Community Food Share Programs by Location: Complete Directory
Understanding Community Food Share Programs and How They Support Food Security
Community food share programs represent the backbone of food security efforts across the United States, providing essential nourishment to millions of people experiencing food insecurity. These programs take many forms—from traditional food pantries and mobile food banks to innovative Little Free Pantries and community refrigerators—all working toward the same goal: ensuring everyone in our communities has access to nutritious food.
Food insecurity affects more than 44 million Americans, including 13 million children. Behind these numbers are real people—your neighbors, coworkers, and community members—who face difficult choices between food and other necessities like rent, utilities, or medication. Community food share programs bridge this gap, offering not just food but dignity, connection, and hope.
At Kelly's Kitchen, we recognize that accessing food resources should never be complicated or stigmatizing. Through our Food Security Network, we've created a comprehensive, accessible resource that connects people to food programs in their zip code, complete with information about eligibility requirements, delivery options, and accessibility features for people with disabilities.
How to Find Community Food Share Programs in Your Area
Finding food assistance in your community has become easier through digital tools and expanded networks, yet many people still struggle to locate available resources. Understanding how to search effectively ensures you or someone you're helping can access food support quickly.
Using Online Search Tools and Databases
The most efficient way to locate food share programs is through searchable online databases. Kelly's Kitchen's Food Security Network offers both a map-based and list-based search tool, allowing you to find food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, farms, and food justice organizations in your zip code. This resource includes critical accessibility information, making it especially valuable for disabled community members and their families.
National organizations like Feeding America provide extensive databases of member food banks across the country. Their tool allows you to search by zip code and provides contact information, hours of operation, and services offered. Many local United Way chapters operate 211 helplines that connect callers with food assistance programs and other community resources.
State-specific resources often provide more detailed local information. Many state departments of health and human services maintain lists of food assistance programs, including those that may not be part of larger national networks. Rural communities, in particular, often have localized programs that only appear in regional databases.
Understanding Different Types of Food Share Programs
Community food share programs operate under various models, each serving specific needs and populations:
Food pantries typically allow clients to select items from available inventory, either through client-choice models where individuals shop for their needs, or through pre-packed boxes. Most pantries serve clients monthly or weekly, depending on funding and inventory. Pantries may be operated by faith communities, nonprofit organizations, or community centers.
Food banks function as regional distribution centers, collecting food from donors and distributing it to smaller agencies like pantries and meal programs. While food banks generally don't serve individuals directly, they coordinate the broader food assistance network in a region.
Soup kitchens and meal programs provide prepared meals, either on-site or through delivery. These programs serve people who may lack cooking facilities or the ability to prepare meals independently. Some operate daily, while others offer meals on specific days.
Mobile food pantries bring food distribution directly into neighborhoods with limited access to traditional pantries. These programs address transportation barriers and food deserts, making assistance available where people live.
Little Free Pantries, like those supported through Kelly's Kitchen's LFP Program, provide 24/7 access to non-perishable food items in weatherproof boxes placed in neighborhoods. This model removes barriers related to operating hours, eligibility requirements, and documentation.
Community fridges and free food tables offer fresh and prepared foods on an ongoing basis, operating on a take-what-you-need, leave-what-you-can philosophy. These grassroots initiatives strengthen community bonds while addressing immediate food needs.
Regional Food Share Programs: State-by-State Overview
Understanding regional variations in food assistance helps connect people with appropriate local resources. Food insecurity looks different across regions due to factors like poverty rates, cost of living, rural versus urban settings, and natural disasters. Below is an overview of food share programs organized by region, highlighting unique characteristics and notable programs.
Northeast Food Share Programs
The Northeast faces unique food security challenges related to high costs of living, seasonal food access in rural areas, and diverse immigrant populations requiring culturally appropriate foods. Many programs in this region emphasize fresh produce distribution and multilingual services.
New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut)
Food banks in New England often partner with regional farms to provide fresh, seasonal produce. The Good Shepherd Food Bank in Maine operates a network of more than 400 partner agencies across the state, including mobile pantries that reach remote rural communities. In Vermont, the Vermont Foodbank coordinates backpack programs that send children home with weekend food supplies.
