Food Banks and Pantries in Nashville, TN

How to Get Free Food in Nashville

Nashville is served by Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, headquartered on Great Circle Road, which distributes food through about 450 partner agencies across 46 counties. Nashville Rescue Mission is the largest direct-service soup kitchen. The metro combines dense urban pantries in North and East Nashville with suburban and rural sites across Middle Tennessee.

Regional Food Bank: Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

The primary Feeding America member food bank serving the Nashville, TN area. It distributes food to an estimated 450 partner pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs across 46 counties across Middle and West Tennessee, including Davidson, Rutherford, Williamson, Sumner, Wilson, Robertson, Montgomery, and surrounding counties.

Notable Pantries and Meal Sites in Nashville

This is a sample of well-known sites. For a full, current list of all pantries near you, use 211 or the food bank website above.

Soup Kitchens and Community Meals

Nashville Rescue Mission is the primary soup kitchen, serving three meals daily at 639 Lafayette St. Room In The Inn provides meals and a day shelter for homeless residents. The Salvation Army Stockard Street campus offers community meals. Second Harvest supplies many smaller church-based kitchens across Davidson County.

Mobile Pantry Program

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee operates a Mobile Pantry program that brings truckloads of fresh produce and staples to underserved neighborhoods across Middle Tennessee. The schedule rotates weekly and is posted on secondharvestmidtn.org. Distributions are first-come first-served.

SNAP / Food Stamp Outreach

Second Harvest provides SNAP outreach and application assistance at its warehouse and partner sites. Staff help Tennessee residents apply through the Department of Human Services. The Tennessee SNAP hotline is 866-311-4287, and applications can be completed at tn.gov/humanservices.

How to Find a Pantry Near You in Nashville

Call 211 to reach the Tennessee helpline for a referral to the nearest Second Harvest partner pantry. Visit secondharvestmidtn.org for the find-food locator, or use feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. Nashville Rescue Mission at 639 Lafayette St is a reliable same-day option for meals.

More Food & Benefits Guides

• SNAP / Food Stamps guide (general)
• WIC (Women, Infants & Children)
• EBT card guide -- how it works
• Free meals & community kitchens
• P-EBT & Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)

Frequently Asked Questions