Food Banks and Pantries in Rochester, NY

How to Get Free Food in Rochester

Rochester is the headquarters city for Foodlink, which supplies partner pantries across the Finger Lakes region. The metro has a dense network of church-based pantries, downtown mission soup kitchens, and the innovative Curbside Market mobile produce program. Food insecurity in Rochester is elevated among families with children and in the crescent of high-poverty neighborhoods.

Regional Food Bank: Foodlink

The primary Feeding America member food bank serving the Rochester, NY area. It distributes food to an estimated 200 partner pantries, soup kitchens, and meal programs across Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes region of New York.

Notable Pantries and Meal Sites in Rochester

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

Rochester has a network of soup kitchens, with the Open Door Mission serving daily meals and the Salvation Army hosting weekday lunch programs. Catholic Charities and local churches run evening meal sites. Foodlink supplies many of these kitchens through its partner network across the Finger Lakes.

Mobile Pantry Program

Foodlink operates the Curbside Market, a mobile market bringing fresh produce and staples to neighborhoods with low pantry access across the Rochester metro. The Curbside Market runs on a published schedule with dozens of stops each week. Foodlink also runs traditional mobile pantry distributions.

SNAP / Food Stamp Outreach

Foodlink provides SNAP application assistance at partner sites, Curbside Market stops, and by phone. New York uses the myBenefits portal for SNAP applications, and Foodlink can help with screening and document gathering. Call 211 or Foodlink for assistance.

How to Find a Pantry Near You in Rochester

Call 211 for a pantry referral, or visit the Foodlink website and use the find food tool. The Curbside Market schedule is also posted online for mobile produce access. The Feeding America locator at feedingamerica.org lists partner pantries by ZIP code.

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