Massachusetts addresses food insecurity through a robust network including Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline, which provides multilingual assistance in connecting people with food programs. Community fridges have proliferated in Boston neighborhoods, with local mutual aid groups maintaining these resources.
Mid-Atlantic (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C.)
The Greater New York area includes Food Bank For New York City, City Harvest, and hundreds of local pantries serving diverse populations. Many programs offer specialized services for immigrant communities, including halal, kosher, and culturally specific foods.
In Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank operates the Fresh Bonus Bucks program, providing additional dollars for purchasing fresh produce at farmers markets. Philadelphia has extensive community fridge networks and mutual aid food distribution systems.
Maryland's Capital Area Food Bank serves Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia with mobile markets and produce plus programs. Many programs in this region have adapted to serve populations displaced by rising housing costs.
Southeast Food Share Programs
The Southeast experiences high rates of food insecurity, particularly in rural communities and among communities of color. Programs in this region often contend with limited public transportation, food deserts, and recovering from natural disasters including hurricanes.
South Atlantic (Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida)
North Carolina, particularly Western North Carolina and Appalachia, faces significant food access challenges. After Hurricane Helene devastated the region in 2024, food security efforts intensified. Kelly's Kitchen moved to Bakersville, NC specifically to address heightened food insecurity in this historically underserved area.
The Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina serves a 18-county region with mobile pantries, backpack programs, and senior boxes. MANNA FoodBank covers Western North Carolina with innovative programs addressing rural food access.
In South Carolina, Lowcountry food pantries serve coastal communities, many operating in conjunction with faith organizations. The South Carolina Lowcountry Food Bank coordinates hurricane preparedness and emergency food distribution.
Georgia faces some of the nation's highest food insecurity rates, particularly in rural counties. The Atlanta Community Food Bank operates a teaching kitchen and health programs alongside traditional food distribution.
Florida's vast geography requires diverse approaches, from Miami's urban food distribution networks to rural programs in the Panhandle. Feeding Florida coordinates the state's food banks, addressing needs of seasonal workers, retirees, and families affected by housing instability.
East South Central (Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi)
These states face persistent poverty and food insecurity, particularly in rural areas. Kentucky's God's Pantry Food Bank serves 50 counties with mobile pantries and senior programs. Community gardens and gleaning programs help supplement pantry offerings.
Tennessee's Second Harvest Food Bank operates a robust nutrition education program alongside food distribution. Many rural communities rely on church-based food ministries and volunteer-operated pantries.
Mississippi has the nation's highest food insecurity rate. The Mississippi Food Network coordinates emergency food assistance while advocating for policy changes to address root causes of food insecurity.
West South Central (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas)
Texas's Houston Food Bank is one of the nation's largest, distributing millions of pounds of food annually. The North Texas Food Bank operates innovative programs including a teaching kitchen and partnerships with healthcare providers to address food as medicine.
Louisiana's food banks continue addressing long-term needs following hurricanes and flooding. New Orleans has strong mutual aid networks and community fridges supplementing traditional food assistance.
Arkansas's food banks partner with rural health centers to provide medical nutrition therapy alongside food distribution, addressing the connection between food insecurity and chronic disease.
Midwest Food Share Programs
The Midwest combines urban food insecurity in major metropolitan areas with rural food access challenges across agricultural regions. Programs often emphasize local food sourcing and partnerships with regional farmers.
East North Central (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin)
Illinois's Greater Chicago Food Depository operates a vast network serving Cook County with mobile pantries, produce distribution, and nutrition education. Community-based organizations provide culturally specific food programming for the city's diverse populations.
Michigan's Gleaners Community Food Bank serves seven counties with innovative programs including partnership with healthcare systems to prescribe food as part of medical treatment. Detroit's urban agriculture movement supplements pantry services with fresh, locally grown produce.
Wisconsin food banks coordinate with dairy farmers to provide fresh milk and cheese. Rural pantries partner with hunting and fishing organizations to provide protein sources.
West North Central (Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas)
Minnesota's food shelves (as pantries are locally called) serve diverse populations including recent immigrant communities. The Second Harvest Heartland provides multilingual services and culturally appropriate foods.
