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.

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 Newark.

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!

Do I need an appointment?

Every location is different! Some places in Newark 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.

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.

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 Newark do give out some form of vegetables, but they may be canned items.

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

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 Newark that’s open today: Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc. , Bessie Green Community, Inc. , Grace Church in Newark , St. James Social Service Corporation , Willing Heart Community Care Center , Pantry+ at Rutgers Newark

Where are you located?

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

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.

Can I build a weekly food schedule?

Yes — you can use Lemontree to build a calendar of upcoming pantry visits in Newark 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.

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 Newark, answer questions, and connect you with the right resources.

Free Food in Newark - Lemontree Directory

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Find Free Food In NewarkLemontree 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!

Days Open

Food pantry (groceries)
Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc.
13 reviews
Unclaimed
20 minutes
average wait time

0.44 mi
Info
Provides emergency assistance and supportive services to families and individuals in crisis, with a goal of helping people move toward self-sufficiency.
Requirements
ID required
Registration required
Offerings
Free Groceries
Other social services available
Clothing may be available
Schedule
Open now!
Food pantry (groceries): 9:00 am–3:00 pm @ Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc.
Tomorrow
Food pantry (groceries): 9:00 am–3:00 pm @ Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc.
This Thursday
Food pantry (groceries): 9:00 am–3:00 pm @ Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc.
Food pantry (groceries): 9:00 am–3:00 pm
every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Location
982 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
directions
Contact
(973) 639-2100
https://www.nesfnj.org/emergency-assistance-program/
Is this your food pantry?Claim it!
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Food pantry (groceries)
Pierre Toussaint Food Pantry-St. Mary's Church
24 reviews
Claimed
38 minutes
average wait time

0.39 mi
Info
An emergency assistance program of St. Mary's Church serving people in need in Newark.
Requirements
ID required
Registration required
Offerings
Free Groceries
Fresh produce
Schedule
This Saturday
9:30 am–11:00 am
Diapers/baby essentials may be available
Sat, August 29th (next week)
9:30 am–11:00 am
Diapers/baby essentials may be available
Sat, September 5th (in 2 weeks)
9:30 am–11:00 am
Diapers/baby essentials may be available
9:30 am–11:00 am
every week on Saturday
Location
520 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Newark, NJ 07102
directions
Contact
(973) 792-5790
https://www.smcnewark.org/food-pantry
Food pantry (groceries)
Beginning World Changers
6 reviews
Unclaimed
average user rating

0.62 mi
Info
Frank Cunningham (BWC) 908-463-8005 or Roy Hargrove (N.B.H.C) 973-242-6599
Requirements
First come, first serve: open until food runs out
Offerings
Free Groceries
Schedule
Wed, August 26th (next week)
2:00 pm
Wed, September 9th (in 3 weeks)
2:00 pm
Wed, September 23rd (next month)
2:00 pm
2:00 pm
every month on the 2nd Wednesday
2:00 pm
every month on the 4th Wednesday
Location
9 Lincoln Park
South Broad Street, NJ 07102
directions
Contact
(908) 463-8005
beginningworldchangers. org
Is this your food pantry?Claim it!
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.
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 Newark.
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!
Food pantry (groceries)
Bessie Green Community, Inc.
61 reviews
Unclaimed
10 minutes
average wait time

0.61 mi
Info
Bessie Green Community, Inc., incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1978, operates from the historic North Reformed Church in Newark and provides a food pantry distributing groceries and fresh produce, a soup kitchen serving grab-and-go hot meals, a clothing program, life-skills workshops, on-site social-worker assistance with housing/utilities/benefits, and seasonal community programs. The organization has been rooted in the Newark community for decades and welcomes neighbors facing food insecurity in Essex County with dignity and respect.
Requirements
First come, first serve: open until food runs out
Registration required
Offerings
Free Groceries
Client choice pantry
Other social services available
Fresh produce
Toiletries may be available
Diapers/baby essentials may be available
Clothing may be available
Schedule
Open now!
10:00 am–1:00 pm
Tomorrow
10:00 am–1:00 pm
This Thursday
10:00 am–1:00 pm
10:00 am–1:00 pm
every week on Monday
10:00 am–1:00 pm
every week on Tuesday
10:00 am–1:00 pm
every week on Wednesday
10:00 am–1:00 pm
every week on Thursday
10:00 am–1:00 pm
every week on Friday
Location
510 Broad Street
Central Ward, NJ 07102
directions
Contact
(973) 803-6015(Mon–Fri 10am–1pm)
https://bessiegreen.org/food-pantry/
Is this your food pantry?Claim it!
Food pantry (groceries)
Grace Church in Newark
26 reviews
Claimed
10 minutes
average wait time

0.36 mi
Info
Grace Church in Newark, an Episcopal parish in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, runs a long-standing Food Ministry that distributes supplemental groceries to neighbors in and around Newark experiencing food insecurity. The pantry has been serving the community since the late 1990s, currently distributing roughly 70 to 100 bags per week. Offerings include grocery bags, low-prep ready-to-eat bags, fresh produce sourced from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey, and toiletries. Distribution is offered with dignity and respect on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing hungry families, individuals experiencing housing instability, immigrants and refugees, and other adults in need. The ministry is sustained by parish volunteers under Food Pantry Director Michael Thaddius Banks.
Requirements
ID required
Proof of address required
Call in advance for services
First come, first serve: open until food runs out
Offerings
Free Groceries
Schedule
Today
3:30 pm–5:30 pm
Appointment required
Fresh produce
Toiletries may be available
Tue, August 25th (next week)
3:30 pm–5:30 pm
Appointment required
Fresh produce
Toiletries may be available
Tue, September 1st (in 2 weeks)
3:30 pm–5:30 pm
Appointment required
Fresh produce
Toiletries may be available
3:30 pm–5:30 pm
every week on Tuesday
2:00 pm–4:00 pm
every month on the 1st Sunday
Location
950 Broad St
Newark, NJ 07102
directions
Contact
(973) 623-1733
https://www.gracechurchinnewark.org/the-food-ministry
Food pantry (groceries), Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)
St. James Social Service Corporation
45 reviews
Claimed
20 minutes
average wait time

