Students from Perry High School help organize the food pantry Credit: CP photo by Jake Mysliwczyk
In 2020-21, after losing my full-time job and facing the pandemic mid-divorce, my family needed SNAP assistance to survive. While I continued working a part-time freelancing gig while searching vigorously for a full-time job, at least I didn’t have the additional worry about how my kids were going to eat.
Now, according to the most recent Federal Reserve Economic Data report, approximately 162,000 Allegheny County residents receive SNAP benefits, about 35% of whom are children. The sudden loss of SNAP benefits will put more pressure on families to afford groceries and increase demand on already-strained food banks and charities. Families may have to choose between paying for food and other necessities. Food banks and pantries are bracing for a surge in demand, which is particularly challenging because they are also dealing with decreased federal and state funding.
The silver lining in all this, while it’s quite thin, is that we are a city of neighbors. Just after the announcement on Oct. 17 that Pa. was losing SNAP funding for the month of November, local advocates such as 1Hood Power began posting lists of free food resources in Pittsburgh, including local organizations, churches, and free markets. These food assistance sites offer support and dignity to anyone in need, no questions asked.Â
Below, I’ve compiled a list of every resource in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas that I could find online. These resources include pantries, free fridges, food banks, and free grocery programs by neighborhood or region. Be sure to check operating hours before visiting, as some schedules vary by season or month. Please email me directly if you know of additional resources or if any of these resources have changed.
East End & Wilkinsburg
East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM)
6140 Station St., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Provides a food pantry, community meals, and emergency services for East Liberty residents. eecm.org 412-361-5549
St. Mary Magdalene Parish Food Pantry
7321 Frankstown Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Every second and fourth Wednesday, 9-11 a.m.
Offers pantry goods and home delivery for East End residents. 412-661-7222
Mount Ararat Community Activity Center Food Bank
745 N. Negley Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Every second Saturday, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Partnered with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
Wilkinsburg Community Ministry (WCM)
702 Wood St., Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
Pantry open Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Offers food pantry, hot meals, and senior programs. wcm15221.org, 412-241-8072
Wilkinsburg Mobile Food Pantry (Community Forge)
Community Forge Playground, 1256 Franklin Ave., Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
Every Monday, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Community-run pantry in partnership with Cure Violence East and WCM. bethany@forge.community 412-501-2055
South Side & South Hills
Brashear Association Food Pantry
2005 Sarah St., Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Every second and fourth Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Serving South Side residents. 412-431-2236
Jubilee Soup Kitchen & Pantry
2005 Wyandotte St., Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Daily meals at 10-11 a.m. and 12-1 p.m.; Pantry Wednesdays, 9:30–11 a.m.
Hot meals served daily, plus weekly groceries. 412-261-5417
South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM)
5301 Park Ave., Bethel Park, PA 15102
Pantry Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Distributes food to South Hills families and supports immigrant communities.
shimcares.org, 412-854-9120
Brentwood Presbyterian Church Food Pantry
Brentwood, PA
Third Saturday of each month, 9-11 a.m.
In partnership with Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. pittsburghfoodbank.org/gethelp
North Side & North Hills
Northside Common Ministries Food Pantry
1601 Brighton Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Provides emergency food, housing, and ID assistance for Northside residents. 412-323-1163
North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO)
1975 Ferguson Rd., Allison Park, PA 15101
Appointment-based pantry, Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Serves northern Allegheny County residents with food and utility assistance. nhco.org 412-487-6316
Additional NHCO Sites:
Greenstone Methodist Church, 939 California Ave., Thursdays, 2-6 p.m.
Millvale Community Center, 416 Lincoln Ave., Monthly on Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
North Hills Christian Church Family Food Distribution
778 Thompson Run Rd., Glenshaw
Registration is required; all are welcome. Mondays, 5-6 p.m.
The Millvale Free Fridge and Pantry
Millvale Community Library, 213 Grant Ave., Millvale. Â
Both the free fridge and pantry are accessible to the public 24 hours a day. The fridge is stocked with fresh and frozen groceries and meals from community members and local food partners, including 412 Food Rescue, the Gardens of Millvale, Sprezzatura, Lemon Tree Coffee, Abielle Voyante Tea Co., and more.