Iowa food banks coordinate with the state's agricultural sector, creating farm-to-pantry programs that benefit both farmers and food-insecure families. Missouri's food banks in Kansas City and St. Louis operate extensive mobile pantry routes reaching underserved neighborhoods.
The Dakotas face unique challenges with vast rural areas and limited public transportation. Food banks operate mobile pantries with extended routes and partner with tribal nations to serve Native communities.
Western Food Share Programs
The West includes both dense urban centers and remote rural communities, from coastal cities to mountain towns. Programs address diverse populations including immigrant communities, Native nations, and people experiencing homelessness.
Mountain (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada)
Montana's food banks coordinate with the state's ranching community to provide beef through wild game programs. Rural areas rely heavily on mobile food pantries that may travel hundreds of miles.
Colorado's food banks operate numerous programs addressing food insecurity from urban Denver to rural mountain communities. Food Bank of the Rockies serves both Colorado and Wyoming with innovative programming including mobile markets and senior food boxes.
New Mexico and Arizona work extensively with tribal nations, recognizing unique food sovereignty needs and cultural food traditions. Many programs in these states address food access in border communities.
Pacific (Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Hawaii)
California's food banks serve some of the nation's largest food-insecure populations despite the state's agricultural abundance. Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and San Francisco-Marin Food Bank coordinate extensive networks of pantries and meal programs.
Food Access LA (formerly SEE-LA) operates the largest network of mission-driven farmers markets in Los Angeles, stretching public nutrition benefits for purchasing fresh, nutrient-rich foods. Their programs combine food access with nutrition education for low-income families.
Oregon and Washington food banks emphasize local sourcing and sustainable food systems. Seattle's food banks have adapted to serve populations displaced by rising housing costs, operating on-site services at homeless shelters and transitional housing.
Alaska faces unique challenges related to remoteness and high food costs. Food banks in Alaska coordinate airlifts to remote communities and work with subsistence hunting and fishing traditions.
Hawaii's food banks address the state's extremely high cost of living and limited local food production. Programs emphasize culturally appropriate foods for the state's diverse Asian and Pacific Islander populations.
Accessibility Features to Look for in Food Share Programs
True food security requires that food programs are accessible to all community members, including people with disabilities, older adults, families with young children, and individuals with transportation barriers. Understanding accessibility features helps you identify programs that can actually serve your needs or those of people you're helping.
Kelly's Kitchen centers disability justice in all food security work, recognizing that accessibility cannot be an afterthought. Our Food Security Network specifically includes accessibility information to help disabled individuals locate truly accessible food resources.
Physical Accessibility
Food distribution sites must be physically accessible to serve all community members. Look for programs that provide:
Accessible parking near entrances, with adequate space for wheelchair van access. Parking should be on level ground with curb cuts connecting to building entrances.
Ramped or level entrances without stairs as barriers. Automatic doors eliminate the need to manage both mobility equipment and heavy doors simultaneously.
Wide doorways and aisles that accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility devices. In client-choice pantries, ensure aisles between shelves allow for turning and reaching items.
Accessible restrooms with grab bars, lowered sinks, and adequate turning space for wheelchair users.
Seating areas for people who need to rest during the shopping or waiting process. Standing for extended periods creates barriers for many disabled people and older adults.
Alternative food pickup options such as drive-through service or curbside delivery eliminate the need to navigate building interiors, benefiting people with various mobility challenges.
Communication and Information Accessibility
Access to information about programs is as important as physical access to food. Programs should provide:
Multiple communication methods including phone, email, text messaging, and online portals. Not everyone can easily make phone calls, while others may lack reliable internet access.
Materials in multiple languages reflecting the languages spoken in the community. Food assistance should not require English proficiency.
Plain language descriptions of program requirements, hours, and procedures. Complex bureaucratic language creates unnecessary barriers.
Visual accommodations such as large print materials, high-contrast signage, and screen reader-friendly websites.
ASL interpretation or video relay services for Deaf community members.
Staff trained in disability awareness who can provide assistance without being patronizing or making assumptions about what help someone needs.
Programmatic Accessibility
The structure of programs themselves can create or remove barriers:
Flexible hours including evening and weekend options serve people who work or have caregiver responsibilities during traditional program hours.
