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Food pantries Asheville and Buncombe County

Updated October 21, 2025 • 9 min read • 1,784 words
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Food pantries and free groceries in Asheville and Buncombe County.

  • number of Asheville NC area churches, pantries, charities and food banks offer free groceries to low income families and people with no money in the region. There are a free food distribution centers near you that operate across Buncombe County North Carolina, many that are open today. The pantries give out free food boxes, meals, groceries, and other good such as baby formula, diapers, or toiletries.

Locate a free Buncombe County food pantry near you. The exact types of assistance provided will vary by food pantry or soup kitchen. In general, some of the services provided will range from free groceries, perishable items, and government surplus food to meals for the homeless or single mothers. The increasing number of senior citizens as well as retirees in Buncombe County can also apply for Meals on Wheels at a center. There is a referral number at the bottom of the page for information on drive thru food banks, USDA benefits, SNAP Food Assistance applications and other benefits. Even look here for free dog food for low-income families . Other locations may provide personal hygiene items, free holiday food baskets, or cat or dog food. Soup kitchens at the Buncombe County food pantries also serve meals to the homeless and struggling, including free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners or food baskets. When facing a difficult period (whether short or long term), these Asheville food pantries are a great resource.

Charities for free food in Buncombe County NC

Calvary Episcopal Church

Location - 2840 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher, North Carolina 28732. Phone number - (828) 684-6266 Services provided include free food, groceries, meals, and more. Open limited hours, and groceries are only distributed at certain times.

Foster Seventh Day Adventist Church Community Services

There is a Food Pantry/Clothing Closet at 375 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC 28803. Telephone number - (828) 274-2014 Both clothing and free food is offered to the low income, needy, children, and others in the community. Can be work clothes, or items for school aged children as well. There may also be pasta, sauce, cereal, and other non-perishable grocery supplies.

Emmanuel Lutheran Church

  • Wilburn Pl, Asheville, NC 28806. Call (828) 252-1795
  • free pantry helps the homeless, working poor and struggling in Buncobme County. Examples of what is given out includes Diced tomatoes, pasta, bread, baby formula, Ensure for the elderly and more. Reduced salt food is often on site too.

Biltmore Church of Christ

823 Fairview Street, Asheville, NC 28803. Dial - ((828) 702-8709

  • number of Buncombe County families receive help from this food bank every year.

Victory Fellowship Worship Center

Food pantry address is 450 Aiken Road, Asheville, North Carolina 28804. Call (828) 243-3088 or (828) 243-3088 Call for vegetables, breads, boxed foods, and other commodities.

Salvation Army - Buncombe County

204 Haywood Street, Asheville, NC 28801. Main phone number - (828) 253-4723 The social service organization has both a Food Pantry and Clothing Closet. In addition, apply for free grocery cards, personal toiletries and get referrals to other support. There are also holiday assistance programs, including free Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas and Easter meals, and even toys for kids in Buncombe County. More on Buncombe County Salvation Army assistance programs .

MANNA FoodBank

627 Swannanoa River Rd, Asheville, NC 28805. Dial (828) 299-3663 They offer referrals only as well as applications to government aid, such as SNAP food stamps, WIC vouchers, and other USDA services. Or learn about free food pantries, soup kitchens, and feeding sites in Buncombe County.

Western Carolina Rescue Ministries

225 Patton Ave., Asheville, North Carolina 28801. Telephone number is (828) 254-0471 Assistance programs include hot community meals, shelter, hygiene supplies and more.

Catholic Social Services - Buncombe County

  • Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801. Call (828) 255-0146

Help is offered for all who need support, regardless of religion or background. Food, meals, and other aid is offered too. There is also shelter, hot meals including a dinner for the homeless, winter blankets, and other supplies.

Loving Food Resources

123 Kenilworth Rd, Asheville, NC 28803. Dial (828) 255-9282 Free canned and fresh food is at the food bank. There is also fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy, yogurt, and low sodium foods for people with a medical need.

Asheville Library Food Bank

It is run in partnership with the YMCA at 749 Fairview Road, Asheville, NC 28803. Call 828-210-9622

Jewish Family Services of WNC

Location is 53 S French Broad Ave, Asheville, NC 28801. Call (828) 253-2900 Both Kosher and non-Kosher groceries and food is offered. There are also Meals on Wheels home delivery for the homebound in Asheville.

Biltmore Church of God Food Pantry

Address: 1390 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, North Carolina 28803. Telephone: (828) 274-7351 Lunch at the Crossroads, First Baptist Church of Asheville Address - 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC 28801. Phone number - (828) 252-4781 Hot and cold meals are distributed to the needy.