0.51 mi
Info
St. James Social Service Corporation offers emergency food pantry services, providing monthly groceries for families. Typical items include frozen meat, canned goods, and dry staples, with baby food often available. The organization also runs a soup kitchen for ready-to-eat meals. Clients must call (973) 624-4007 between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM on weekdays to request emergency food from the pantry. Services are supported by volunteers.
Requirements
You can visit once a month
Proof of address required
Call in advance for services
Registration required
Offerings
Free Groceries
Other social services available
Diapers/baby essentials may be available
Clothing may be available
Schedule
Open now!
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
Open now!
Food pantry (groceries): 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Tomorrow
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 5:00 pm–6:00 pm
every month on the 1st Monday, 1st Wednesday, 1st Thursday and 1st Friday
Food pantry (groceries): 11:00 am–2:00 pm
every month on the 1st Tuesday, 1st Wednesday and 1st Thursday
Food pantry (groceries): 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Location
604 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Newark, NJ 07102
directions
Contact
(973) 624-4007
https://stjamesssc.org/services/
Food pantry (groceries), Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)
Willing Heart Community Care Center
22 reviews
Unclaimed
20 minutes
average wait time

0.46 mi
Info
The Willing Heart Community Care Center is a nonprofit community organization committed to transformative change and serving the greater Newark community and beyond.
Requirements
ID required
Proof of address required
Offerings
Free Groceries
Other social services available
Clothing may be available
Schedule
Open now!
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
This Thursday
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
Next Tuesday
Food pantry (groceries): 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
every week on Thursday
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 1:00 pm–3:00 pm
every week on Tuesday
Food pantry (groceries): 10:00 am–12:00 pm
every week on Tuesday
Location
555 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Newark, NJ 07103
directions
Contact
(973) 622-2100
https://willingheartccc.com/
Is this your food pantry?Claim it!
Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)
Saint John’s Soup Kitchen
8 reviews
Unclaimed
3 minutes
average wait time

0.38 mi
Offerings
Prepared Meals
Schedule
Tomorrow
8:00 am
Tomorrow
11:30 am
This Thursday
8:00 am
11:30 am
every week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
8:00 am
every week on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Location
22 Mulberry Street
Central Ward, NJ 07102
directions
Contact
(973) 623-0822
Is this your soup kitchen?Claim it!
Food pantry (groceries)
Pantry+ at Rutgers Newark
0 reviews
Claimed
no ratings yet

0.48 mi
Info
Pantry+ at Rutgers-Newark is a completely free resource for groceries, including dairy, grains, fresh produce, period products, and more, available to all Rutgers-Newark community members (students, staff, faculty). There is no eligibility process. Order online and pick up your groceries at the pantry in PRCC 226. When picking up your groceries for the first time, you will be asked to answer a few questions and receive a free reusable bag.
Requirements
You can visit once a week
Students & staff only
ID required
Proof of address required
Registration required
Offerings
Free Groceries
Other social services available
Schedule
Open now!
12:00 pm–4:00 pm
Tomorrow
1:00 pm–6:00 pm
This Thursday
1:00 pm–6:00 pm
11:00 am–3:00 pm
every week on Monday
12:00 pm–4:00 pm
every week on Tuesday
1:00 pm–6:00 pm
every week on Wednesday, Thursday
10:00 am–12:00 pm
every week on Friday
Location
350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Newark, NJ 07102
directions
Contact
(973) 353-0256
https://studentaffairs.newark.rutgers.edu/health-wellness/pantry-ru-n
Food pantry (groceries)
St. James R.C. Church Food Pantry
11 reviews
Unclaimed
10 minutes
average wait time

0.73 mi
Info
This food pantry operates every Monday at 5 PM. Due to limited supply, priority is given to church members before assisting those outside the church.
Requirements
First come, first serve: open until food runs out
Offerings
Free Groceries
Schedule
Next Monday
5:00 pm
Mon, August 31st (in 2 weeks)
5:00 pm
September 7th is Labour Day
The resource may be closed, please call ahead.
Mon, September 7th (in 3 weeks)
5:00 pm
5:00 pm
every week on Monday
Location
142 Jefferson Street
North Ironbound, NJ 07105
directions
Contact
(973) 344-8322
Is this your food pantry?Claim it!
Do I need an appointment?
Every location is different! Some places in Newark 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.
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.
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 Newark do give out some form of vegetables, but they may be canned items.
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.
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 Newark that’s open today: Newark Emergency Services for Families, Inc., Bessie Green Community, Inc., Grace Church in Newark, St. James Social Service Corporation, Willing Heart Community Care Center, Pantry+ at Rutgers Newark
Where are you located?
Because our work is mostly virtual, the Lemontree team works remotely, and we don’t have an office in Newark for in-person visits. You can always reach us by texting 90847 or on WhatsApp between 10am-6pm, every day of the week.
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.
Can I build a weekly food schedule?
Yes — you can use Lemontree to build a calendar of upcoming pantry visits in Newark 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.
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 Newark, answer questions, and connect you with the right resources.