No or minimal documentation requirements recognize that obtaining identification, proof of address, or income verification can be difficult for people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or institutional barriers.
Client-choice models allow people to select foods that meet their dietary needs, cultural preferences, and family preferences. Pre-packed boxes may contain foods people cannot eat due to allergies, religious requirements, or medical conditions.
Home delivery programs serve people who cannot travel to distribution sites due to disability, lack of transportation, or health vulnerabilities.
Dignity-centered approaches treat clients as community members deserving respect rather than as charity cases. This includes offering high-quality foods, attractive facilities, and interactions that honor each person's humanity.
Specialized Food Programs for Specific Populations
While general food pantries serve broad populations, specialized programs address unique needs of specific communities. Understanding these programs ensures people connect with resources designed for their circumstances.
Programs Serving People with Disabilities
People with disabilities experience food insecurity at rates two to three times higher than the general population due to factors including employment discrimination, lower wages, higher living expenses, and transportation barriers.
Kelly's Kitchen's Nourishment Beyond the Plate program specifically serves people with disabilities, providing not just food but accessible cooking instruction, kitchen tools, and skill-building resources. This program recognizes that access to food is only one part of food security—people also need the ability and resources to prepare meals in ways that work for their bodies and living situations.
Programs serving disabled individuals should consider:
Accessible kitchen equipment including adaptive utensils, one-handed tools, and devices that reduce physical demands of cooking.
Cooking instruction adapted for various disabilities, addressing techniques for people with limited mobility, vision impairment, or cognitive differences.
Food packaging that people can actually open independently. Many standard packages create barriers for people with limited hand strength or dexterity.
Prepared meal options for people who cannot safely operate cooking equipment or lack accessible kitchen facilities.
Senior Nutrition Programs
Older adults face food insecurity due to fixed incomes, mobility challenges, and social isolation. Senior-specific programs include:
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides monthly food boxes specifically for seniors aged 60 and older, with foods selected to meet nutritional needs of aging adults.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides vouchers to purchase fresh produce directly from farmers markets and roadside stands.
Meals on Wheels delivers prepared meals to homebound seniors, providing both nutrition and wellness checks.
Congregate meal programs serve meals at senior centers, combining nutrition with social connection and reducing isolation.
Child Nutrition Programs
Children experience food insecurity differently than adults, with lasting impacts on development, health, and educational achievement. Programs addressing child hunger include:
School breakfast and lunch programs provide free or reduced-price meals to eligible students. Some districts operate breakfast in the classroom programs to reduce stigma and increase participation.
Backpack programs send children home with weekend food supplies, addressing food insecurity when school meals aren't available.
Summer meal programs continue feeding children during summer months when school meals aren't available. Many parks, libraries, and community centers serve as distribution sites.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides specific foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five.
Programs Serving LGBTQ+ Communities
LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender people and LGBTQ+ youth, experience elevated rates of food insecurity due to discrimination, family rejection, employment barriers, and housing instability. Some communities have established LGBTQ+-specific food programs that provide:
Affirming environments where people can access food without fear of discrimination or misgendering.
Connections to other support services addressing the interconnected challenges many LGBTQ+ people face.
Programming during Pride celebrations and other community events, combining food distribution with community building.
Programs Addressing Racial and Cultural Food Justice
Food insecurity disproportionately affects Black, Latino, Indigenous, and immigrant communities due to systemic racism, economic discrimination, and historical disinvestment. Culturally responsive food programs include:
Culturally appropriate foods that honor diverse food traditions rather than assuming everyone eats the same foods. This includes halal, kosher, and foods central to various cultural cuisines.
Programs led by community members who understand specific cultural needs and can provide services in culturally responsive ways.
Connections to traditional food practices including community gardens growing culturally significant plants, cooking education honoring cultural foodways, and food sovereignty initiatives.
Integration with racial justice organizing recognizes that food insecurity is a symptom of broader systems of oppression requiring systemic solutions.
How to Start a Community Food Share Program
Communities often identify food security gaps that existing programs don't address. Starting a new food share program allows you to create solutions tailored to your community's specific needs while building connections and mutual support networks.
