Army recognizes the importance of food security for people and families across the United States. Through community engagement, volunteering, and generous donations, we can meet the needs of food-insecure individuals through the following food programs:

Neighborhood Food Pantries

The Salvation Army has many neighborhood food pantries to provide nutrition and other necessary items for you or your family. A typical visit to one of our food pantries will provide you with a three-to-five-day supply of nutritionally balanced groceries, completely free of charge.

Our food pantries supply nonperishable food and dry pantry goods, with a focus on balanced grains, canned vegetables and fruits, proteins, and pasta. Knowing that these may only provide short-term relief, our food pantries also provide resources to help provide longer-term food support, plus access to different food bank locations.

Food Parcels and Fresh Boxes of Produce

For those with limited time or mobility, our food pantries also offer food parcel services. A typical food parcel includes enough food for about two to three meals a week (depending on household size), packaged and available to pick up curbside or to be delivered straight to your home.

In certain locations, The Salvation Army provides fresh produce in food parcels as well. Fresh items may include potatoes, lettuce, other vegetables, and fruit to provide families with valuable nutrition that dried goods may not always satisfy.

Check with your nearest Salvation Army food pantry for hours of operation to verify if any pieces of identification are needed or to schedule a pickup for food boxes.

Mobile Food Pantries

Mobile food pantries bring essential food to locations that are considered “food deserts,” meaning they lack access to food pantries, grocery stores, and an adequate selection of healthy foods. The Salvation Army’s mobile food pantries use refrigerated vehicles to directly provide food distribution in a drive-thru setup to our clients within food deserts.

Our mobile food pantries may carry a selection of fresh meat, dairy, and produce, as well as other pantry staples and household essentials such as diapers or hygiene products. Also, a team of volunteers and caseworkers helps provide residents with resources to locate other social services available to them through The Salvation Army.

Make sure to check the schedule daily for the most up-to-date locations and times.

Assistance With Applying for SNAP

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) — also known as food stamps — is a government program that helps people buy the food necessary for healthy lives. Across the United States, there are 9.5 million families and children using SNAP to buy food. At certain Salvation Army food pantries, our caseworkers and volunteers can give you the resources to apply for SNAP.

Fight Against Food Insecurity

While most U.S. families enjoy a consistent supply of food for a healthy lifestyle, referred to as "food secure," there are instances where households face food insecurity, indicating that their access to adequate food is restricted due to insufficient funds and resources. According to a 2022 study by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), households with very low food security reported the following conditions in the annual food security survey: 

  • 98% reported having worried their food would run out before they had money to buy more. 
  • 97% reported the food they bought just did not last, and they did not have money to get more. 
  • 96% reported they could not afford to eat balanced meals. 
  • 96% reported an adult had cut the size of meals or skipped meals because there was not enough money for food; 87% reported this had occurred in three or more months. 
  • 95% reported they had eaten less than they felt they should because there was not enough money for food. .
  • 65% reported they had been hungry but did not eat because they could not afford enough food. 
  • 46% reported having lost weight because they did not have enough money for food. 
  • 29% reported an adult did not eat for a whole day because there was not enough money for food; 22% reported this had occurred in three or more months. 

Additional Hunger and Poverty Statistics:  

 Serving All Without Discrimination

In providing its hunger relief programs and services, The Salvation Army is committed to accommodating all those in need without unlawful discrimination or harassment based on age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic in accordance with our capacity to help.

About The Salvation Army’s Food Pantries

The Salvation Army is dedicated to eliminating food insecurity by serving anyone in need. By providing hunger relief programs and services, The Salvation Army is committed to accommodating all those in need without unlawful discrimination or harassment based on age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic in accordance with our capacity to help.

Depending on the location, there may be certain eligibility requirements to receive assistance. Please contact your nearest location to see if you need to bring any of the following documents:

  • Proof of residency and Social Security card or photo ID (including state driver’s license or state ID, United States military identification card, United States citizenship certificate, United States passport, work permit, green card, immigrant/non-immigrant visa, and passport from another country).

In some locations, you may be eligible to get support from your local food bank as well, even if you:

  • Are not a permanent or city resident.
  • Do not have a Social Security card.
  • Are receiving other benefits such as food stamps or WIC.

Love Across the Nation

In 2021, we served over 171 million meals across the United States. See how many meals were provided to your neighbors in the map below.

875,260 Meals Served

167,983 Meals Served

3,220,000 Meals Served

870,000 Meals Served

15,367,202 Meals Served

2,112,080 Meals Served

1,600,000 Meals Served

113,776 Meals Served

398,150 Meals Served

5,939,659 Meals Served

1,372,000 Meals Served

1,138,000 Meals Served

77,583 Meals Served

15,280,000 Meals Served

3,455,500 Meals Served

318,177 Meals Served

98,600 Meals Served

1,313,000 Meals Served

520,799 Meals Served

87,213 Meals Served

1,347,321 Meals Served

1,087,266 Meals Served

3,866,000 Meals Served

3,160,000 Meals Served

130,000 Meals Served

36,967 Meals Served

774,667 Meals Served

1,461,000 Meals Served

46,000 Meals Served

745,183 Meals Served

2,150,000 Meals Served

13,000,000 Meals Served

3,207,000 Meals Served

760,000 Meals Served

3,903,920 Meals Served

1,500,000 Meals Served

5,067,000 Meals Served

5,455,449 Meals Served

57,771 Meals Served

2,101,000 Meals Served

380,809 Meals Served

660,000 Meals Served

6,750,000 Meals Served

64,869 Meals Served

17,000 Meals Served

1,509,359 Meals Served

756,762 Meals Served

631,750 Meal Served

1,637,000 Meals Served

61,072 Meals Served

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When it comes to hunger, families face the greatest threat.
 

35% of households headed by single women are food insecure.

26% of black non-Hispanic households are food insecure.

22% of Hispanic households are food insecure.

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Hunger hurts children the most.
 

In the United States, 20% (15.3 million) of children under age 18 face food insecurity on a regular basis.

That means 1 of every 5 children experiences prolonged hunger.

19% of all American households with children are food insecure.

 

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Food insecurity negatively impacts nutrition.
 

In households struggling to afford groceries and meals:

68% are hungry but do not eat sufficiently because they cannot afford enough food.

95% cannot afford to eat balanced meals.

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Other Ways We Meet Needs