Who is eligible for food assistance?
Anyone needing assistance can call the Hunger hotline and receive help.
What do I need to apply?
We ask for some basic information including address, dietary restrictions, and the number of people in the household.
How do I receive assistance?
From 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, please call the Capital Area Food Bank at 202-639-9770 and ask for the Hunger Lifeline. You will be directed to our coordinator who will ask you a few questions and inform you of a time frame when he or she will call you back. He or she will look for a pantry located in your area and then give you a call with verified information about a specific pantry.
Where will I go?
We will try to locate the nearest pantry to you or one that is open when you are available.
Can a case worker call for a client?
We prefer to talk to our clients directly since we do ask for some information and want to find the best matches for them in reference to programs and locations.
What types of food would I receive?
Since we have over 400 feeding programs we distribute to, we do not know what types of food each pantry has. Typically, however; groceries include canned and dried fruits, canned vegetables, canned meats, pasta and when available fresh bread. For fresh produce please refer to our Mobile Pantry program.