Find Free Food & Meal Services in New Orleans

Browse local food banks, community fridges, and free meal programs near you.

Looking for in-home family care in New Orleans? Learn how Nest supports families with at-home visits and 24/7 access.

New Orleans Food Pantries

Food pantries provide groceries for individuals and families. Some may require proof of residency.

Broadmoor Improvement Association

📍 Location: 2021 S Dupre St, New Orleans, LA, 70125
📞 Phone: 504-249-5130
📧 Email:bfp@broadmoorimprovement.com
🔗 Website:www.broadmoorimprovement.com
🕒 Hours: Tuesdays 10 AM - 12 PM, Wednesday 1 PM - 3 PM
💡 Details: Food pantry at Broadmoor Community Church. See Basic Needs section for additional services. Free; call for an appointment.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish spoken upon request

Community Center of St. Bernard

📍 Location: 6800 Patricia St., Arabi
📞 Phone: 504-518-5968
🕒 Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 9 AM - 12 PM
💡 Details: Food bank Wednesday & Thursday mornings. Free for low-income individuals; walk-in.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken

Culture Aid NOLA Food Distro

📍 Location: Wednesdays: Our Lady Star of the Sea, 1835 St. Roch | Saturdays: Corpus Christi Church, 2022 St. Bernard
🕒 Hours: Wednesday 6 PM, Saturday 9 AM
💡 Details: Free food distribution twice weekly. No reservation, ID, or proof of income required.
🌍 Language Support: Not specified

Familias Unidas

📞 Phone: (504) 813-4022
📧 Email: Leticia@FamiliasUnidasLA.org
💡 Details: Food distribution program currently at capacity; call to check availability.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish spoken

Gretna United Methodist Church Food Bank

📍 Location: 1309 Whitney Ave, Gretna, 70056
📞 Phone: 504-366-6685
🕒 Hours: Monday & Thursday 10 AM - 12 PM
💡 Details: Second Harvest food bank. ID & proof of residency required. Free; call or walk in.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish sometimes spoken

Hope House

📍 Location: 916 Saint Andrew St., New Orleans (Irish Channel), 70130
📞 Phone: 504-525-2561
🕒 Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9 AM - 1 PM; Tuesday, Thursday 9 AM - 4 PM
💡 Details: Groceries for residents of the 70130 zip code. Additional social programs available. Free but requires proof of residence, proof of income, and picture ID.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken

Sankofa Lower 9 Food Pantry

📍 Location: 5200 Dauphine St, New Orleans
📞 Phone: 504-872-9214
🔗 Website:sankofanola.org/fresh-food-pantry/
🕒 Hours: Monday & Wednesday 10 AM - 12 PM
💡 Details: Food pantry & grocery boxes. Free; complete application (in-person, online, or by phone) to determine eligibility. Requires name, address, household size, and income information. Requires date of birth for senior commodity box.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken, but applications available in Spanish

St. Jude Community Center

📍 Location: 400 N. Rampart, New Orleans, 70112
📞 Phone: 504-931-6993, 504-553-5790
💡 Details: Food bank. See Basic Needs section for info on additional programs. Free.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken

St. Peter Claver Church

📍 Location: 1910 Ursulines Ave., New Orleans, 70116
📞 Phone: 504-822-8059
📠 Fax: 504-822-9251
🕒 Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 10 AM - 2 PM
💡 Details: Direct assistance & food pantry at Sankofa Center (1839 St. Philip). Free with ID and proof of address; walk-in.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken

New Orleans Free Meal Programs

Hot meals served on-site, no cost, no reservations needed.

Community Kitchen

📞 Phone: 504-383-3349
📧 Email: kitchen@commiekitsch.org
🔗 Website:www.commiekitsch.org
🕒 Hours: Tuesday 3 PM - 4 PM
💡 Details: Volunteers serving free meals and distributing fresh food in New Orleans. Hot food serving at Duncan Plaza between city hall & the main branch public library.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken

Crescent City Café

📍 Location: 3900 St. Charles Ave (Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church)
📧 Email: info@crescentcitycafe.com
🔗 Website:www.crescentcitycafe.com
🕒 Hours: 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, 8 AM - 9:30 AM
💡 Details: Volunteer-run café serving no-cost meals two Saturday mornings each month.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken

Dragon Café at St. George Episcopal Church

📍 Location: 4600 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, 70115
📞 Phone: 504-899-2811
🕒 Hours: Sunday 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
💡 Details: Breakfast served Sundays. Currently "grab & go" as per COVID protocols.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken

Southern Solidarity

📧 Email: southernsolidarity@gmail.com
🕒 Hours: Meal distribution every day between 5 PM - 8 PM
💡 Details: Meals distributed downtown along Decatur, Canal, and Calliope. Free; walk in.
🌍 Language Support: Spanish not spoken

Community Fridges

Free food available 24/7—take what you need, leave what you can.

🔗 Website:www.nolacommunityfridges.org/locations
💡 Details: Free food and meals in fridges across the city, available 24/7. Check website for updates.

📍 Current Locations as of May 2023:

• 1522 N Villere

• 2425 N Miro St.

• 3908 Joliet St. @ Trinity Community Center

• 1206 Touro St.

• 2528 Lapeyrouse St.

• 300 Wagner St. (Algiers)

• 1126 Piety St.

• 1804 Deslonde St.

• 401 Sala Ave. (Westwego)

• 1014 N. Miro St.

• 1801 Alvar St.

• 1924 Jackson Ave.

• 1823 Washington St.

FAQs

Q: Do I need an ID to receive food?
Some food pantries require proof of residency, but many do not.

Q: Can I pick up food for someone else?
Some locations allow proxies—call ahead to confirm.

Q: What should I bring when visiting a food pantry?
A reusable bag, ID (if required), and proof of address for certain locations.