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Find Free Food In EssexLemontree makes it easy to find the best food pantries near you. Browse our directory, or sign up for personalized assistance & helpful tools. Our team of specialists can answer any question!
  1. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals), Food pantry (groceries)

    Essex United Methodist Church

    64 reviews

    Unclaimed

    10 minutes

    average wait time

    0.29 mi

    Info

    -Might not have translators on site

    • Requirements

      • ID required

    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Today

      Food pantry (groceries): 10:00 am–1:00 pm

      • Clothing may be available

    • Today

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 3:30 pm–5:30 pm

    • Wed, June 24th (next week)

      Food pantry (groceries): 10:00 am–1:00 pm

      • Clothing may be available

    • Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 3:30 pm–5:30 pm

      every week on Wednesday

    • Food pantry (groceries): 10:00 am–1:00 pm

      every week on Wednesday

    Map of Essex United Methodist Church

    Location

    524 Maryland Avenue

    Essex, MD 21221

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 686-2867
    Is this your soup kitchen?Claim it!
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  3. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries), Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    St. John’s Food Pantry

    49 reviews

    Unclaimed

    average user rating

    0.28 mi

    Info

    Community dinner on the last Tuesday of each month.

    • Requirements

      • You can visit once a month

    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Today

      Food pantry (groceries): 8:00 am–1:00 pm

      • Must bring own bags/cart
      • Call in advance for services

    • Tomorrow

      Food pantry (groceries): 8:00 am–1:00 pm

      • Must bring own bags/cart
      • Call in advance for services

    • Next Monday

      Food pantry (groceries): 8:00 am–1:00 pm

      • Must bring own bags/cart
      • Call in advance for services

    • Food pantry (groceries): 8:00 am–1:00 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

    • Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 4:00 pm–6:00 pm

      every month on the last Tuesday

    Map of St. John’s Food Pantry

    Location

    518 Franklin Avenue

    Essex, MD 21221

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 687-4621

    www.stjohnsofessex.org

  4. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    AfriThrive Baltimore County

    11 reviews

    Unclaimed

    10 minutes

    average wait time

    0.13 mi

    Info

    AfriThrive provides culturally relevant, nutritious food for African diaspora and minority families through its Healthy Food Initiative. This pantry uses a client-choice model where you select your own groceries, similar to shopping at a store. Offerings include fresh produce, pantry staples, and culturally familiar items such as pumpkin leaves, plantains, and cassava flour. The organization also connects clients to nutrition education and other social services. AfriThrive sources food from its own community farm and local partners to ensure quality and cultural relevance.

    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries
      • Client choice pantry
      • Other social services available
      • Fresh produce
      • Delivery may be available

    Schedule

    • Thu, June 25th (next week)

      10:00 am–12:00 pm

    • Thu, July 9th (in 3 weeks)

      10:00 am–12:00 pm

    • Thu, July 23rd (next month)

      10:00 am–12:00 pm

    • 10:00 am–12:00 pm

      every month on the 2nd Thursday

    • 10:00 am–12:00 pm

      every month on the 4th Thursday

    Map of AfriThrive Baltimore County

    Location

    303 Eastern Boulevard

    Essex, MD 21221

    directions

    Contact

    (240) 706-1517

    https://www.afrithrive.org/healthy-food-initiative

  5. How do I get food?

    You can receive food by visiting the food pantry or soup kitchen when it’s open. Make sure to check each resource page to see details like address, full schedule, and requirements.

  6. Can someone deliver the food to my house?

    Delivery services are very limited and are reserved for senior citizens or those with serious medical problems. If you believe you fall into either category, let us know and we may be able to help you find options in Essex.

  7. What do I have to bring?

    Every location is different! Please review the details included on each resource to see whether you need to bring any documentation like ID or proof of address, or supplies like bags to carry the food. If you don’t see any information on the resource, you don’t have to bring anything!

  8. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    Church of the Harbor

    7 reviews

    Unclaimed

    average user rating

    0.85 mi

    Info

    Contact: Bill Ledford and Russel Purkey

    https://www.facebook.com/churchoftheharbor/

    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Next Sunday

      12:15 pm

      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out

    • Sun, June 28th (in 2 weeks)

      12:15 pm

      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out

    • Sun, July 5th (in 3 weeks)

      12:15 pm

      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out

    • 12:15 pm

      every week on Sunday

    Map of Church of the Harbor

    Location

    911 Mace Avenue

    Essex, MD 21221

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 686-8499

    https://churchoftheharbor.org/

  9. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    Community Assistance Network Food Pantry & Community Resource Center

    47 reviews

    Unclaimed

    10 minutes

    average wait time

    1.99 mi

    Info

    Neighbors must be signed in by 10:45 a.m. for morning pantry distribution, and must be signed in by 2:45 p.m. for afternoon pantry distribution. Note: If there is a holiday on a Monday the pantry will be closed and they will then open on that Tuesday from 9 – 10:45 a.m. and then again from 1 – 2:45 p.m. Documents needed for pantry service ( https://www.canconnects.org/_files/ugd/bc52ba_66b5a2dc4a3a447ab737d9d2cb47b94f.pdf)

    • Requirements

      • You can visit once a month
      • ID required
      • Proof of address required
      • Proof of household income required

    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Today

      9:00 am–10:45 am

    • Today

      1:00 pm–2:45 pm

    • Tomorrow

      9:00 am–10:45 am

    • 9:00 am–10:45 am

      every week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

    • 1:00 pm–2:45 pm

      every week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

    Map of Community Assistance Network Food Pantry & Community Resource Center

    Location

    7900 Baltimore Street

    Baltimore, MD 21224

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 285-4674

    https://www.canconnects.org/

  10. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

    18 reviews

    Unclaimed

    average user rating

    2.01 mi

    Info

    • Call Millie for appointments
    • Enter through the main entrance on the left along the driveway. Ring buzzer to enter.

