Greater Cleveland Food Bank: How to Get Food

Income-eligible households: the FAQ says if your household income falls below 200% of the federal poverty line you are income-eligible to receive food from a food pantry. You do not have to document that income - most pantries 'only require photo ID, household size, and a signature (typically electronic) as well as a self-declaration of income'. Requirements vary by program and by pantry, so call the pantry to ask what documents it needs. Immigration status is not mentioned on the page. Pantry staff and volunteers are held to Civil Rights Training standards, so expect to be treated with dignity.

The Food Bank supplies over 1,000 partner agencies and also runs its own Community Resource Center. Ways in: (1) call the Help Center on 216-738-2067 or toll-free 855-738-2067 - staff refer you to programs near you and check whether you qualify for SNAP and other benefits; (2) use the interactive map at greaterclevelandfoodbank.org/get-help/find-food to find open pantries and hot meal sites; (3) shop free at the Food Bank's own Community Resource Center healthy-choice market, open multiple days a week including evenings and weekends (greaterclevelandfoodbank.org/CommunityResourceCenter). Some partners still run drive-thru distributions - the Help Center will connect you to one. If you are 60+, home-delivered meals may be available through the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, 1-800-626-7277. Dial 2-1-1 for non-food help.

Not published as a single schedule; pantry days and hours are on the Food Bank's interactive map. The FAQ says to call ahead to learn when a pantry is open and what documents it needs, and to arrive early because pantries work first-come, first-served. The Community Resource Center market is open multiple days a week with evening and weekend hours.

Free. The FAQ describes the Community Resource Center market as 'a traditional (but free) shopping experience'; no fee or donation is mentioned anywhere.

Photo ID for most pantries, plus your household size; you sign a self-declaration of income, usually electronic. Call the pantry first - the FAQ says they will tell you what documents are needed.

A six-county service area in Northeast Ohio with more than 1,000 partner agencies. The FAQ names Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties (for the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging); the other three counties are not named on the page. Address given: 13815 Coit Rd, Cleveland, OH 44110.

Partner pantries can provide at least three days' worth of food per household at least once a month. Stock varies month to month because it depends on state and federal supplies. The drive-thru Muni Lot distribution ended on 21 December 2023 - do not go there. If you qualify for a pantry you may also qualify for SNAP, Medicaid, WIC or senior food boxes; the Help Center will go through it with you.

A pantry covers today. SNAP covers the month, and in Ohio the application is the state's own. SNAP in Ohio →