Food Assistance Programs

Making ends meet during difficult times can be easier with help from the right programs and other community resources. Cornell Cooperative Extension works with many local food assistance programs to help families, individuals and seniors find and access food resources that best meet their needs.

Local Programs:

Albany County Home delivered Meals:
https://www.albanycounty.com/departments/aging/home-delivered-meals

Regional Food Bank Drive-Thru Pantry Schedule: https://regionalfoodbank.net/drive-thru-pantry-schedule/

Below are all the locations in Albany that are doing community (meal curb side to go) meals or packaged food bags.

ALBANY COUNTY

Member Pantries

Albany Community Action Partnership (ACAP), Cohoes Outreach
www.albanycap.org
Address: 145 Remsen St, Cohoes 12047
Hours: M-W-F 8:30-12 & 12:45-4:30
Contact: Asa Morris, Jessica DeJesus
Office: (518) 237-9201
Fax: (518) 689-2233

Altamont Community Food Pantry
Address: 122 Grand St, Altamont 12009
Hours: 1st & 3rd T 4-5 pm;
COVID 19 Procedure Change: Pre-packing bags
Contact: Judy Seery
Church: (518) 861-8770
Alternate: (518) 861-6542

Arbor Hill Community Center
Address: 47 Lark St, Albany 12210
Hours: M,T,Th,F 10-12 & 1-4:30pm
W 11-2 &3-6pm
Tues & Th 1:15-3 produce
Program Manager: Andre Lewis
Contact: Clara Sorrell
Pantry Office: (518) 463-1516 Ext:110
Fax: (518) 694-3678

Bethlehem Food Pantry
Address: 445 Delaware Ave, Delmar 12054
Hours: M 2:30-4:30; W 9-12; F 10:30-12:30
Must call first, by appointment only
COVID 19 Hours: Regular hours. Please Call For Apt. Staff will take phone orders of essential needs (noting food allergies). Pre-packed bags will be brought to the outside entrance. Town Hall in which our pantry is housed is CLOSED to the public.
Contact: Heidi Ziemke/Alice Parker / Will Vale
Office: (518) 439-4955 Ext:1176
Fax: (518) 439-2125

Blessed Sacrament Parish 1224f
Address: 607 Central Ave, Albany 12206
Hours: M & TH 10-11:15
Contact: Sr. Patricia Lynch
Office: (518) 482-3375

Cathedral Social Services
Address: 93 Park Ave, Albany 12202
Hours: M-F 10-12
COVID 19 Hours: Mon-Thurs 10am-12pm
COVID 19 Procedure Change: Pre-packed bags - no public access into pantry - NO THRIFT - NO CLOTHING DONATIONS
Contact: Mark Ciavardoni
Office: (518) 463-2279
Fax: (518) 436-5177

Christ Our Light Church
Address:1 Maria Drive, Loudonville 12211
3rd Sat 8:15-11:30, Emergency call M-F 8-3
COVID PROCEDURE: contact (518) 459-6635 with additional food needs
Contact: George Elmer
Office: (518) 459-6635
Fax: (518) 459-8379

First Church in Albany
Address: 110 N Pearl St, Albany 12207
Hours: M & W 9-11:30
Contact: Lorraine Houk
Office: (518) 463-4449
Fax: (518) 443-0461

FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry
Address: Emmanuel Baptist Church
275 State St, Albany 12210
Hours: M - F 10:00-1 pm
last Sat. of the month 10:00-1 pm
COVID 19 Pantry orders must be made by phone and picked up by appointment ONLY, Please call: (518) 443-0460
Last pickup time will be 12:45pm
Bldg. is CLOSED to the public, pre-packed bags will be picked up at the door. Clients may order their food 1 day ahead.
Contact: Lorraine Houk
Office: (518) 443-0460
Fax: (518) 443-0461

Guilderland Food Pantry
Address: Hamilton United Presbyterian Church - 4 Charles Blvd, Guilderland 12084
Hours: M - S call between 9:30– 11:00 pm
by appt only
Contact: John McDonnell
Office: (518) 930-1001

Hilltowns Community Resource Center
www.rcda.org
Address: 566 State Rte 143, Westerlo 12193
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm
COVID 19 Please call in advance. Pre-packed bags
Contact: Mary Beth Peterson, Misty Schaffer
Office: (518) 966-7380
Fax: Same number CALL FIRST

