The Food Bank Market

Who Can Visit?

You are welcome at The Food Bank Market if you live in Boone County and need help getting enough nutritious food for yourself and your household. Groceries are always free.

The Sharing Room is open to anyone in the community — no check-in required — any time The Market is open. If you just need to grab a few perishable items, you can stop by without going through the regular shopping process.

How to Register?

When you shop through the main pantry, staff will ask for your name, address, birthdate, household income, and some other basic information. No paperwork is required. Bringing a photo ID and a list of the names and birthdates of everyone in your household can speed up intake, but neither is mandatory. The Market will not sell or share your personal information.

Items Needed for Registration

Nothing is required to visit. A photo ID and a list of household members' names and birthdates are optional but can make check-in faster.

How Often You Can Visit?

The Market does not publish a limit on visit frequency. You can also use the Sharing Room any time The Market is open, separate from your regular shopping visits.

Good to Know

The Market is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The Market is closed on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (Thursday through Saturday), Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

The Market may also open late, close early, or close entirely due to bad weather or staff training days. Check the website (sharefoodbringhope.org) or their Facebook page for notices before you visit.

A visitor guide is available in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.

Food & Essentials

The Market regularly offers fresh and frozen produce, bread, dairy, meat and non-meat proteins, and shelf-stable items. Stock varies by visit.

The Sharing Room also makes perishable items available at no cost, no check-in needed, whenever The Market is open. Take only what your household can use.

How to Pick Up

The Market operates like a grocery store — you choose the items you take home (self-select). After you check in, you receive a color-coded shopping list based on your household size that tells you how many items you can choose from each food category. The shopping floor is color-coded to match. Staff are on the floor to answer questions and help bag your groceries.

Additional Support

Several community agencies visit The Market on a regular basis to offer services on-site:

• Compass Health — Walk-in medical services Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon. Call (844) 853-8937 or visit compasshealthnetwork.org for details.
• Lutheran Family and Children's Services — Resources supporting child development and healthy family relationships.
• Mid-Missouri Legal Services — Free civil legal help for low-income residents, including domestic violence and family law, landlord/tenant issues, public benefits, and record expungement.
• Missouri Department of Social Services — Information on state assistance programs and how to apply.
• WIC (Women, Infants and Children) — Federal nutrition benefits for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five.
• Services for Independent Living — Support for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, including mobility equipment and transportation help.
• VA (Unsheltered Veterans) — VA representatives help veterans experiencing homelessness connect with available services.
• Centerstone ERE (Behavioral Health) — Drop-in specialist helps guests identify and access behavioral health, physical health, and basic needs resources.
• Spectrum Health Care — Compassion-focused clinic navigating gaps in healthcare access.
• Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture — Cooking demonstrations featuring fresh, locally grown produce (seasonal).
• Parents as Teachers — Free developmental and educational support for families with children from infancy through pre-K (Columbia Public Schools program).

Cooking Matters nutrition classes run on-site as a free 6-week program teaching healthy cooking and budget grocery shopping. Participants receive ingredients for each weekly recipe session.

Market2Meal food tastings and recipes are also available to boost your food prep and nutrition know-how.

Resource Navigation connects you with a staff member who can help find community resources tailored to your needs.

VIP Veteran Packs are distributed monthly at The Market. Veterans can also participate in activities like cornhole and connect with community resources at the Community Center during distribution events.

Ways to Give

You can support The Food Bank Market by donating online at sharefoodbringhope.org/donate, organizing a food or fund drive, sponsoring as a business, or making a planned gift. Farm and garden produce donations are also welcome through the Farm and Field and Garden Giving programs.

How to Join the Team?

Volunteers age 16 and older are welcome at The Market. No prior experience is needed. Two main roles are available:

• Customer Service — Greet guests, help with sign-in, guide shoppers through checkout, and bag groceries.
• Warehouse — Move and restock items, sort donations, glean produce, and sanitize surfaces.

Warehouse volunteers should be able to lift boxes over 30 pounds. Accommodations are available — contact the volunteer team at (573) 447-6620 or volunteer@sharefoodbringhope.org. First-time volunteers are encouraged to take the New Volunteer Training; check with Market staff for details.