Find Free Food in Your Area With This New Google Tool
Food insecurity has long been a concern for many Americans, exacerbated by a pandemic that makes it difficult for nearly one in four families to meet this basic need. There are resources for those who need more support, and now there is Google Map to help people find them. If you or someone you know needs help putting food on the table, you can use Google’s new Find Food Support tool to find grocery cans, food pantries, and school lunch programs in your area. All you have to do is enter your address and click “Find Support” to indicate the locations on the map. Click on the blue flags for food bank or school program information, including address, contact information, and opening days and hours.
Please note that the Google tool simply collects information on over 90,000 programs with data provided by Foodfinder, No Kid Hungry and USDA. This means that some of the information on the map may be incomplete or out of date. Even if the hours are listed, you should call ahead to confirm.
In addition to the map, Find Food Support links to other resources, including hotlines and benefit programs, for American seniors, families, military personnel, and others who are food insecure.
Another type of local food resource is the public fridge, or fridge. These are communal refrigerators located in the neighborhood and are serviced by volunteer organizers. Unlike food banks and pantries, which often store many non-perishable items in large quantities, empty spaces are filled with donated leftovers and perishable items (such as groceries) that would otherwise go to waste.
People suffering from food insecurity can access these public refrigerators free of charge. There are several maps and resources that keep track of where public refrigerators are. And if you have the funds to donate or launch a refrigerator, we have a guide for that .