Access to Nourishment: Connecting You with Food Resources

By Sierra Martinez | Senior Manager, Digital Marketing & Innovation

Access to healthy, nourishing food is essential for everyone, and this government shutdown has many people — military and civilian alike — scrambling. Whether you're facing a temporary challenge or seeking ongoing assistance, Blue Star Families has compiled a list of reliable programs and resources to help. 

Below is a list of local food pantries and food assistance programs serving our Blue Star Chapter areas. These are places where individuals and families can find free groceries, meals, and other helpful services. 

Chicagoland Chapter

• Midwest Veterans Closet: http://www.midwestveteranscloset.org/
• Northern Illinois Food Bank: https://solvehungertoday.org/

Craig Newmark New York Tri-State Chapter

• Nourish the Service Essentials Market: https://neighborhood.bluestarfam.org/topics/29327/events

Dayton & Southwestern Ohio Chapter

• Greene County Fish Pantry: https://www.gcfp.org/
• Fairborn Fish: https://fishfairborn.org/
• The Dayton Foodbank: https://thefoodbankdayton.org/
• Good Neighbor House - Food Distribution Center: https://www.goodneighborhouse.org/
• The Hearth Community Place: https://www.thehearthdayton.org/
• Choice Food Pantry: https://cssmv.org/services/stabilization-success/choice-food-pantry/
• Shared Harvest Food Pantry: https://www.sharedharvest.org/
• Freestore Food Bank: https://freestorefoodbank.org/
• The Barracks Project: https://www.thebarracksproject.org/
• Family Services of Middletown: https://familyservicemiddletown.org/
• Table of Hope - Cincinnati: https://www.tableofhopewest.com/
• Matthew 25 Ministries: https://m25m.org/

Greater Fayetteville Region Chapter

• ASYMCA: https://fortbragg.asymca.org/services/food-assistance/
• Second Harvest Food Bank: https://hungercantwait.org/
• Cliffdale Church Food Pantry: https://www.cliffdalealive.com/foodbank
• Fayetteville Urban Ministry: https://www.fayurbmin.org/

Jacksonville Chapter

• Feeding Northeast Florida: https://feedingnefl.org/
• Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministries: https://jaxbeam.org/food-pantry/
• Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida: https://www.lssjax.org/
• Farm Share: https://www.farmshare.org/
• Jacksonville MAVD Food Farmacy Mayport: https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/military-affairs-and-veterans-department/events/all-events/food-farmacy-%2833%29
• Jacksonville MAVD Food Farmacy NAS: https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/military-affairs-and-veterans-department/events/all-events/nas-jax-food-farmacy-%286%29

National Capital Region Chapter

• Soldiers' Angels: https://soldiersangels.org/get-support/food/washington-dc/
• JBAB Food Pantry: https://www.jbab.jb.mil/News/Articles/Article/4233477/jbab-opens-food-pantry/
• Capital Area Food Bank: https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/?utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

New England Chapter

     ⭐️ New Hampshire

• New Hampshire Food Bank: https://nhfoodbank.org/
• Mobile Food Pantry Schedule: https://nhfoodbank.org/find-food/mobile-food-pantry-schedule/
• Gather: https://www.gathernh.org/
• Little Free Essentials: https://www.portsmouthnh.gov/library

     ⭐️ Maine

• Maine Food Banks: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/tefap/bytown.shtml
• Maine Food Assistance Programs: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/index.shtml
• Maine Senior FarmShare Program: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/farmshare/index.shtml
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/tefap/index.shtml
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/supplemental-food.shtml
• Hunters for the Hungry: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ard/food-assistance/hunters-for-hungry.shtml

     ⭐️ Massachusetts

• Food Bank of Western Massachusetts: https://www.foodbankwma.org/
• Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Mobile Food Bank: https://www.foodbankwma.org/get-help/mobile-food-bank/
• Food Assistance Navigators: https://413cares.findhelp.com/the-food-bank-of-western-massachusetts--chicopee-ma--food-assistance-navigation/4730253011582976?postal=01062

     ⭐️ Rhode Island

• Rhode Island Food Bank: https://rifoodbank.org/
• Food Pantry for Middletown: https://mlkccenter.org/hunger-services/
• Feed RI: https://feedri.org/
• RI Community Resources: https://rifoodbank.org/community-resources/

     ⭐️ Connecticut

• Connecticut Foodshare: https://www.ctfoodshare.org/
• Connecticut Foodshare's Mobile Pantry: https://mobilefoodpantry.ctfoodshare.org/

Puget Sound Chapter

• Bremerton Foodline: www.bremertonfoodline.org
• Central Kitsap Foodbank: ckfoodbank.org
• Fish Foodbank: www.ghpfish.org
• Food Lifeline: www.foodlifeline.org
• Lacey Veterans Service Hub: www.cityoflacey.org
• North Whidbey Help House: www.northwhidbeyhelphouse.org
• Nourish Pierce County Food Bank: www.nourishpc.org
• Support the Enlistment Project: www.teamstepusa.org
• United Way of King County Food Resources: www.uwkc.org
• Volunteers of America, Western Washington Food Bank: www.voaww.org

San Diego Chapter

• Feeding San Diego: https://feedingsandiego.org/
• San Diego Food Bank: https://www.sandiegofoodbank.org/
• San Diego Military Outreach Mission (SDMOM): https://sandiegomom.org/
• Support The Enlisted Project (STEP): https://www.teamstepusa.org/
• Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton: https://camppendleton.asymca.org/
• Armed Services YMCA San Diego: https://sandiego.asymca.org/
• Courage to Call: https://www.courage2call.org/
• Food4Warriors: https://www.us4warriors.org/food4warriors

Tampa Bay Region Chapter

• Metropolitan Ministries: https://www.metromin.org/get-help/
• Feeding Tampa Bay: https://feedingtampabay.org/findfood
• The Bautista Project Inc.: https://www.thebautistaprojectinc.org/
• MacDill Chapel Food Pantry: https://www.macdill.af.mil/chapel/

Tennessee Chapter

• Armed Services YMCA Fort Campbell Food Pantry & Thrift: https://fortcampbell.asymca.org/services/food-thrift-store/
• Manna Cafe: https://mannacafeministries.org/
• Loaves & Fishes: https://loavesandfishestn.org/

Utah Chapter

• Catholic Community Services: https://ccsutah.org/ogden-programs
• Griffin Memorial Church Food Pantry: https://www.foodpantries.org/li/griffin_memorial_church_food_pantry_84401
• Hope Center Utah: https://www.hcutah.org/
• First Baptist Church of Ogden Food Pantry: https://ogdenfbc.org/
• United Way of Northern Utah: https://uwnu.org/
• Bountiful Food Pantry: https://bountifulfoodpantry.org/

Please note that this list is not all-inclusive. Though I tried to ensure all of those listed above are still active/accepting new applications, things change every day. There are also many other places across the country offering food, personal care items, and more. No matter where you are located, one of the best places to find food resources is Feeding America. You can search for food banks serving your community by entering your zip code, and also find specific resources for children and seniors. 

Remember, you are not alone. Our community is here to support you, no matter where military life takes you.