There’s never a bad time of year to donate food.
The holidays are when most people think about it, though, and they’re also when pantry lines are longest. Last fall’s federal shutdown stalled SNAP payments for weeks and pushed central Ohio families toward pantries that were already stretched. Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the food bank behind most of the pantries below, now counts more than 500,000 neighbors served and 1.8 million service visits in its latest year, and its CEO told NBC4 in July 2025 that the state budget would pull about $3 million worth of food off its shelves over two years.
Here’s where to give food or money around Columbus, plus where to sign up for a shift. Drop-off addresses and hours come from each organization’s own site. Every listing was checked in September 2026.
Need food instead of giving it? FreshTrak, the locator Mid-Ohio Food Collective uses, lists every partner pantry by zip code, and cap4kids keeps a walk-in pantry directory for Columbus that’s updated regularly. Most of the pantries below also serve neighbors directly, and their pantry hours are listed.
Columbus food pantries at a glance
| Pantry | Where | Drop-off or pantry hours | Give online |
| Mid-Ohio Food Collective | 3960 Brookham Drive, Grove City | Drop off 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Donate |
| LSS Food Pantries | 1460 S. Champion Ave. | Drop off Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to noon | Donate |
| NNEMAP Food Pantry | 677 E. 11th Ave. | Pantry Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 9 a.m. to noon; Thu 3 to 6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Donate |
| Veterans Care Network | Hilliard warehouse (call 614-328-9314) | Drop off Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Site |
| Hope Food Pantry | 3360 Patriot Blvd. | Pantry Thu 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Site |
| NSI Food Pantry | 1950 N. 4th St., Suite J | Pantry Sun 1 to 3 p.m.; Mon to Thu 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Donate |
| Broad Street Food Pantry | 760 E. Broad St. | Pantry Mon to Fri, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. | Donate |
| Clintonville-Beechwold CRC | 14 W. Lakeview Ave. | Drop off Mon to Fri, noon to 4 p.m. | Donate |
| Vineyard Columbus Northside Food Pantry | 4664 Cleveland Ave. | Drop off Thu 1 to 3 p.m.; Sat 8:30 to 11 a.m. | Info |
| Worthington Resource Pantry | 500 Schrock Road | Pantry Mon 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wed 3 to 7 p.m.; Thu 3 to 5 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. to noon | Donate |
| WARM (Westerville) | 150 Heatherdown Drive, Westerville | Drop off Mon to Fri, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; drop box after hours | Site |
| GRIN (Gahanna) | 161 Granville St., Gahanna | Drop off Mon noon to 3 p.m.; Tue to Fri 9 a.m. to noon | Donate |
| Dublin Food Pantry | 6608 Dublin Center Drive, Dublin | Pantry Mon 5 to 7 p.m.; Tue and Thu 10 a.m. to noon; Wed 4 to 6:30 p.m. | Donate |
Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Mid-Ohio Food Collective (the Foodbank’s name since 2020) is the food bank that supplies most of the pantries on this list. It works with more than 600 partner charities across 20 counties, enough food for about 193,000 meals a day by its own count. Cash goes furthest here: the Collective says every $1 donated buys enough food for 2.5 meals. Food donations are taken at the Grove City warehouse, and the current most-needed list is posted as a PDF on the food bank page.
Drop off: 3960 Brookham Drive, Grove City, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More info: Mid-Ohio Food Collective | Donate
LSS Food Pantries
Lutheran Social Services runs storefront pantries and mobile produce distributions in seven Ohio counties, and pantry clients in Franklin and Delaware counties can place their order online before they come in. For donors, the easiest drop-off is the Champion Avenue pantry on the South Side. LSS also keeps Amazon wish lists for its Faith Mission and CHOICES shelters if you’d rather ship than drive.
Drop off: LSS Champion Ave Food Pantry, 1460 S. Champion Ave., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon (closed holidays)
More info: Give food to LSS | Wish lists
NNEMAP Food Pantry
NNEMAP has run a pantry on the near north side since 1969 (the name is short for Near Northside Emergency Material Assistance Program) and now works out of East 11th Avenue. It takes food as well as hygiene and baby supplies, plus money online or by mail, and it keeps an Amazon wish list. Kroger shoppers can also route Community Rewards to NNEMAP by entering the pantry’s name in their account.
Pantry hours: 677 E. 11th Ave. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 9 a.m. to noon; Thursday 3 to 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Check the donate page for current material needs before you drop off.
More info: NNEMAP Food Pantry | Donate
Veterans Care Network (formerly Military Veterans Resource Center)
The Military Veterans Resource Center is now Veterans Care Network, and its old website is gone, but the work is the same: for over twenty years it has helped veterans get back on their feet, and food security is still one of its core services. It takes non-perishable food and clean clothing, plus household items up to furniture and working appliances (no mattresses or medical equipment). Donations go to its Hilliard warehouse on weekdays, and the group asks that you call first at 614-328-9314.
