FoodChain welcomes everyone. There are no income limits, no ID requirements, and no registration. Anyone can show up and receive food during distribution hours.
FoodChain asks visitors to wait until 3:30 pm before lining up. Picnic tables across the street and a bench next to the stairs are available while you wait. Please don't sit on the steps in front of the building, and use the trash cans in the area. Smoking and vaping aren't allowed in line or on the bench by the door. Each person can receive up to 3 meals per visit.
On Mondays and Wednesdays, FoodChain distributes free prepared meals made with fresh, locally grown ingredients. On Fridays, they hand out grocery boxes filled with produce and other items for cooking at home with your family.
Just show up at the front door of FoodChain at 501 W. Sixth St., Suite 105 (at the corner of Jefferson St. and W. Sixth St.) between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Join the line and you'll receive food. No paperwork or questions required.
FoodChain offers a home meal delivery program for people who can't come in person. It's currently full, but you can join the waitlist using the English form or the Spanish form. The waitlist is about a year long.
Each summer, FoodChain runs the USDA Summer Food Service Program, providing free meals to all youth ages 1-18. No registration or income requirements apply. Meals must be eaten on site.
FoodChain also hosts free Community Cooking Classes on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Classes focus on cooking with seasonal, local produce and building kitchen skills. Register at Eventbrite.
The Neighborhood Green Grocery at the same address is a 2,000 sq. ft. community-centered grocery store offering farm-fresh local produce, dairy, eggs, meat, grab-and-go lunches, hygiene products, and pantry basics at affordable prices. Current hours are Tuesday-Wednesday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Thursday-Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (closed Sunday and Monday).
Donations help FoodChain expand its programs and reach more people in the community. You can give online through their donate page, or support them through stocks and appreciated assets, donor-advised funds, planned giving, or qualified charitable contributions from an IRA. For questions about donations, email james@foodchainlex.org.
FoodChain also accepts in-kind donations including leftover 2-inch PVC pipe (used to build aquaponics systems for schools and community centers) and supplies from their Amazon Wishlist. Drop off donations at 501 W. Sixth St., Suite 105, Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
FoodChain relies heavily on volunteers to operate. Volunteers help deliver meals, grow produce on the aquaponics farm, prepare meals, hand out food in the evenings, teach community classes, and represent FoodChain at outreach events.
To get started, email volunteer@foodchainlex.org or visit the volunteer page. A volunteer orientation is available and suggested, but not required before your first shift. Closed-toed shoes and hair up are required in compliance with food safety rules. Children of all ages can volunteer when accompanied by a guardian; those 14 and older may volunteer alone after a parent or guardian completes a waiver. A background check is required for volunteers working in schools, child care centers, or summer youth programs.
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