Assessing Community Needs
Before launching a program, understand what your community actually needs. Conduct informal surveys talking with neighbors, partner with local social service agencies to understand gaps they're observing, and examine data on poverty rates and existing food resources.
Questions to explore include: What populations are underserved by existing programs? What barriers prevent people from accessing current resources? What times and locations would serve people most effectively? What types of foods are most needed? Are there cultural or dietary needs not currently met?
Choosing Your Program Model
Select a model that matches your resources, community needs, and long-term sustainability:
Traditional food pantry requires significant space, regular food sourcing, volunteers, and coordination. This model serves many people but demands substantial infrastructure.
Little Free Pantry offers 24/7 access with minimal staffing requirements. Kelly's Kitchen's LFP Program has placed 48+ pantries across the United States and provides application support for communities seeking to start Little Free Pantries. These weatherproof boxes allow community members to both give and take food anonymously, reducing barriers and stigma.
Mobile pantry or delivery program brings food directly to neighborhoods, addressing transportation barriers. This requires vehicles, drivers, and coordination with distribution locations.
Community fridge or free food table provides fresh and prepared foods with very low barriers. These require a host location, electricity, community education, and regular maintenance.
Meal program offers prepared food, addressing needs of people without cooking facilities. This requires kitchen space, food preparation volunteers or staff, and compliance with local health regulations.
Securing Food Sources
Reliable food sources ensure your program can consistently serve community members:
Food banks often provide food at no cost to qualified member agencies. Establish membership with your regional food bank to access their distribution network.
Grocery store donations including items approaching sell-by dates or with damaged packaging. Build relationships with store managers and understand their donation policies.
Community food drives collect donated items from individuals. Specify needed items to ensure useful donations.
Farmers market partnerships and gleaning programs provide fresh produce that might otherwise go to waste. Kelly's Kitchen's Farmer Markets program connects communities with local agricultural resources.
Community gardens can supplement food supplies with fresh, locally grown produce. Resources for starting community gardens provide guidance on establishing these programs.
Purchasing food may be necessary to provide culturally appropriate items, fresh produce, or protein sources not available through donations.
Building Your Team
Successful food programs require committed volunteers or staff:
Recruit diverse volunteers representing your community's demographics. Include people with lived experience of food insecurity who understand barriers firsthand.
Provide training on food safety, disability awareness, trauma-informed service, cultural competency, and your program's specific procedures.
Create clear roles so volunteers understand expectations and can contribute effectively.
Schedule coordinators ensure adequate coverage for distribution times.
Develop sustainability plans to prevent volunteer burnout and ensure long-term operations.
Navigating Regulations and Insurance
Understand legal requirements for operating food programs:
Food safety regulations vary by state and food type. Contact your local health department to understand requirements for your program model.
Liability insurance protects your organization and volunteers. Many states have Good Samaritan laws protecting food donors, but insurance provides additional protection.
Tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit allows you to accept tax-deductible donations and may be required for food bank membership. Consider fiscal sponsorship through an existing nonprofit while establishing your organization.
Accessibility compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to programs open to the public. Design accessibility into your program from the start rather than retrofitting later.
Volunteering and Supporting Community Food Programs
Community food programs rely on volunteer support to operate. Whether you have an hour a week or want to make a larger commitment, opportunities exist to contribute to food security efforts.
Direct Service Volunteering
Food sorting and packing involves organizing donated food, checking expiration dates, and creating boxes or bags for distribution. This work typically happens at food banks or pantry locations and requires physical ability to lift boxes and stand for periods.
Distribution and client services includes greeting clients, explaining program procedures, helping people select foods, and carrying items to vehicles. These roles require patience, compassion, and communication skills.
Delivery driving brings food to homebound individuals or mobile pantry sites. Requires a valid license, reliable vehicle, and ability to lift and transport boxes.
Meal preparation and serving in soup kitchens or meal programs. Many programs welcome volunteers to help cook, serve meals, and clean up.
Garden maintenance at community gardens supporting food programs. Activities include planting, weeding, harvesting, and garden infrastructure maintenance.
Behind-the-Scenes Support
Administrative work includes data entry, client intake paperwork, donation tracking, and communication. Many of these tasks can be done remotely.