Drop off: Hilliard warehouse, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., by phone arrangement. Service office: 470 W. Broad St.
More info: Veterans Care Network | Material donations
Hope Food Pantry
Hope Food Pantry on Patriot Boulevard is small and volunteer-run, and it opens every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with no appointment needed. It runs on donated food and money and on volunteers, and it feeds hundreds of people a month. The volunteer application is on the site, and the pantry is wheelchair accessible.
Pantry hours: 3360 Patriot Blvd., Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Phone 614-316-7030.
More info: Hope Food Pantry | Volunteer
NSI Food Pantry
Neighborhood Services, Inc. distributed 1,174,831 meals to 24,423 families in 2024, by its own count, out of its pantry at 1950 N. 4th St. It serves a dozen zip codes on the north side and near campus twice a month and the rest of Franklin County once a year. Give online through the site, mail a check to P.O. Box 82331, Columbus 43202, or grab a shift on VolunteerHub. The wish list leans on hygiene items and diapers along with pantry staples.
Pantry hours: 1950 N. 4th St., Suite J. Sunday 1 to 3 p.m.; Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
More info: NSI Food Pantry | Give help | Volunteer
Broad Street Food Pantry
The pantry in the east wing of Broad Street Presbyterian Church is open weekdays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., with drive-through service four days a week and in-person shopping as well. Shelf-stable food donations help it stretch its budget for the expensive stuff like meat, milk, eggs, and produce, and volunteer shifts run weekdays 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. The church’s donate page takes online gifts for the pantry.
Pantry hours: 760 E. Broad St., Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
More info: Broad Street Food Pantry | Donate
Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resource Center
The CRC runs a choice food pantry at 14 W. Lakeview Ave. that’s open Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. Food donations are taken at that building during pantry hours (no clothing or household goods), and checks can go to the administrative office at 3222 N. High St. on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Online giving runs through Qgiv.
Drop off: 14 W. Lakeview Ave., Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m.
More info: Clintonville CRC | In-kind donations | Give online
Vineyard Columbus Northside Food Pantry
Vineyard Columbus runs a walk-in pantry in Northland at 4664 Cleveland Ave. plus a mobile pantry that travels the city. Donations come in through the metal door at the back of the building on Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 to 11 a.m., and the site keeps a running list of what’s short, down to cooking oil and flour.
Drop off: 4664 Cleveland Ave., Thursdays 1 to 3 p.m. and Saturdays 8:30 to 11 a.m. Park in the back.
More info: Vineyard Columbus food pantry donations
Worthington Resource Pantry
Worthington Resource Pantry has connected neighbors to food since 2009 from 500 Schrock Road. Pantry hours are Mondays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesdays 3 to 7 p.m., Thursdays 3 to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon, with full pantry shopping on the third and fourth Saturdays and produce and bread on the others. Money is the simplest gift here, and the site takes one-time or recurring donations.
Pantry hours: 500 Schrock Road. Mondays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Wednesdays 3 to 7 p.m.; Thursdays 3 to 5 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon.
More info: Worthington Resource Pantry | Donate
Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM)
WARM takes donations at 150 Heatherdown Drive in Westerville on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and after hours you can leave non-perishables in the drop box at the front door. The site posts a most-needed list that changes monthly, plus an Amazon wish list and a printable version for food drives.
Drop off: 150 Heatherdown Drive, Westerville, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop box after hours.
More info: WARM | Donate food
Gahanna Residents In Need (GRIN)
GRIN runs a free pantry at 161 Granville St. in Gahanna with pickup lockers out front for pre-ordered boxes, plus a weekend food program for kids. Donations are accepted Mondays from noon to 3 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon, and the food drive page has the details if you want to run a collection.
Drop off: 161 Granville St., Gahanna. Mondays noon to 3 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon.
More info: GRIN | Donate | Food drive info
Dublin Food Pantry
Dublin Food Pantry has been at it since 1976 and served 631,041 meals across 10,487 households in 2025, by its own impact report. It’s a choice pantry at 6608 Dublin Center Drive where customers pick their own items, open Monday 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday 4 to 6:30 p.m. The site keeps a most-needed list and says each dollar buys about 2.5 meals.
Pantry hours: 6608 Dublin Center Drive, Dublin. Monday 5 to 7 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon; Wednesday 4 to 6:30 p.m.
More info: Dublin Food Pantry | Donate
For a fuller list of walk-in pantries by neighborhood, cap4kids keeps a Columbus directory that’s updated regularly.
