Set a Healthy Example!

Accessing Free Food

Making sure your family is eating well and regularly is a priority. Often its hard to make all the ends meet. But there are many ways to help all people have access to food for a healthy life, no matter what your situation is. If you need help finding food immediately, click here to use our agency locator to find a soup kitchen or food pantry we serve in your area.

Click on the links below to learn more about these different programs:

Free Summer Meals
All children 18 years old and under can enjoy a free breakfast and lunch every weekday at any open site in New York City! Find a location near you.

Emergency food programs
(Food pantries, soup kitchens)- Often staffed by volunteer organizations, such as church groups or community groups, emergency food programs are places where food is offered to the hungry for free or at a reasonably low price.

imageCity Harvest’s Mobile Market
Four times a month, City Harvest sets free produce distributions in Melrose, Bronx, and Stapleton, Staten Island, in conjunction with NYC Housing Authority. Fresh produce is distributed for free and nutrition resources are provided. All participants must be registered with the program before participating. To find out more, contact Tony Ortiz at City Harvest, tortiz@cityharvest.org.

ACCESS NYC
A free service that identifies and screens for over 30 City, State, and Federal human service benefit programs.

Food Stamps (EBT/SNAP)
A federal-assistance program that provides funding for low-income Americans to buy supplemental food.

Health Bucks
Health Bucks, worth $2 each, are developed and distributed by NYC Health Department District Public Health Offices and can be used to purchase fresh fruits & vegetables at participating farmers markets from July through mid November.

WIC
A federal assistance program that provides healthcare and nutrition to infants, children, and certain mothers.

Growing up Healthy Hotline
The New York State Growing Up Healthy hotline provides information about health care, nutrition and other health and human services. The hotline provides information and referral services 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the language of your choice.

Growing Up Healthy Hotline: 1-800-522-5006.

Hunger Hotline
Operation Food Search responds 7 days a week, 24 hours a day through the Hunger Hotline where those in need can find information on where to find food assistance as well as other kinds of help. Call (314) 726-5355.