Immaculate Heart of Mary
Address: 2425 7th Ave, Watervliet 12189
Hours: T & Th 9-10 am
COVID 19 Hours: PANTRY CLOSED
Contact: Mary Beth Knapik
Office: (518) 273-6020
Fax: (518) 273-3978
Soup kitchen: M 3:30-5:30

Mater Christi
*Serving only by appointment, pre-packed bags brought out to clients. Distributed from the parish office:
40 Hopewell Street Albany, 12208*
Address: 3 West Erie Street, Albany 12208
Hours: 1st and 3rd Mon of the month 9-1
or by appt. Call the office first.
COVID 19 ADD Services: Families w/ school aged children may visit the pantry once a week to replace school lunches Call - (518) 596-6691 to coordinate pick-up
Contact: Kathy Naughter
Pantry: (518) 596-6691
Fax:(518) 482-3721
Office: (518) 489-3204

New Scotland Community FP
Address: St. Matthew’s Church
25 Mountainview St, Voorheesville 12186
Contact: Wake Gardner
COVID 19 HOURS: By appointment ONLY
Office: (518) 765-3806 Ext: 31

Onesquethaw Reformed Church FP
Address: 11 Groesbeck Rd, Feura Bush 12067
Hours: 2nd Tuesday of month 8:30-10:30 or by appt
Contact: Robin Hughes
Office: (518) 256-9526

Sacred Heart Outreach
Address: 33 Walter St, Albany 12204
Hours: Tues 1:00-3:00, Thurs 10:00-11:45
Contact: Sr. Mary Ellen Owens
Office: (518) 434-0680
Fax: (518) 462-0506
Soup Kitchen: Wed 11:30-12:30
COVID 19 PROCEDURE: Grab and go community meal

Salvation Army Food Pantry Albany
Address: 20 S Ferry St, Albany 12202
Hours: M 2-6pm, W& F 10am-2pm
Contact: Debra Stiles, Digna Swingle
Office: (518) 463-6678
Fax: (518) 463-0138

Salvation Army Cohoes
Address: 49 Johnston Ave, Cohoes 12047
Hours: T & TH: 10am-2pm, last week of month 10am-11am
Contact: Debra Stiles
Office: (518) 223-0398

St. Ambrose
Address: 347 Old Loudon Road, Albany 12110
Hours: M-W 10-2, M & Th 4-6, F 10-12
Must Call First, 24 hr turnaround
COVID 19 HOURS:
Monday: 10 am to 12 & 4 pm to 6 pm
Tuesday: 10 to 12
Wednesday: 10 to 12
Thursday: closed
Friday: 10 to 12
BY APPOINTMENT (24 hrs)
Contact: Pauline Kubizne, Pat Ostiguy
OFFICE: (518) 785-1351

St. Clare's Food Pantry
Address: 1947 Central Ave, Colonie 12205
Emergency: M-F 8:30-3:30
COVID 19 Procedure Change: Church office is CLOSED, Emergency Food NO LONGER available M-F.
During normal pantry hours - clients are NOT Allowed in the building - food will be brought out.
Full pantry: 2nd & 4th Thurs. 10 am-12 pm
Contact: Jim Beninati, Don Kintner, Ken LaPenta
Office: (518) 456-3112 x115
Fax: (518) 456-1072

St. James Food Pantry
Address: 391 Delaware Ave, Albany 12209
Note: Enter off of St. James Place
Hours: T 11-2 & TH 1-4
Contact: Linda Cruz
Office: (518) 427-6433
Fax: (518) 433-8032

St. John’s/St. Ann's Center
www.sjsacenter.org
Address: 88 4th Ave, Albany 12202
Hours: Mon,Wed, Th 10-12 & 1-3
Fri 10-12
COVID 19 Please call to make an appointment. Pre-packed bags
Contact: Barbara Quinn
Office: (518) 472-9091 Ext: 14
Fax: (518) 427-5983
Soup Kitchen: T and Sat 11:30-1 pm
COVID 19 Hours: Meals are ALL take out.
Serving clients one at a time.