Fundraising and grant writing generates financial resources that allow programs to purchase food, maintain facilities, and expand services.
Social media and marketing helps programs reach people who need services and attract donors and volunteers.
Food drives collect donations from your workplace, faith community, school, or neighborhood. Coordinate with food programs to understand their most needed items.
Transportation coordination helps clients reach food distribution sites or delivers food to people unable to access programs independently.
Financial Support
Monetary donations provide flexibility for programs to purchase needed items, particularly fresh foods, culturally specific items, and accessible packaging. Programs can often buy food at lower per-pound costs than retail prices.
Recurring donations help programs budget and plan for long-term sustainability. Even small monthly donations create predictable funding streams.
Employer matching gifts double your contribution's impact. Check if your employer matches charitable donations.
Corporate sponsorships from businesses provide significant resources while connecting companies to community engagement opportunities.
Support Kelly's Kitchen's programs through direct donations, following on social media, or subscribing to their newsletter. Corporate sponsorships are available.
Advocacy and Systems Change
Policy advocacy addresses root causes of food insecurity by supporting increased SNAP benefits, affordable housing initiatives, living wages, and healthcare access.
Community organizing builds power to demand systemic changes that make food assistance programs unnecessary.
Education helps people understand connections between food insecurity and issues like poverty, racism, ableism, and economic inequality.
Amplifying voices of people with lived experience of food insecurity centers their leadership in designing solutions.
Connecting Food Security with Other Essential Services
Food insecurity rarely exists in isolation. It's typically interconnected with housing instability, unemployment, healthcare access, transportation barriers, and other challenges. Comprehensive approaches address multiple needs simultaneously.
Healthcare and Food Security
Healthcare providers increasingly recognize food as medicine. Programs connecting these systems include:
Food prescriptions where doctors literally prescribe food, with patients receiving vouchers or deliveries of nutritious foods to manage chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
Medical-legal partnerships connect patients with legal aid to address housing issues, disability benefits claims, and other legal barriers to stability.
Nutritionist partnerships with food pantries provide nutrition education tailored to foods available through food assistance.
Screening for food insecurity in healthcare settings identifies patients who need connections to food programs.
Employment and Skills Training
Kelly's Kitchen's Employment in Food & Bev program recognizes that access to living-wage employment addresses root causes of food insecurity. Programs connecting food access and employment include:
Job training programs that teach skills in food service, agriculture, or food system roles while addressing participants' immediate food needs.
Social enterprises where people work in food production, preparation, or distribution while receiving employment training and support services.
Agricultural training programs teaching farming skills while providing fresh food to communities.
Housing Support
Stable housing is essential for food security. A refrigerator, stove, and storage space enable people to use food assistance effectively. Programs connecting housing and food services include:
Food delivery to transitional housing and shelters serving people experiencing homelessness.
Move-in packages that include kitchen supplies and initial food supplies for people transitioning into housing.
Community kitchens in housing facilities where residents can prepare meals collaboratively.
Transportation Access
Transportation barriers prevent people from accessing food pantries, grocery stores, and other food resources. Solutions include:
Mobile food pantries that bring food into neighborhoods.
Delivery programs serving homebound individuals.
Transportation vouchers or partnerships with ride-sharing services to help people reach food distribution sites.
Strategic location selection for food programs on public transit routes or in walkable neighborhoods.
Digital Tools and Resources for Food Security
Technology expands access to information about food programs and connects people with resources more efficiently. Understanding available digital tools helps you locate assistance or improve your community's food security infrastructure.
Mobile Apps for Finding Food Assistance
211 mobile apps connect users to food pantries and other social services by location. Available nationwide through United Way.
Feeding America's food bank locator provides mobile-friendly search for food assistance.
Fresh EBT helps SNAP recipients manage benefits and find farmers markets and stores accepting EBT.
Olio connects neighbors to share surplus food, reducing waste while addressing food access.
Too Good To Go allows users to purchase surplus food from restaurants and grocery stores at reduced prices, preventing waste while providing affordable food access.
Online Food Resources and Education
Kelly's Kitchen's Resources page provides comprehensive information on:
Accessible cooking instruction including videos demonstrating cooking techniques for people with various disabilities.
