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Find Free Food In Buena VistaLemontree 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)

    Fort Stanton Recreation Center

    1 review

    Unclaimed

    10 minutes

    average wait time

    0.54 mi


    Info

    Fort Stanton Recreation Center is a DC Department of Parks and Recreation facility in the Anacostia neighborhood of Ward 8 that hosts the DC Youth Meals Program. The program provides free meals to youth 18 and younger with no income, residency, or identification requirements. The facility features a fitness center, gymnasium, indoor basketball court, outdoor pool, baseball field, outdoor basketball courts, playground, and community garden. Year-round recreation programs include Zumba, yoga, crocheting, and line dancing.

    • Requirements

      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out
      • All children under 18 are eligible
      • Summer Meal Program- Free meals and snacks to children 18 and younger
    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      9:00 am–10:00 am

    • Next Monday

      12:00 pm–2:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      9:00 am–10:00 am

    • 9:00 am–10:00 am

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

    • 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

    Map of Fort Stanton Recreation Center

    Location

    1812 Erie Street Southeast

    Southeast Washington, DC 20020

    directions

    Contact

    (202) 671-1040(Mon–Fri 8am–9pm, Sat 9am–5pm)

    https://dpr.dc.gov/fortstanton

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  3. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    19 reviews

    Unclaimed

    10 minutes

    average wait time

    0.12 mi


    Info

    • Requirements

      • ID required
    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries
      • Diapers/baby essentials may be available

    Schedule

    • Next Friday

      9:30 am–12:00 pm

    • Fri, August 21st (in 2 weeks)

      9:30 am–12:00 pm

    • Fri, August 28th (in 3 weeks)

      9:30 am–12:00 pm

    • 9:30 am–12:00 pm

      every week on Friday

    Contact

    http://acamec.org/

  4. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    77 reviews

    Unclaimed

    15 minutes

    average wait time

    0.92 mi


    Info

    Fresh produce & meat available at every visit. Delivery available on a case by case basis; please call to inquire. Medical care is also available by appointment, including dental and vision.

    • Requirements

      • You can visit once a month
      • ID required
    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries
      • Client choice pantry
      • Diapers/baby essentials may be available

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      9:00 am–3:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      9:00 am–3:00 pm

    • Next Wednesday

      9:00 am–3:00 pm

    • 9:00 am–3:00 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

    • 9:00 am–3:00 pm

      every month on the 2nd Friday

    • 9:00 am–3:00 pm

      every month on the 4th Friday

  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 Buena Vista.

  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

    Food pantry (groceries)

    21 reviews

    Claimed

    10 minutes

    average wait time

    0.86 mi


    Info

    • DC Diaper Bank distribution: Monday 11 AM – 2 PM. * Proof of D.C. residence is required upon registration. * We also issue Martha Table cards which you may get when you sign up to come to the market.
    • Requirements

      • You can visit twice a month
      • ID required
    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries
      • Diapers/baby essentials may be available

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      11:00 am–4:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      11:00 am–4:00 pm

    • Next Wednesday

      11:00 am–4:00 pm

    • 11:00 am–4:00 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

  9. Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    0 reviews

    Unclaimed

    no ratings yet

    0.35 mi


    Info

    Hillcrest Recreation Center runs a free summer meal program for children and teens 18 and younger as part of the DC Youth Meals Program, the District's federally funded Summer Food Service Program operated by the Department of Parks and Recreation together with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The program keeps kids fed with nutritious breakfast and lunch during the summer break from school, with no application, ID, or sign-up needed. The site is hosted inside a full-service neighborhood recreation center that offers year-round programming, sports, and community activities for residents.

    • Requirements

      • All children under 18 are eligible
      • Summer Meal Program- Free meals and snacks to children 18 and younger
    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      8:30 am–9:30 am

    • Next Monday

      12:00 pm–2:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      8:30 am–9:30 am

    • 8:30 am–9:30 am

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

    • 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

  10. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    13 reviews

    Unclaimed

    average user rating

    0.56 mi


    Info

    On-site registration required

    • Requirements

      • Registration required
    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Next Thursday

      10:00 am–1:00 pm

    • Thu, September 10th (next month)

      10:00 am–1:00 pm

    • Thu, October 8th (in 2 months)

      10:00 am–1:00 pm

    • 10:00 am–1:00 pm

      every month on the 2nd Thursday

  11. Street view

    Community fridge

    1 review

    Unclaimed

    30 minutes

    average wait time


    Info

    This free, outdoor community fridge/pantry is operated by local volunteers and open 24/7. It is filled with 100 meals every morning.

    Schedule

    • Open now!

      Community fridge: 12:00 am–11:59 pm

    • Tomorrow

      Community fridge: 12:00 am–11:59 pm

    • Next Monday

      Community fridge: 12:00 am–11:59 pm

    • Community fridge: 12:00 am–11:59 pm

      every day

  12. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    0 reviews

    Unclaimed

    no ratings yet

    0.32 mi


    Info

    Rocketship Rise Academy provides ready-to-eat meals to those in need. Please see the schedule for serving times.

    • Requirements

      • Summer Meal Program- Free meals and snacks to children 18 and younger
    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      8:00 am–8:30 am

    • Next Monday

      11:00 am–12:30 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      8:00 am–8:30 am

    • 8:00 am–8:30 am

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

    • 11:00 am–12:30 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

  13. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    0 reviews

    Unclaimed

    no ratings yet

    0.27 mi


    Info

    Independent Church Of God CDC provides free ready-to-eat meals for children 18 and younger as part of a summer meal program. Please check the schedule for serving times.

    • Requirements

      • Summer Meal Program- Free meals and snacks to children 18 and younger
    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      7:30 am–8:45 am

    • Next Monday

      11:30 am–12:30 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      7:30 am–8:45 am

    • 7:30 am–8:45 am

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

    • 11:30 am–12:30 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

  14. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    0 reviews

    Unclaimed

    no ratings yet

    0.5 mi


    Info

    The Park Naylor Community Center serves residents of the Park Naylor Apartments and surrounding community. Operated by Community Services Foundation, it partners with DC Central Kitchen to provide prepared meals and nutrition programming. No dedicated grocery pantry or client‑choice food distribution has been confirmed at this time.

    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 1:15 pm–1:45 pm

    • Next Wednesday

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 1:15 pm–1:45 pm

    • Next Friday

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 1:15 pm–1:45 pm

    • Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 1:15 pm–1:45 pm

      every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday

  15. Do I need an appointment?

    Every location is different! Some places in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista that’s open today: Feed the Fridge: Fort Place

  20. Where are you located?

    Because our work is mostly virtual, the Lemontree team works remotely, and we don’t have an office in Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista 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 Buena Vista, answer questions, and connect you with the right resources.