St. Mary’s Outreach
Address: 10 Lodge St, Albany 12207
Note: Steuben St. entrance
COVID 19 Hours: CLOSED MARCH 19th
Hours: T, TH, F 9-11:30
Contact: Sr. Mary Ellen Owens
Office: (518) 462-4357
Fax: (518) 462-4255

"The Pantry" @ St. Patrick’s
Address: 21 Main St, Ravena 12143
Hours: T 10-11:00, W 6-7pm, F 10-11
Contact: Diane Hoffman
Office: (518) 756-3145
Fax: (518) 756-8411

St. Vincent de Paul FP
Address: 984 Madison Ave, Albany 12208
Hours: M, W, Th 12:30-2:30
COVID 19 Procedure Change: New Intake Order Form - Staff pre-packing Bags
Contact: Angela Warner
Office: (518) 694-3153
Fax: (518) 489-5474

Sister Maureen Joyce Food Pantry
Address: 315 Sheridan Ave, Albany 12204
Hours: T, W & F 9-1
Wed 9-12 produce distribution
Contact: Renee Wendover
Office: (518) 347-9546
Fax: N/A
COVID 19 Please call to make an appointment. Pantry may be Pre-packing bags.
COVID 19 Procedure: limiting access to 5 people in the pantry at a time. Will direct clients as they arrive at the pantry.

Soup Kitchen
Address: 369 Livingston Avenue
Hours: M & TH 11:30-1
518-462-9885
The Help Center at Capital Church
capitalchurchny.org
Address: 31 Vly Rd, Albany 12205
Hours: TH 6:00-7:00 pm
Contact: John “Mac” McDonnell, Cheryl McDonnell
Office: (518) 456-3022 Ext: 7
Fax: (518) 557-0163

Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region
Address: 15 Trinity Pl, Albany 12202
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-12 & 1-4:30 Pantry
T & TH-10-12pantry, 1:15-3:15produce
3:15-4:30 pantry
W-11-2 & 3-6 pantry
Program Manager: Andre Lewis
Coordinator: Eddie Richardson
Office: (518) 449-5155 Ext: 132
Fax: (518) 689-0379

Trinity United Methodist Church FP (TUM)
Address: 1309 SR 143, Coeymans Hollow, NY 12046
Hours: Last M of the month 5-6pm
Last Sat of the month 10-11am
Contact: Melanie Collins
Office: (518) 518-756-2812
COVID 19 - will bring food to cars

United Church of Cohoes
www.CohoesECOPC.org
Address: 123 Mohawk Street,
Cohoes NY 12047
Hours: M, W, F 10-12
Contact: Crystal Rich
Office: (518) 237-0278

Venture Churches Food Pantry
Address: 38 Church Road, Selkirk 12158
Hours: T 9:30 am – 11:30 am, 5 pm – 7 pm
or by apt
Contact: Carol Broderick
Church: 518-767-2243
COVID 19 - will bring food to cars, no one allowed in pantry.

State & National Programs:

MyBenefits.Gov - New York State residents can visit this web site to find out if you are eligible for help through SNAP (formerly Food Stamps), Nutrition Education,  Temporary Assistance, HEAP,  WIC, School Meals and  Summer Meal Programs.

SNAP / (formerly Food Stamp) benefits help low-income working people, seniors, the disabled and others feed their families.  The USDA’s SNAP-Ed connection web site provides great tips and resources. Choose from: Healthy Eating on a Budget, 10 Steps to Help fill your grocery bag, Ways to Manage Your Food Dollars and MORE at: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/eathealthy/budget

The SNAP-to-Market website helps you find NY Farmers' Markets where you can use your SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) and explains how to make Farmers' Market purchases with them.  You'll also find information on when fruits and vegetables are in-season at your market, and recipes to use with produce you buy.  

WIC - the Women, Infants & Children’s Supplemental Food Program provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to community services for low-income pregnant and post-partum women and their children under five years of age. Breastfeeding support is available. Find out if you are eligible for WIC, see a schedule of monthly WIC clinics in locations around Tompkins County, and other WIC resources on this website. Tompkins County Health Department, 55 Brown Road, Ithaca, New York 14850

Our educational program series and lessons help families and households to stretch their food dollars to make healthier choices and eat better for less! Our Eat Smart New York! Program helps individuals and families who have limited resources to gain the knowledge and skills to make healthier food and activity choices.

Last updated April 18, 2024