Find Free Food

We are committed to making food free and accessible.

The Community Food Bank provides food in 12 counties across central Alabama:

Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Walker, and Winston.

There are two best ways to find a free food distribution that fits your needs:

Agency Finder

Use the Agency Finder to find a partner near you. Agencies receive food from us to distribute on a regular basis, and they are the easiest way to get connected to resources.

Distribution Calendar

Or, view the Distribution Calendar below for our public distribution times and locations.

How it works:

We partner with over 260 food pantries, churches, and nonprofits across our 12-county service area. We provide those partner agencies with food that they distribute free of charge. Times and days are subject to change, so be sure to call before attending.

The Community Food Bank also hosts a number of free food distributions throughout the month, called Mobile Pantries, and they are listed in the Calendar below.

Tips

  • When going to a Partner Agency, be sure to call before you go. Times and locations may change, and some agencies are By Appointment Only.
  • Mobile Pantry distributions provide food to households and are first-come, first-served. If you need food for more than one household, be sure to have one adult present for each household.

Agency Finder Tool

Connect with a Partner Agency in your neighborhood!

We supply each agency with food, then they distribute it to their community.

  • Search by Name or put in your zip code or use the map to find a Partner Agency near you.
  • Every agency is different, so call to verify times, dates, and availability even if it is listed.
  • Some agencies require an appointment, and food is subject to availability.
  • Find food at hunger relief agencies throughout Alabama.
  • Click on Agency name for more information
    If you have an emergency need, please call 2-1-1 or the toll-free number at (888) 421-1266.
    If you are hearing-impaired, call 7-1-1 and ask to be connected to 2-1-1 Connects Alabama.

    Food Distribution Calendar

    Mobile Pantries are drive-up, free food distributions that include a selection of fresh produce, dry goods, meat, and dairy, hosted and run by Community Food Bank volunteers and staff. Food is while supplies last, so it may be beneficial to arrive early.

    Distributions marked F2F are “Farmers to Families” fresh produce distributions, with local produce sourced from co-ops. These distributions are subject to change, so call beforehand to verify the time and availability. More distributions can be found on the Agency Finder! The calendar below is an incomplete selection, though more are being added every day.

    Calendar of Events

    M Mon

    T Tue

    W Wed

    T Thu

    F Fri

    S Sat

    S Sun

    18 events,

    16 events,

    23 events,

    15 events,

    9 events,

    5 events,

    2 events,

    21 events,

    21 events,

    27 events,

    20 events,

    9 events,

    8 events,

    3 events,

    23 events,

    22 events,

    27 events,

    21 events,

    12 events,

    21 events,

    3 events,

    22 events,

    23 events,

    29 events,

    19 events,

    10 events,

    8 events,

    3 events,

    22 events,

    19 events,

    23 events,

    14 events,

    9 events,

    0 events,

    0 events,

    Benefits Enrollment/SNAP


    If you live in Alabama or Mississippi and need to apply for food stamps – now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – we can help. We’ll walk you through the application process, and help you determine if you meet the income guidelines for food assistance benefits.


    The Benefits Enrollment Center (BEC) helps eligible low-income adults, seniors, and individuals with disabilities find and enroll in benefits programs to help them afford necessities like prescriptions, insurance, and housing costs.

    To apply, or for more information, contact us at: Phone: 1-877-833-2550
    Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

    Email: outreach@feedingthegulfcoast.org

    Online: benefitsenrollmentcenter.org


    If you would like to get started with the SNAP application, please fill out the form below.

    Fill out my online form.

    The Community Food Bank’s Kids Café Summer Meals Program provides healthy lunches and snacks to kids throughout the summer months, ensuring they have consistent access to the nutritious foods they need!

    We partner with the USDA and ALSDE, as well as with local YMCA’s, schools, churches, and other kids’ programs to provide meals in low-income areas when school is not in session.

    In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

    mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
    fax: (202) 690-7442 or
    email: program.intake@usda.gov.