Food Assistance & Free Food Resources

Can't afford all of the groceries your family needs? Food pantries distribute free food that can help you stretch your budget. Check this map to find a food pantry near you. The  Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) provides milk, eggs, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables and more each week.

AFAC referrals last for 6 months and give you access to free weekly groceries. At the end of 6 months, call your case worker to renew.

• Go in person to the Department of Human Services, Customer Service Center (2100 Washington Blvd.) Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 703-228-1300.
• If you are 60 or older, call the Department of Human Services, Arlington Area Agency on Aging at 703-228-1700, or
• If you have a child at the Arlington Public Schools, call your school’s social worker.

This flyer (in English & Spanish) lists all food pantries in Arlington open to all(PDF, 507KB) including AFAC, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Salvation Army, and Arlington Bridge Builders.

Food assistance resources are available in various languages and formats: see more resources and languages here.

Some food distributions occur once a month. View this list to see the specific dates of these distributions in 2025.

All students attending Abingdon, Barcroft, Barrett, Campbell, Carlin Springs, Drew, and Randolph Elementary Schools, Kenmore Middle School, and Wakefield High School receive free breakfast and lunch because they participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.

Arlington Public Schools serve breakfast and lunch for a modest cost and free to those students who are income-eligible. Families with children at schools that do not participate in the CEP Program can complete the Free Meals Application to see if they qualify. Apply on MySchoolApps.

Families enrolled in SNAP, WIC, TANF, and some who receive Medicaid are automatically eligible. Families and children that receive free school meals and/or benefits may qualify for discounts on select services. Talk to your school's social worker for connections to additional resources. For more information about school meals, visit APS Food & Nutrition Services.  

Assembly of God Church serves dinner Monday through Friday from 5 - 6:30 p.m. and is located at 4501 N. Pershing Dr., Arlington, VA 22204. Call 703-524-1667 with any questions.

Christ House in Alexandria serves dinner daily. Those interested should arrive between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. to receive a meal. Christ House is located at 131 S West St. Alexandria, VA 22314.

Double your money when you use SNAP at Farmer's Markets.

SHARE Food Network provides a value package of produce and meats for $25 each month with a retail value of $45. Order your package through Macedonia Baptist Church at 703-521-7663 or Lomax AME Zion Church at 703-979-3738 and pick up monthly in Green Valley.

FreshFarm is offering a weekly bag of produce for $8 for those who pay using SNAP or WIC. Pick up weekly in spring, summer, and fall at the Courthouse Farmer's Market.

Virginia Cooperative Extension offers classes about financial management, cooking demonstrations, healthy eating on a budget, and growing your own food. 

Eat Smart Move More gives tips for making healthy choices, including recipes.

MyPlate helps you plan meals to give your body the nutrients it needs.

Arlington’s Food Security Coalition oversees the implementation of the Food Security Strategic Plan and serves as a meeting point to coordinate, collaborate and share information about food security activities occurring in the county. Participation is open to all. Meetings are on Zoom and are generally held on the 4th Monday of each month at 2pm. Complete this registration form to join.

The Food Security Task Force was a group of community stakeholders who worked together in 2021-22 to develop a Food Security Strategic Plan to improve the food security system in Arlington. View the Food Security Task Force Strategic Plan here. 

Visit the Food Security Task Force's webpage for information about food security news, data, and more information.