Food Access & Assistance

-

Food Access & Assistance -

Connecting to Fresh Food, Support, and Action

Food access is a year-round issue, not only during emergencies. Whether you’re looking for where to find free or low-cost groceries, healthy prepared meals, or ways to support your neighbors, this guide connects you to local programs, farmers’ markets, and organizations working to strengthen our regional food system.

The Pittsburgh Food Policy Council believes everyone deserves access to fresh, affordable, and culturally relevant food. This page brings together trusted community partners, local growers, and emergency food providers to make it easier to find or offer support.

Below you’ll find:

  • Food pantries and community meal programs

  • Farmers’ markets and local produce stands that accept or supplement SNAP

  • Volunteer, donation, and advocacy opportunities

  • Hotlines and referral tools for other essential needs

Food access is about more than a single meal; it’s about dignity, connection, and community care. Whether you need help today or want to get involved in building a stronger, more equitable food system, this page is for you.

Farmers Markets & Local Food Programs

  • Lawrenceville Farmers Market
    Part of Lawrenceville United, it hosts a free food distribution every Friday.
    How to Help:

    • Donate Food: Drop off unexpired canned, boxed, or jarred non-perishables at the Lawrenceville Farmers Market booth on Tuesdays (3–7 PM).

    • Donate Money: Use the LFM donation board at the market.

    • Volunteer: Email food@LUnited.org to help with Friday distributions.

  • Bloomfield Farmers Market
    Supports community food access through a “Give a Token, Take a Token” donation board.
    Also partners with community programs such as:

    • Senior Lunches Program

    • After-School Feeding Program for Children

  • Grow Pittsburgh – Farm Stand Discount
    All SNAP cardholders receive $5 off purchases at Grow Pittsburgh’s low-cost farm stands during the SNAP benefit disruption.

    • Valid once per customer, per day

    • Must show SNAP card

    • Non-refundable (no cash back)

    • Runs through the SNAP disruption or end of farm stand season

Find Food Near You

  • PA 211

    • Call 2-1-1, text your ZIP code to 898-211,

    • or visit pa211.org/food-resources to find food pantries and assistance near you.

FOOD PANTRIES

Regional & Countywide Food Banks

  • Alliance for Nonprofit Resources Inc. - Serving Butler County

  • Bucks County Opportunity Council Inc. - Serving Bucks County

  • Central Pennsylvania Food Bank - Serving Adams, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Potter, Snyder, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, and York counties

  • Chester County Food Bank - Serving Chester County

  • Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County - Serving Mercer County

  • Fayette County Community Action Food Bank - Serving Fayette County

  • Food Helpers - Serving Washington County

  • Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank - Serving Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, and Washington counties

  • Helping Harvest - Serving Berks and Schuylkill counties

  • Indiana County Community Action Program - Serving Indiana County

  • Philabundance - Serving Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties

  • Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania - Serving Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, and Wayne counties

  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania - Serving Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Venango, and Warren counties

  • Share Food Program - Serving Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties

  • Society of St. Vincent de Paul Family Kitchens - Serving Cambria County

  • Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank - Serving Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna, and Wyoming counties

  • Westmoreland County Food Bank - Serving Westmoreland County
    York County Food Bank - Serving York County