Looking for food pantries that provide food resources to food insecure families? We’ve compiled a list of 10 top food banks in St. Louis County in this post.
1. Feed My People
Since 1982, the Feed My People food pantry in St. Louis has been providing groceries and emergency food boxes to needy and struggling residents of St. Louis County. The pantry operates mainly as a client-choice model, where visitors can attend up to twice a month to ‘shop’ from shelves stocked with canned and dried foods, as well as fresh produce, meats, and dairy when available. Emergency assistance of up to three days’ worth of food is also available for those in dire need.
As a completely charitable organization, Feed My People runs on the kindness and help of the community. You can register here to be one of the 400+ volunteers who help keep the pantry stocked and running smoothly. You can also donate food and money to support the pantry and its mission. If you have any other questions or need more information, contact the pantry directly.
2. Grass Roots Food Pantry
The Circle of Light Associates in the Baden area of St. Louis has operated the Grass Roots Food Pantry since 1992 to help feed those struggling in the St. Louis area. Eligible clients will receive a preprepared food boxes containing food not only collected from the community, but also fresh produce grown by them, as well.
You can help support the Grass Roots food pantry by donating money through PayPal or emailing for instructions on how to volunteer or donate food items. If you have any other questions about the pantry, or Circle of Light Associates in general, contact them here.
3. St. Augustine Wellston Center
Since 1995, the Wellston Center in the Wellston area of St. Louis has provided food insecure residents of Western St. Louis with emergency food and toiletries. Twice a week, the pantry is open for clients to collect prepackaged food bags containing enough food to help stretch the grocery bills for that month. Bags contain more than just nonperishables and pantry staples; they also contain a selection of dairy, fresh produce, bakery items, frozen meat, household items, and toiletries to help keep families happy and healthy.
If you’d like to support the Wellston Center, you can find out here how to donate food, in-kind items, or money. To find out how to volunteer at the center, or for any other questions, contact them here.
4. Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry
Located in the Overland area of St. Louis, the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry (HKJFP) provides those St. Louis County residents suffering from food insecurity with at least 10 days’ worth of food. Clients visiting the pantry can choose from canned foods, pantry staples, fresh produce, fresh and frozen meats, as well as kosher foods and personal care items.
The HKJFP always welcome volunteers to assist in enrolling new clients, sorting and stocking shelves, and cleaning up afterwards; you can register to become a volunteer here. If you’d like to donate food or other in-kind items, you can find a list of high need items and instructions for how to donate here. If you’d rather donate money, you can do so online. Contact the HKJFP if you have any other questions or need more information.
5. Circle of Concern Food Pantry
Originally a small church-based group beginning in the mid-1960s, Circle of Concern has grown into a devoted food pantry based in its own bespoke building in Valley Park, MO. Twice a week, low-income residents of Parkway, Rockwood, or Valley Park can ‘shop’ the pantry for enough food to feed their families for seven to ten days. Visitors can choose from canned and dried foods, fresh produce, frozen meats, bakery items, and dairy; there’s even a household and toiletries section to shop from if needed.
As the pantry needs up to 350 volunteers a month to keep running, new volunteers are always welcome at Circle of Concern; you can register to be one here. Donations of nonexpired foods and in-kind items are accepted in-person Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings; you can find a list of high-need items here. If you’d rather make a monetary donation, you can do so following any of the methods listed here. To find out more about Circle of Concern and the services they provide, contact them through any of the methods listed on their contact page.
6. TEAM Food Pantry
The Emergency Assistance Ministry (TEAM) food pantry in Florissant has been helping families in Hazelwood and Florissant since 1986. Once a month, families can visit the pantry to receive enough emergency food items to support them in creating fulfilling, healthy meals. Families can also receive household items like toiletries and cleaning supplies when available.
The TEAM food pantry relies on the support of the community through donations and volunteer service. You can find out how to register as a volunteer or make a food or monetary donation on this page. Contact them for any other questions or information.
7. Afton Christian Food Pantry
In Afton, MO, the Afton Christian Food Pantry opened in 2004 to alleviate the rising cases of food insecurity in the Afton, MO, area. Four days a week, eligible clients are able to shop the pantry shelves of canned foods, cereals, prepackaged foods, and other nonperishable items. The number of items available is based on the family’s income and size.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of different jobs; because the pantry does not accept walk-in volunteers, you must register your interest here and wait to be contacted. Donations are always accepted at the Afton Christian Food Pantry. You can find a list of high need items, as well as instructions for donating them, here. You can donate money to pantry through their online giving page here. Contact the pantry for more information.
8. Loaves and Fishes for St. Louis
Loaves and Fishes of St. Louis began in 1981 in Maryland Heights, MO, to help those in St. Louis County suffering from economic hardship. Every two weeks, clients can make an appointment to receive a prepackaged bag of pantry staples and fresh foods to help them better afford housing and utilities.
To support the food pantry at Loaves and Fishes of St. Louis, you can make a monetary donation, an in-kind donation, or volunteer to help with daily pantry operations. For all other questions, contact them here.
9. Carondelet Community Betterment Foundation (CCBF) Food Pantry
The CCBF Food Pantry has provided nutritional food to St. Louis residents since the mid-1980s as part of the CCBF’s mission to improve the quality of life in Carondelet and surrounding areas. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, clients can receive a box of nutritional and filling foods for the whole family. CCBF also distributes senior boxes for seniors suffering from food insecurity and economic hardship.
You can help by donating any of the food and in-kind items listed here, or you can donate money through PayPal. If you’d like to volunteer your time to the pantry, you can find out how to do so here. Contact the pantry if you have any other questions or need more information.
10. Ritenour Co-Care Food Pantry
Since 1980 in Overland, MO, the Ritenour Co-Care Food Pantry assists suffering from food insecurity and living in the Ritenour school district. Although the food pantry is open four days a week, clients can only shop their client-choice pantry once each week.
The pantry welcomes monetary donations at the pantry or online. If you’d like to volunteer or make in-kind donations, you can find out how here. If you have any other questions, contact the pantry here.
Leave a Reply