Food Banks and Pantries in New Orleans, LA
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans serves New Orleans, LA with an estimated 500 partner pantries and meal programs. Anyone in need can get free groceries or a hot meal — ID and income requirements vary by site (some ask for photo ID or proof of address, others only your ZIP code and household size), and first-time visitors are usually served regardless of documents. Call the site or 211 to confirm before you go.
Last updated:
New Orleans at a Glance
500
Partner pantries & meal sites
Second Harvest
Regional Feeding America food bank
4
Notable sites listed below
211
Free pantry locator hotline
How to Get Free Food in New Orleans
New Orleans is served by Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans, the Feeding America member covering 23 south Louisiana parishes. The metro leans on New Orleans Mission, Ozanam Inn, and Bridge House for daily hot meals. Second Harvest operates a large warehouse in Harahan and runs mobile distributions across food desert neighborhoods in the Ninth Ward, New Orleans East, and the West Bank.
Regional Food Bank: Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans
The primary Feeding America member food bank serving the New Orleans, LA area. It distributes food to an estimated 500 partner pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs across 23 parishes across south Louisiana, including Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. Tammany, Lafourche, Terrebonne, and surrounding parishes.
Map is an independent Google search of the area — not a map of the listings on this page, and its pins may include businesses we don’t list. The listings on this page span the greater metro area including nearby towns; each listing’s address line shows the town it is actually in.
Notable Pantries and Meal Sites in New Orleans
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
New Orleans Mission on Tulane Avenue is the largest soup kitchen in the city, serving three meals daily to anyone in need. Ozanam Inn in the CBD offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bridge House and Grace House provide meals for program participants and walk-in guests. Second Harvest supplies many smaller church kitchens across the metro.
Mobile Pantry Program
Second Harvest Food Bank runs a Mobile Pantry program that delivers truckloads of fresh produce and staples to underserved neighborhoods across Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and surrounding parishes. The schedule rotates monthly and is posted on no-hunger.org. Distributions are first-come first-served.
SNAP / Food Stamp Outreach
Second Harvest provides SNAP outreach and application assistance through its SNAP team, which helps Louisiana residents apply through the DCFS CAFÉ system. The Louisiana SNAP helpline is 888-524-3578, and applications can be completed at dcfs.la.gov.
How to Find a Pantry Near You in New Orleans
Call 211 for a referral to the nearest Second Harvest partner pantry. Visit no-hunger.org for the find-food locator, or use feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. New Orleans Mission at 1129 Tulane Ave is a reliable same-day option for meals.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get free food today in New Orleans?
Do New Orleans food pantries require ID?
Where can homeless people get hot meals in New Orleans?
How do I apply for SNAP in Orleans Parish?
Does Second Harvest deliver food to rural parishes?
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