Kitchen tools and equipment recommendations with direct purchase links for adaptive equipment.
Recipes from the Nourishment Beyond the Plate program designed for accessibility and nutrition.
Community garden resources with guidance on starting and maintaining gardens.
Information on food justice organizations addressing intersectional food security issues.
Virtual Communities and Support Networks
Online communities provide support, resource sharing, and organizing opportunities:
Social media groups connect people in specific communities to share information about food resources, coordinate mutual aid, and organize collective action.
WhatsApp and text-based groups allow real-time communication about food availability, volunteer needs, and emerging issues.
Virtual cooking classes like Kelly's Kitchen's Four Course Series provide cooking education accessible from home.
Data and Advocacy Tools
Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap provides county-level food insecurity data used for advocacy and resource allocation.
USDA Food Access Research Atlas maps food deserts and food access barriers.
Community needs assessment tools help organizations understand local food security challenges.
Taking Action: Next Steps for Food Security
Understanding food share programs is only the beginning. Creating food-secure communities requires action—whether you're seeking assistance for yourself, helping someone else, or working to strengthen your community's food systems.
If You Need Food Assistance
Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Nearly everyone experiences times when they need support.
Use Kelly's Kitchen's Food Security Network to find food resources in your area. The searchable map and list format provide accessibility information, eligibility requirements, and contact details.
Contact 211 by dialing 211 from any phone to speak with someone who can connect you to food resources and other assistance.
Ask for help from people you trust including friends, family, faith communities, or coworkers. Many people want to help but don't know you're struggling unless you tell them.
Remember that using food assistance doesn't define you. You are a whole person experiencing a temporary situation. Food programs exist because our society hasn't ensured everyone has living wages, affordable housing, and healthcare—not because of individual failings.
If You Want to Help Others
Volunteer at local food programs to directly serve your community.
Donate thoughtfully by asking programs what they need rather than donating random items from your pantry. Monetary donations allow programs to purchase needed items.
Advocate for policy changes that address root causes of food insecurity.
Support organizations like Kelly's Kitchen that center accessibility, disability justice, and intersectional approaches to food security.
Learn about food justice and the ways racism, ableism, and other forms of oppression create food insecurity.
Challenge stigma around food assistance by talking openly about food insecurity as a systems problem, not an individual failure.
If You Want to Strengthen Your Community's Food System
Start a Little Free Pantry in your neighborhood, providing 24/7 food access.
Organize or expand community gardens that provide fresh produce while building community connections.
Support local food justice organizations led by people most affected by food insecurity.
Build relationships across different sectors—connecting healthcare, housing, education, and food systems to address interconnected needs.
Center accessibility and inclusion in all food security work, ensuring programs truly serve all community members.
Share resources widely so people know what assistance exists in your community.
Conclusion: Building Food-Secure Communities Together
Community food share programs represent more than emergency assistance—they embody our collective commitment to ensuring everyone has access to nourishing food. From traditional food banks to innovative Little Free Pantries, from meal programs to community gardens, these diverse approaches meet people where they are with dignity and respect.
True food security requires more than filling empty stomachs. It demands accessible programs that serve disabled community members, culturally responsive approaches honoring diverse food traditions, and systemic changes addressing root causes of food insecurity. It requires centering the leadership and lived experiences of people most affected by food insecurity, including disabled people, people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, immigrants, and rural residents.
Kelly's Kitchen demonstrates what's possible when food security efforts center disability justice, cultural competency, and accessibility. Through programs like the Food Security Network, Nourishment Beyond the Plate, and the Little Free Pantry Program, Kelly's Kitchen advances a vision where every community—especially those historically excluded—has equitable access to nourishing food, inclusive spaces to learn about nutrition, and resources to thrive with dignity, resilience, and connection.
Whether you're seeking food assistance, volunteering with programs, advocating for change, or starting new initiatives, you're part of building food-secure communities. Together, we can create food systems that nourish every body, honor every culture, and affirm every person's inherent dignity and worth.
To find food resources in your area, visit Kelly's Kitchen's Food Security Network. To learn more about programs and resources, explore Kelly's Kitchen's website or contact the team to discuss how they can support your community's food security efforts.