News | November 19, 2025
A brown paper bag and a cloth reusable bag, both filled with groceries.

Updated November 19, 2025

We know that many New Yorkers lack sufficient access to nutritious food. It is increasingly difficult for people to afford the food they need to thrive.

For anyone impacted by food insecurity, help is available.

Find resources below and contact the listed organizations and agencies directly to ensure you have up-to-date information.

For opportunities to volunteer or donate items in NYC, visit https://www.nycservice.org and DonateNYC.

 

Local Food Assistance

Call 311: This is a quick way to find emergency food sites, including food pantries and soup kitchens, in your neighborhood.

Catholic Charities: Distributes food through a network of pantries in Queens and Brooklyn and offers home-delivered meals for homebound seniors.

City Harvest: Use the food map to find locations distributing food, including Mobile Markets that provide fresh produce.

Citymeals on Wheels: Delivers meals to homebound elderly New Yorkers.

Community Food Connection: Funds over 700 community kitchens and food pantries across the city.

Food Bank for NYC: Use the interactive locator to find nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, and senior centers.

Food Help NYC Map: Find a food pantry for groceries or a community kitchen for a hot meal near you. The interactive tool includes search options for Kosher and Halal-friendly locations.

Additional Kosher and Halal pantry options in Queens include:

God’s Love We Deliver: Prepares and delivers nutritious meals to people who, due to severe or chronic illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves.

Mayor’s Office of Food Policy: Provides resources for accessing healthy food.

 

Government Assistance Programs

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food benefits to low-income working people, senior citizens, people with disabilities, and others. SNAP issues electronic benefits that can be used like cash to purchase food.

WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children): Offers food assistance to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

 

Other Support

National Hunger Hotline: Hunger Free America operates the National Hunger Hotline. The hotline is a resource for individuals and families seeking information on how to obtain food. The National Hunger Hotline staff connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance programs, and various social services.

  • By Phone: Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline, which operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET. If you need food assistance, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) to speak with a representative who will find food resources such as meal sites, food banks, and other social services available near your location.
  • By Text: Text to the automated service at 914-342-7744 with a question that may contain a keyword such as “food," “summer meals," “SNAP,” etc. to receive an automated response for resources located near an address and/or zip code.
  • By Address: Enter an address to find food assistance near you.

 

Specialized Programs

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program: Provides low-income older adults with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, and cut herbs. Eligible residents are provided coupons to redeem at participating farmers’ markets, farm stands, and mobile markets.

Groceries to Go Program: NYC Care members may be eligible for monthly credits to buy groceries for delivery or pickup. Call (347) 665-0175 for eligibility details.

Seniors (Ages 60+): Older adults can receive hot meals at senior centers or, if eligible, sign up for the Home Delivered Meals program. Call Aging Connect at (212) 244-6469 or 311 for more information.