Holding Hands Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit founded in 2008 on the streets of Coney Island by Joel Matos and his family. Through partnerships with City Harvest and the Food Bank of New York, the organization operates a weekly food pantry providing groceries to community members in need. Beyond food assistance, they offer support with shelter, spiritual development, employment, moral enrichment, and transitional services. The ministry is committed to compassionately serving the community through acts of service and referrals.

Zip codes served: 11204, 11223, 11228

• 11-4pm for the first timers.
• What people need to register for food services: PROOF OF ADDRESS: Utility Bill of any kind, SSI Form. With Your Name on it. PROOF OF ADULTS OR CHILDREN: Benefit Cards, Birth Certificate, etc.
• You will be asked to explain your financial Situation.
• The reason for this information will allow us to operate this program more effectively without discrimination. If you don’t have any of the above information or forms please explain your problem to our intake clerk.
• Best to call before visiting us to ensure we serve your zip code area. 718-373-4565

Requires ID for adults and birth certificates for children in the household

On-site registration required

NYC Department of Education Free Summer Meals program site hosted at J.H.S. 259 William McKinley Middle School in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. The site serves free, ready-to-eat breakfast and lunch each weekday to children and teens 18 and younger throughout summer break. Meals follow NYC school food nutrition standards and include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and protein. No identification, proof of income, or registration is required to receive meals, and the program is open to all community youth during operating hours.

This parish-run pantry provides groceries to individuals and families in need. It serves residents living between 7th Avenue and 86th Street, from 86th Street down to the water. Clients are not required to be Catholic to receive services.

Parish-hosted food pantry operated by Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens that provides free groceries to individuals and families in need in Bay Ridge.

This food pantry requires pre-registration. Once registered, clients receive an appointment for food pickup. The pantry contacts clients the day before their appointment to confirm and provide a specific pickup time. This system is in place to prevent long waiting times.

A free USDA Summer Food Service Program site hosted at J.H.S. 227 Edward B. Shallow, a New York City public middle school. During the summer break, the school opens its cafeteria to any youth in the neighborhood to receive a free, ready-to-eat breakfast and lunch with no paperwork, ID, or registration required. The program is run by the NYC Public Schools Office of Food and Nutrition Services and welcomes walk-ins throughout the scheduled meal windows. The site is part of a citywide network of school-based meal locations that serve children and teens who might otherwise miss meals while school is out.

A free Summer Meals site hosted at P.S. 105 The Blythebourne as part of the New York City Department of Education's Open Community Feeding Program. Run by the Office of Food & Nutrition Services and funded through the federal USDA Summer Food Service Program, the site offers free, ready-to-eat breakfast and lunch without requiring identification, proof of income, registration, or documentation. Open to any child or teen 18 and younger in the Borough Park neighborhood, it provides a no-cost summer nutrition option to bridge the gap when school is out.

BRCDC is a Brooklyn nonprofit food pantry serving South Brooklyn families. They distribute fresh produce, halal meat, hot meals, and groceries in partnership with Islamic Relief USA, the Turkish American National Steering Committee, and the NYC Mayor's Office, serving hundreds of families each week. They are one of the few pantries in New York that provides fresh food alongside non-perishable groceries, and also offer broader social services including casework support and benefits assistance to connect local residents with available programs.

-Closed on federal holidays

On-site registration required