No one in New Haven should go hungry. Food pantries give you groceries to take home, soup kitchens and community meals serve a hot plate, and SNAP (food stamps) helps you buy your own food at the store. Most pantries are free and open to anyone, and many do not ask for ID or proof of income.
The programs below are the verified food resources in our New Haven directory. If you need food today, call 211 for the nearest pantry that is open right now.
Resource details below come from the live directory. Call the provider to confirm hours, openings, and eligibility before you go.
Who can get help
Pantries and community meals are generally open to everyone, no questions asked, though some ask for your address to confirm you are in the area. SNAP has income limits based on household size; you can get a quick estimate from our Benefits Check tool and apply through Connecticut DSS.
Food pantries and meals in New Haven
APNH Community Food Pantry
APNH: A Place to Nourish Your Health
Free emergency food pantry at APNH, open to anyone in the New Haven area on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month. APNH case-management clients can also use it on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Atwater Senior Center
City of New Haven Department of Elderly Services
City-run senior center with free classes and activities such as tai chi, yoga, crafts, line dancing and bingo, plus day trips to theaters, museums and outlet malls. A congregate lunch is served for a …
Barry J. Vine Food Pantry at Jewish Family Service
Jewish Family Service of New Haven
Monthly supplemental groceries for individuals and families in Greater New Haven who are near or below the poverty line or nutritionally at risk. Offers shelf-stable foods, produce, fruit and frozen i…
Believe In Me Empowerment Corporation Food Pantry
Believe In Me Empowerment Corporation
BIMEC's emergency food pantry assists individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. The provider describes fresh produce, dairy and shelf-stable food, along with holiday meal packages and ext…
Bethel AME Church Food Pantry
Bethel AME Church
Church-based food pantry at Bethel AME Church. The current distribution schedule, service area and intake requirements need confirmation with the church.
Beulah Heights Social Integration Program
Beulah Heights Church
Beulah Heights Social Integration Program provides meals, food-pantry appointments and support for people experiencing homelessness or returning from incarceration. Its Morning Manna program serves ho…
Breakthrough Church - Food Assistance Inquiry
Breakthrough Church
Contact Breakthrough Church about current food assistance. The previously listed distribution at 596 Winchester Avenue and its monthly schedule could not be confirmed on the church's current website.
Catholic Charities - Centro San Jose Food Assistance
Catholic Charities - Archdiocese of Hartford
Food and basic-needs assistance through Catholic Charities' Centro San Jose Family Center in Fair Haven. Contact the center for current pantry arrangements and available help.
Chapel on the Green
Trinity Church on the Green
Sunday community worship and a shared meal on the New Haven Green, welcoming people who are housed or unhoused and people of any faith or none.
Christian Community Action
CCA
New Haven nonprofit offering food, housing support and case management. New HOPE housing accepts referrals from a case manager, social worker or counselor.
Christian Community Action Food Pantry
Christian Community Action
Appointment-based pantry offering a monthly food bag to low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities.
Community Baptist Church - Grocery Giveaway
Community Baptist Church
Free monthly grocery distribution at Community Baptist Church. The church welcomes everyone to its giveaway.
Community Soup Kitchen of New Haven
CSK New Haven
Free meals since 1977, open to all. At 84 Broadway: dine-in or take-out lunch four days a week and Saturday breakfast. CSK also serves meals at neighborhood sites, including 5 Hazel Street, 33 Lambert…
Connecticut Foodshare
Connecticut Foodshare supplies a statewide network of food pantries and meal programs and runs mobile food distributions. Use its food finder to locate a distribution serving your area, including Grea…
Continuum of Care Emergency Housing
Continuum of Care Inc
Emergency housing at 270 Foxon Boulevard for adults, including single people and families. Provides meals, showers, laundry, clothing, clinical support and help finding housing. Staff are on site 24 h…
How to get started
Find a pantry or meal below
Check the hours, since many pantries are open only on certain days. Call ahead if you can.
Bring a bag and an ID if you have one
Most pantries do not require ID, but bringing one and a reusable bag can speed things up. Ask what they need.
See if you qualify for SNAP
SNAP puts money on a card for groceries every month. Use our Benefits Check tool for a quick estimate, then apply through DSS.
Common questions
Where can I get free food in New Haven?
Food pantries and soup kitchens across New Haven give out free groceries and meals. The programs on this page are the verified options in our directory. Check the hours and call 211 if you need food today.
Do I need to prove income to use a food pantry?
Usually not. Most pantries are open to anyone and do not check income. Some ask for your address to confirm you live in the service area. Call ahead if you are unsure.
How do I apply for SNAP (food stamps)?
You apply through Connecticut DSS. Our Benefits Check tool gives you a quick estimate of whether you qualify and roughly how much, before you apply.
Related help guides
Not sure where to start, or do not see what you need?