Navigating parenthood comes with its challenges, and ensuring that your family has access to nutritious food is a top priority. For many parents, knowing where to turn when resources are tight can make all the difference. Thanks to the Main Line Parent Community group we were able to put together this resource guide to find local food pantries and essential resources to support your family’s well-being.

 

From locating nearby services to understanding how they work, these organizations will provide the information you need to keep your household thriving. One group member said that one of the main reasons help is so hard to find is because it is fragmented, and she was right. When you have hit a low spot it can be hard to take the time to find necessary resources, our hope with creating this list is that we can defragment the information for our community. Do you have a location or resource for us to add? Leave a comment and we’ll be sure to update our list.

 

Finding help at the State Level

In PA there is a state run helpline, dial 211 to access it. 

 

You can also find state help at pa-navigate.org. Find food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced cost help.

 

SNAP is the supplemental nutrition assistance program available through the Department of Human Services. 

 

Reach out to your State Representative’s office to ask them about resources available. State reps can assist with unemployment resources and can get help faster than if you do it yourself. 

 

Free summer meals in the city of Philadelphia are available to youth up to age 18, from more than 500 meal sites across the city.

 

The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has a program for Summer Meals for Kids, use the location finder for a place closest to you.

 

Organizations providing various support

 

Catholic Social Services provides pregnancy support, housing assistance, senior services, food, education, counseling, and more. 

 

City Team Chester’s programs help provide food, shelter, clothing, career training, and spiritual transformation.

 

Compass is a PA Department of Health online tool to apply for health and human service programs such as health care coverage, food assistance, cash assistance, childcare subsidy, and more.

 

Grands Stepping Up is a non-profit dedicated to assisting grandparent/kinship guardian who are raising their grandchildren due to issues such as the opiate epidemic, incarceration, mental health issues, death or illness of the parents that cause the parents to be unable to perform their traditional parental roles. GSU assists through the creation of many holistic programs (including GSU’s Denis’ Pantry, the only program offered to all community residents) that will support the new grand family financially, psychologically, legally, and socially to support the success of the new family unit; to educate governing county agencies and entities, as well as primary care physicians, school districts, etc. regarding the complexity of the Grand/Kinship families’ needs.

 

Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Greater Philadelphia will provide assistance for basic needs (food, clothing), mental health and wellness, disabilities and more. 

 

Mitzvah Circle can help provide basic material goods, case management, coaching, and referrals to individuals and families facing poverty, homelessness, serious illness, and difficult circumstances.

 

Neighbor to Neighbor in Sharon Hill is a community development organization that helps connect people with resources.

 

Residents of Tredyffrin and Easttown can reach out to T&E Care for various types of assistance (bills, food, school supplies, etc). 

 

Women’s Resource Center can help with identifying free resources, career services, financial counseling, and more. 

 

The resource pantries at the Coatesville YMCA, Lionville Community YMCA and Oscar Lasko YMCA provide items free of charge to families and individuals who need them.

 

The website Find Help lists local organizations in your area to help you find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more. 

 

Food Pantries

Bernadine Center, Chester

Chester County Food Bank, various locations

Christ Lutheran Church, Upper Darby (community meals and food pantry)

Daily Bread Food Pantry, Collegeville

Eldernet, Bryn Mawr (for anyone, not specific to older people)

Germantown Community Fridge, Philadelphia

Good Samaritan Church, Paoli (they also have a rent assistance program)

HOPE Church, King of Prussia

Kids Against Hunger, local branch in Broomall

Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Prospect Park

Manna on Main, Lansdale

Martha’s Choice Food Pantry, Norristown

Media Food Bank, Media

Mount Zion CME Food Bank, Sharon Hill

Narberth Community Food Bank, Narberth

PACS, Phoenixville

Patrician Society, Norristown

People’s Pantry at Church Road, Malvern

Philabundance, various locations

St. James Food Pantry, Havertown

St. Mary’s Church, Ardmore

Upper Merion Community Cupboard, Upper Merion

Wayne Food Pantry, Wayne

West Chester Food Cupboard, West Chester