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Find Free Food In ChinatownLemontree 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)

    Central Union Mission Men’s Emergency Shelter

    2 reviews

    Unclaimed

    30 minutes

    average wait time

    0.55 mi


    Info

    Shelter Daily at 3:00 PM (First come, first served) Meal Times: Lunch: 12:30pm, Dinner: 5:00pm. Walk-ins welcome! Overnight shelter, showers, and meals

    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Today

      12:30 pm

    • Today

      5:00 pm

    • Tomorrow

      12:30 pm

    • 12:30 pm

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

    • 5:00 pm

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

    Map of Central Union Mission Men’s Emergency Shelter

    Location

    65 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest

    Northwest Washington, DC 20001

    directions

    Contact

    (202) 745-7118

    https://www.missiondc.org/get-help/

    Is this your soup kitchen?Claim it!
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  3. Street view

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

    46 reviews

    Unclaimed

    15 minutes

    average wait time

    0.64 mi


    Info

    • You must meet the current TEFAP income requirements.
    • Recommended to arrive early
    • First 35 peoples will be served
    • Can visit once every 21 days
    • Remember to:
      • bring picture ID to every visit.
      • bring one of the following on 1st visit to prove DC residency:
        • Lease
        • Rent receipt with name and address
        • Utility bill with name and address.
    • Might be closed on a holiday. Please check website to confirm before going.
    • Requirements

      • ID required
      • Proof of address required
      • First come, first serve: open until food runs out
    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 7:30 am–8:30 am

    • Next Monday

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–12:30 pm

    • Next Monday

      Food pantry (groceries): 1:30 pm–2:30 pm

    • Food pantry (groceries): 1:30 pm–2:30 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

    • Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–12:30 pm

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

    • Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 7:30 am–8:30 am

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

  4. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    1 review

    Unclaimed

    average user rating

    0.51 mi


    Info

    Serves breakfast every Sunday morning

    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Tomorrow

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 7:30 am–8:30 am

    • Sun, August 16th (in 2 weeks)

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 7:30 am–8:30 am

    • Sun, August 23rd (in 3 weeks)

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 7:30 am–8:30 am

    • Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 7:30 am–8:30 am

      every week on Sunday

  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 Chinatown.

  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)

    46 reviews

    Unclaimed

    10 minutes

    average wait time

    0.69 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. They have their farmers market open on alternating fridays and will be open on the 16th of May and alternate from there on How to Get Your Thanksgiving Meal Bread for the City is here to make sure your table is full this holiday season. To receive a holiday meal, you need to be a DC resident and provide ID.
    Holiday Helpings meals are available for pick-up at both our NW and SE pantries: November 3–25 Monday through Friday from 9 am–4 pm Closed Nov 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day We can’t wait to celebrate the season with you!

    • 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–12:00 pm

    • Next Monday

      1:00 pm–3:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      9:00 am–12:00 pm

    • 9:00 am–12:00 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

    • 1:00 pm–3:00 pm

      every week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

    • 9:00 am

      every month on the 1st Friday

    • 9:00 am

      every month on the 3rd Friday

  9. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    10 reviews

    Unclaimed

    5 minutes

    average wait time

    0.44 mi


    Info

    • Located between New Jersey Ave. and I St. NW
    • If meeting at the stops, park on I St. and walk over to the service site.
    • Offerings

      • Prepared Meals

    Schedule

    • Today

      5:15 pm–6:00 pm

    • Tomorrow

      5:15 pm–6:00 pm

    • Next Monday

      5:15 pm–6:00 pm

    • 5:15 pm–6:00 pm

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

  10. Street view

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

    4 reviews

    Unclaimed

    38 minutes

    average wait time

    0.11 mi


    • Requirements

      • ID required
    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries
      • Clothing may be available

    Schedule

    • Next Tuesday

      Food pantry (groceries): 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

    • Tue, September 8th (next month)

      Food pantry (groceries): 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

    • Food pantry (groceries): 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

      every month on the 2nd Tuesday

    • Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals): 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

      every month on the 2nd Tuesday

  11. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    0 reviews

    Unclaimed

    no ratings yet

    0.51 mi


    Info

    Center City Public Charter Schools' Shaw Campus hosts the DC Free Summer Meals Program, a USDA Summer Food Service Program site that provides free, nutritious meals and snacks to children and teens 18 and younger. The campus welcomes all youth from the neighborhood and across the District, with no application or ID required, ensuring families have a reliable place to access no-cost meals during the summer break.

    • 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–1:00 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–1:00 pm

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

  12. Street view

    Soup kitchen (ready-to-eat meals)

    0 reviews

    Unclaimed

    no ratings yet

    0.44 mi


    Info

    Thomson Elementary School hosts a free summer meal site through the DC Youth Meals Program, administered by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education. The site welcomes all children and youth eighteen and younger for free no-cost breakfast and lunch during the summer break. No application or ID is needed to receive a meal.

    • 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–10:00 am

    • Next Monday

      11:00 am–1:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      8:30 am–10:00 am

    • 8:30 am–10:00 am

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

    • 11:00 am–1:00 pm

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

    Contact

    (202) 898-4660(Mon–Fri 8am–3pm)

    thomsondcps.org

  13. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries), Other

    0 reviews

    Unclaimed

    no ratings yet

    0.47 mi


    Info

    Walker-Jones Education Campus is a DC Public Schools PreK-3 through 8th-grade campus in the NoMa neighborhood of Ward 6 that serves as a free drop-in summer meal site operated by DC Central Kitchen. During summer break, breakfast and lunch are provided to children 18 and younger and the surrounding community on a first-come, first-served basis. The campus year-round hosts DCPS meal programs including After School Supper and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The grounds also house The Farm at Walker Jones, a small urban farm and farm stand operated by K Street Farms (a separate entity open Tuesday/Thursday 1–6pm and Sunday 12–4pm). The campus provides wraparound community services as a community-based DCPS school.

    • 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

      • Free Groceries

    Schedule

    • Next Monday

      Other: 8:30 am–10:00 am

    • Next Monday

      Other: 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

    • Next Tuesday

      Other: 8:30 am–10:00 am

    • Other: 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

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

    • Other: 8:30 am–10:00 am

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

  14. Street view

    Food pantry (groceries)

    48 reviews

    Unclaimed

    average user rating

    0.74 mi


    Info

    To participate in the Food Pantry or for more information, please call the church at 202-232-0323, and leave your name and number for Laurese Dancy, Food Pantry Director.

    • Requirements

      • Call in advance for services
    • Offerings

      • Free Groceries
      • Toiletries may be available

    Schedule

    • Next Wednesday

      10:00 am–1:00 pm

    • Wed, August 19th (in 2 weeks)

      10:00 am–1:00 pm

    • Wed, August 26th (in 3 weeks)

      10:00 am–1:00 pm

    • 10:00 am–1:00 pm

      every week on Wednesday

  15. Do I need an appointment?

    Every location is different! Some places in Chinatown 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 Chinatown 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 Chinatown that’s open today: Central Union Mission Men’s Emergency Shelter, McKenna’s Wagon: New Jersey Ave. and I St. NW

  20. Where are you located?

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