A community garden — like ours at our Jackson Street location — is just one way to help combat food insecurity.
Everyone deserves to have something to eat. We believe that as strongly as we believe everyone has a right to accessible, affordable healthcare. As we head into the holiday season, it’s important to share resources for food assistance because everyone could use a little help sometimes. No matter the reason, and no matter the circumstances.
Food insecurity affects more families in our community than many people realize. Whether someone is facing a temporary setback, dealing with rising costs, recovering from an emergency, or simply stretching their budget to make ends meet, knowing where to turn for help can make all the difference. That’s why we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide to food assistance programs throughout our area.
The Pensacola area has a number of sources for food assistance. The best known probably is Manna Food Pantries, which offers not just grocery bags but also child nutrition programs, senior food assistance, and even food-as-medicine initiatives. The Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen is another vital resource, serving daily breakfast and dinner meals to anyone in need. There’s also Feeding the Gulf Coast, which (among many other things) has a Mobile Pantry Program that “serves clients in areas of high need to supplement other hunger-relief agencies.” But like all food assistance organizations, their resources are finite, which is why having multiple options is so important.
Throughout Escambia County, dozens of churches, community organizations, and nonprofit groups operate food pantries, offer hot meals, and provide mobile food distribution services. Some are open weekly, others monthly. Some require appointments, while many welcome walk-ins. From grocery pantries to soup kitchens to mobile food trucks, these programs work together to ensure no one in our community goes hungry.
Below is a map of food assistance programs in Pensacola and Milton. This resource includes operating hours, contact information, and service details to help connect our neighbors with the support they need. If you know of additional locations or need to correct information on this map, please let us know.