    • Requirements

      • You can visit once a month
      • ID required

    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Today

      10:00 am–12:00 pm

    • Wed, June 24th (next week)

      10:00 am–12:00 pm

    • Wed, July 1st (in 2 weeks)

      10:00 am–12:00 pm

    • 10:00 am–12:00 pm

      every week on Wednesday

    Map of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

    Location

    8212 Philadelphia Road

    Rosedale, MD 21237

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 866-8766

    https://www.facebook.com/PrinceOfPeaceRosedale/

  11. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church

    11 reviews

    Unclaimed

    5 minutes

    average wait time

    1.98 mi

    Info

    St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church partners with the St. Vincent de Paul Society to provide a food pantry serving the greater Rosedale community. The pantry distributes nonperishable staples such as pasta, cereal, canned soup, canned vegetables, peanut butter and jelly, and other household food items. Clients can call the parish office or visit during pantry hours to receive assistance.

    • Requirements

      • You can visit once a month

    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Tomorrow

      9:00 am–11:00 am

    • Thu, June 25th (next week)

      9:00 am–11:00 am

    • Thu, July 2nd (in 2 weeks)

      9:00 am–11:00 am

    • 9:00 am–11:00 am

      every week on Thursday

    Map of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer Church

    Location

    1212 Chesaco Avenue

    Rosedale, MD 21237

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 686-6188

    https://stclementmh.org/

  12. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    St. Stephen’s AME Church

    9 reviews

    Unclaimed

    average user rating

    1.65 mi

    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Today

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–1:00 pm

    • Tomorrow

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–1:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–1:00 pm

    • Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–1:00 pm

      every week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

    Map of St. Stephen’s AME Church

    Location

    1601 Old Eastern Avenue

    Essex, MD 21221

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 686-9392
  13. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    Kingsway Christian Center

    6 reviews

    Unclaimed

    30 minutes

    average wait time

    3.36 mi

    • Requirements

      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out

    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Tomorrow

      5:00 pm–6:30 pm

    • Thu, July 16th (in 4 weeks)

      5:00 pm–6:30 pm

    • Thu, August 20th (in 2 months)

      5:00 pm–6:30 pm

    • 5:00 pm–6:30 pm

      every month on the 3rd Thursday

    Map of Kingsway Christian Center

    Location

    7403 Gum Spring Road

    Rosedale, MD 21237

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 668-1955

    https://www.facebook.com/kingswayiphc/

  14. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    Victory Villa Baptist Pantry

    11 reviews

    Unclaimed

    5 minutes

    average wait time

    2.45 mi

    Info

    The Victory Villa food pantry is one of a few in the Middle River area, we average between 30-50 bags of groceries that we give out each month

    • Requirements

      • Call in advance for services

    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Tomorrow

      4:30 pm–5:30 pm

      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out

    • Thu, July 16th (in 4 weeks)

      4:30 pm–5:30 pm

      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out

    • Thu, August 20th (in 2 months)

      4:30 pm–5:30 pm

      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out

    • 4:30 pm–5:30 pm

      every month on the 3rd Thursday

    Map of Victory Villa Baptist Pantry

    Location

    75 Chandelle Road

    Middle River, MD 21220

    directions

    Contact

    (410) 686-0141

    https://www.vvbcministries.com/vvbc-food-pantry

  15. Do I need an appointment?

    Every location is different! Some places in Essex accept appointments, some require it, and others allow walk-ins. Please review all details on the resource page to understand how you should prepare for your visit.

  16. What kind of food do they have?

    Food pantries offer grocery-style items such as canned food, fresh produce, and dry goods like pasta or rice that you can cook yourself. Soup kitchens offer ready-to-eat items like hot meals or sandwiches. All of these locations may have different options on different days, so it is hard to tell what each one of them will offer any given day.

  17. Do they have vegetables?

    Pantries may have different options at different times, so it is hard to tell what each one of them will offer any given day. Most pantries in Essex do give out some form of vegetables, but they may be canned items.

  18. Do they have meat?

    Pantries may have different options on different days, so it’s hard to tell what each one of them will offer any given day.

  19. Any pantries open today?

    If you’ve signed up for personalized assistance through our text message helpline, please take a look at the links we’ve sent you! If none of the resources we’ve sent are open today, let us know and we can search for additional options. Here’s a list of everything in Essex that’s open today: Essex United Methodist Church, St. John’s Food Pantry, Community Assistance Network Food Pantry & Community Resource Center, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Stephen’s AME Church

  20. Where are you located?

    Because our work is mostly virtual, the Lemontree team works remotely, and we don’t have an office in Essex for in-person visits. You can always reach us by texting 90847 or on WhatsApp between 10am-6pm, every day of the week.

  21. Can I get a reminder before my visit?

    Yes! Tap the bell icon on any resource page to set a reminder via text or WhatsApp before it opens, so you don’t forget your visit.

  22. Can I build a weekly food schedule?

    Yes — you can use Lemontree to build a calendar of upcoming pantry visits in Essex for the week, so you always know where to go and when. It’s a great way to plan ahead and make sure you have food throughout the week.

  23. How do I get help from a real person?

    You can text our helpline at 90847 or reach us on WhatsApp between 10am–6pm, every day of the week. A real person will help you find food in Essex, answer questions, and connect you with the right resources.