Find Free Food & Meal Services in New Orleans

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

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.