Brighton Heights Free Fridge
Behind New Life Family Worship Center at Brighton, Davis & Shadeland Avenues
A 24/7 community fridge and pantry stocked by neighbors. Listed on Google Maps as Bright Heights Freedge.
Bread of Life Pantry, Etna
Community-based food pantry serving Etna and the surrounding river communities.
West View Hub & Ridgewood Church Pantry
West View, Bellevue, and Ross Township
Local pantries offering groceries and essentials for the north suburbs.
Oakland, Hill District & Central Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Community Services, Inc. (PCSI) Food Pantry
249 North Craig St., North Oakland
Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; open until 8 p.m. Thursdays (Sept.-Dec.)
Provides groceries and healthy recipes. Walk-ins welcome once per month. pghcsi.org/food-pantry-nutrition-support 412-904-4700
Community Human Services (CHS)
370 Lawn St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Wednesdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursdays 3-6 p.m. (rear entrance)
CCRiP Food Distro
Community Care & Resistance in Pittsburgh hosts multiple weekly outdoor distributions:
Sundays, 12 p.m. Unity Recovery (801 Bingham St) and 1:30 p.m. at 2nd Ave Commons (700 2nd Ave.)
Wednesdays, 5–8 p.m. outside Allegheny County Jail (950 2nd Ave)
Instagram: @ccrip_outreach
Duquesne & Mon Valley
The Market at Duquesne
1 N. Linden St., Duquesne, PA 15110
Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Tuesdays/Thursdays 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
A free grocery store where folks can register and shop with volunteer assistance.
Duquesne Food Pantry (Pittsburgh Area Community Schools)
Duquesne City School District
Contact: Alexis Thomas, athomas@pghareacs.org
St. Paul A.M.E. Church Food Pantry
1350 Locust St., McKeesport, PA 15132
Every second and fourth Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Free produce, dry goods, and meats; no income requirements.
Monroeville & Eastern Suburbs
Cross Roads Presbyterian Food Pantry
Monroeville
crossroadspresbyterian.com/food-pantry.html
Garden City Food Pantry & Community Fridge
Monroeville
Reclamation Community Center
Monroeville
reclamationcommunitycenter.org
Gateway Pop-Up Pantry
Gateway High School, Monroeville
2nd Wednesday of each month: drive-up, no ID required.
Distributes produce, milk, eggs, and premade foods.
Monroeville Free Pantry (Little Pantry Project)
Community Park West, behind the gazebo on the trail.
A new volunteer-stocked pantry is available to the public.
Penn Hills & Verona
Penn Hills Library Community Fridge
1037 Stotler Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Wednesdays at 5 p.m. and Fridays at 11 a.m.
Fresh produce, milk, and eggs are available, and there is no registration or income limit. pennhillslibrary.org/community-fridge
Rosedale Food Pantry
Serves Verona and Penn Hills residents. rosedalefoodpantry.org
Sharpsburg & Nearby Communities
Second Harvest Thrift Community Fridge
Sharpsburg
secondharvestthrift.com/community-fridge
Offers free food and community resources.
Dormont & South Boroughs
Dormont Free Pantry
This community pantry is open on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 6-7 p.m. and the second and fourth Sundays from 2-3 p.m.
Citywide Programs
City of Pittsburgh Police Zone Thanksgiving Meal Program
Free Thanksgiving meals for anyone living within city limits. Meals are delivered on Thanksgiving Day. Sign up at your local police zone station.
In addition to these resources, WXPI recently published a guide to food pantries and soup kitchens around the Pittsburgh area.Â
If you’re able, consider donating to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank since they are able to buy in bulk and stretch their food purchasing dollars further. Consider volunteering at a neighborhood pantry or soup kitchen, or getting involved with mutual aid, either by offering food or offering to pick up food for those who are unable to drive. Small recurring donations help local nonprofits plan for the future and keep these vital resources running.
Please reach out to me directly if you know of any additional resources or any changes that need to be made to this page. The aim is for this to be a living, comprehensive document that can be used as a community resource during this difficult time.
This article appears in Oct. 22-28, 2025.
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