Where to find free food resources in Manchester

In 2025, rising costs are dominating our news feeds and affecting our wallets. Especially in the grip of winter, our everyday expenses tend to stack up quickly. Heating bills are on the rise, and grocery costs are hitting some folks hard. For many Manchester households, this time of year brings added stress around food access. Knowing where help is available can make a meaningful difference.

Manchester has a wide network of free food resources designed to meet people where they are. Food pantries, community meals, mobile distributions, and mutual-aid efforts all play a role in making sure our neighbors don’t have to choose between buying groceries and covering their housing costs. Some programs offer prepared meals, others provide pantry staples or fresh produce, and many operate with minimal barriers so families and individuals can access support quickly and with dignity.

These resources are especially important during the holiday season, when routines are disrupted and demand increases across the city. Some programs expand hours, add special meal services, or host seasonal distributions, while others quietly continue their regular schedules, knowing that consistency matters. Together, each of these resources forms a safety net that helps residents get through the end of the year with a little more stability.

The information below is intended to be practical and easy to navigate, whether you’re looking for a one-time meal or ongoing support. If you or someone you care about needs help this season, these Manchester-based resources are here to provide it.

Volunteers packing food bags. (Ismael Paramo/Unsplash)

Free meal programs in Manchester, NH

These programs offer warm, prepared meals in welcoming settings, helping to fill gaps when cooking at home isn’t possible or when groceries don’t stretch as far as they need to. Some focus on families and kids, others serve anyone who walks through the door, and many operate quietly week after week to make sure no one is left out during the busiest time of year. The meal programs listed below are here to provide nourishment, consistency, and a sense of care when it’s needed most.

The Salvation Army — Meals & Kids’ Programs

Address: 121 Cedar St, Manchester, NH 03101
Phone: (603) 627-7013
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://nne.salvationarmy.org/manchester/ The Salvation Army USA
Hours: Office: Mon–Fri 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (pantry and services primarily by appointment/call-ahead).

This location serves meals, especially for youth, and often partners with local events for community dinners. The free meal programs offered at The Salvation Army include Kids’ Cafe Meals, which are free evening meals (with activities) offered 4 nights per week during the school year—includes structured recreation and support for children and teens; Weekend Hot Meals which are hot meals on weekends for the community (timing may vary; call ahead). 

Blessed Sacrament Parish — Weekly Community Dinner

Address: 14 Elm St, Manchester, NH 03103
Phone: (603) 622-5445
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.blessedsacramentnh.org/ 

Free meals are provided by the parish outreach program. It’s best to call ahead, as schedules can shift. However, currently they are offering a free community dinner every Thursday at 6 p.m. This dinner is open to anyone in need.

1269 Cafe — Outreach Meal Ministry

Address: 456 Union St, Manchester, NH 03103
Phone: (603) 512-1571
Email: [email protected]
Website: thetwelveonunion.org
Facebook: 1269 Cafe Manchester 

This ministry offers meals and supportive community outreach, often serving meals to the area’s homeless or food-insecure community. Their currently listed service hours are Monday – Friday, 8 a.m.– 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Lunch is served daily from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., and the food pantry hours are Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:30 a.m. – noon. Additionally, an overnight winter warming station is available Dec. 1 – March 31 from 8 p.m. – 7 a.m.

Food pantries in Manchester, NH

Food pantries remain one of the most reliable ways for Manchester residents to access groceries when budgets are stretched or circumstances change. These programs provide shelf-stable staples, fresh produce, and household essentials through a mix of nonprofit organizations and faith-based partners across the city.

Families in Transition – Food Pantry & Donation Center

Address: 176 Lake Ave, Manchester, NH 03103
Phone: (603) 641-9441
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.fitnh.org/food-programs/food-pantry/ 

Families in Transition operates a grocery-style food pantry where Manchester residents can select their own food items once per month, with fresh produce and bread available weekly while supplies last. No referral is required, though first-time visitors should bring identification and proof of Manchester residency. The pantry is open Mondays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm and Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m., and it is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

St. Anthony Food Pantry (St. Anthony of Padua Parish)

Address: 61 W Baker St, Manchester, NH 03103
Phone: (603) 625-6409 (rectory office—call before noon on Tuesday to schedule)
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://stanthonyofpaduanh.org/food-pantry

St. Anthony of Padua Parish operates a weekly food pantry that distributes bags of groceries by appointment only. Residents must call the parish by Tuesday to reserve a bag for that week, with distribution taking place on Thursdays between 3 and 4 p.m.

Saint Raphael Food Pantry & Hope Chest

Address: 103 Walker St, Manchester, NH 03102 st-raphael-parish.org+1
Phone: (603) 623-2604 st-raphael-parish.org
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://st-raphael-parish.org/food-pantry/

Saint Raphael’s parish-run food pantry serves local families in need, offering grocery support through a volunteer-led program. Distribution hours and intake requirements can vary, so calling ahead is recommended, but the pantry typically operates on Monday evenings from around 5:30 to 6:30 pm.

Food For Children – God’s Love in Action (Outdoor Weekly Distribution)

Location: Beech Street School playground—333 Beech St, Manchester, NH 03103
Phone: Not publicly listed
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.foodfc.org/

This outdoor weekly food distribution serves hundreds of families, providing groceries along with encouragement in a welcoming community setting. On Saturdays, the line for tickets typically begins forming around 9 a.m., with food distributed from approximately 10 – 11:30 a.m.

New Hampshire Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry

This drive-through and walk-up distribution brings groceries directly into neighborhoods, offering fresh produce, pantry staples, and sometimes frozen items without long intake processes. Times and locations vary by date and season; always check the NH Food Bank schedule before attending. 

Host Organization: New Hampshire Food Bank
Address: 700 East Industrial Park Dr, Manchester, NH 03109
Phone: (603) 669-9725
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://nhfoodbank.org/what-we-do/mobile-food-pantry/ 

Mobile food pantry dates and times change each month and are typically scheduled for mid-morning to early afternoon, with all upcoming distributions posted on the New Hampshire Food Bank’s online calendar. Past Manchester events have included distributions, such as a Friday pickup from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Comcast on Island Pond Road, with access routed through East Industrial Park Drive. Currently, there are no dates on the schedule.

All mobile food pantry distributions are first-come, first-served and open to anyone who needs food, while supplies last. Because schedules and sites are updated regularly, checking the New Hampshire Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry page is the best way to find the most current information before attending.

Mutual aid in Manchester, NH

This grassroots, informal effort shares food and other vital everyday resources freely outside traditional pantry programs. The organization tends to have flexible operations and may vary seasonally and by volunteer involvement.

NH Mutual Aid Relief Fund (NHMARF)

Address: Veteran’s Park, Manchester, NH (pop-up location; exact setup varies by week)
Phone: Not publicly listed
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nhmarf.org/

The New Hampshire Mutual Aid Relief Fund is a grassroots, volunteer-run organization that provides direct support to community members through weekly “Free Store” pop-ups. These events function similarly to food pantries but offer a wider range of essentials, including food, snacks, hygiene products, first-aid supplies, clothing, and outdoor gear. Everything is free and available without referrals, paperwork, or eligibility requirements. In Manchester, Free Stores are typically held at Veterans’ Park on Sundays from 1 – 2:00 p.m., though dates, times, and locations can change seasonally. Events are volunteer-staffed and open to anyone in need, with an emphasis on accessibility, dignity, and shared community care.