Big Ivy Community Center

Address is 540 Dillingham Road, Barnardsville, NC 28709. Call (828) 626-3438

Trinity Of Fairview Food Pantry

646 Concord Road, Fletcher, NC 28732. Main number - (828) 628-1188

Zephyr Hills Freewill Baptist

Food pantry address is 283 Shelburne Rd., Asheville, NC 28806. Call (828) 253-5487 Everything from groceries to hygiene supplies, paper goods, household cleaning items and more is offered to the poor and struggling.

The Downtown Welcome Table-Haywood St Congregation

297 Haywood St, Asheville, North Carolina 28801. Main number: (828) 575-2477

Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry

Location is 101 N. Ridgeway Ave., Black Mountain, North Carolina 28711. Call (828) 669-9404 They support the Black Mountain area. Free food, clothes, Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas meals and more are offered. The poor, seniors, and others can get help. Meals on Wheels is available as well.

Go-kitchen Ready

Address is 133 Livingston Street Asheville, NC 28801 For information, call (828) 398-4158

  • daily meal is served. They also provide food and free meals at Christmas as well as Thanksgiving. This charity is a soup kitchen.

Ivy Hill Missionary Baptist Church

414 Ivy Hill Rd, Weaverville, Nc 28787. Main phone (828) 626-2112

New Beginning Baptist Church

  • Marlowe Dr, Mills River, NC 28759. Call (828) 891-6687

Skyland UMC

1984 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803. Call (828) 684-7283 Council on Aging of Buncombe County

  • Sheffield Cir, Asheville, NC 28803. Call (828) 277-8288

Family Resource Center at Emma, Children First / CIS of Buncombe County

  • Brickyard Road, Asheville, NC 28806. Call (828) 252-4810

Programs for families are administered. They also offer summer snacks for kids, including when on holiday and during summer months.

Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM)

  • Cumberland Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. Telephone - (828) 259-5300

This is the so called Main Crisis Ministry of Buncombe County North Carolina. They can refer people and help individuals apply for programs such as WIC and food stamps, pet food and other financial assistance. They also work with local churches and food pantries to provide groceries, meals, hygiene supplies, and much more for the low income, seniors, and disabled. More on Asheville ABCCM programs

. There are other locations too, including:

ABCCM

  • Hominy Valley, 1914 Smoky Park Highway, Candler, North Carolina 28715, call (828) 670-1221

ABCCM

  • North Buncombe Samaritan Ministries, 403 Weaverville Hwy., Asheville, NC 28804, dial (828) 259-5303

ABCCM

  • South Ministry, 10 Buck Shoals Road, Arden, NC 28704

North Buncombe Samaritan Ministry

, Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM). Main office is 403 Weaverville Highway, Asheville, NC 28804. Phone number - (828) 645-6141 or (828) 259-5303. This non-profit is part of the organization listed above.

Be Loved House Hospitality

Soup kitchen address is 39 Grove St. Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 242-8261 They serve a community meals. It can feed the homeless, poor, elderly, and even anyone that wants company. Additional food assistance programs in Buncombe County and Asheville are available to people in need. The goal is on hunger prevention. There are referrals to other local emergency Buncombe County food pantries as well as soup kitchens near you. Low income families can also get free help in applying for SNAP food stamps (including for the elderly), Meals on Wheels, free school lunch programs for kids, WIC vouchers and much more. In addition, the MANNA helpline can be reached at 1-800-820-1109 Food for Fairview, offered from the Fairview Community Center 1357 Charlotte Highway, Fairview, North Carolina 28730. Call (828) 628-4322

Calvary Chapel of Asheville

Address: 900 West Chapel Road Asheville, North Carolina 28803 Dial - (828) 277-7703 Meals for senior citizens, shelter, and information on local charities and food programs are offered.

Flat Creek Baptist Church

  • Flat Creek Church Rd, Weaverville, NC 28787. Call (828) 778-0909

Perishable and non-perishable items are at the free food pantry.

Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church

Location is 238 S. French Broad Ave. Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 298-6121 Struggling Buncombe County families can get help. Free groceries, holiday meals, hygiene supplies, and even clothes may be offered.

Oakley Baptist Church

Location is 70 Fairview Avenue, Asheville, NC 28803. Dial (828) 274-3221 to reach the church.

  • food bank helps low income families facing an emergency. Find free baby formula, diapers, vouchers to acquire groceries, and much more.

Family of Faith Fellowship

Address: 213 Long Shoals Road Arden, North Carolina 28704 Phone number - (828) 684-2158 The church provides guidance, access to food pantry, and support.

Zephyr Hills Freewill Baptist

Food pantry address 283 Shelburne Rd., Asheville, North Carolina 28806. Telephone number is (828) 550-8494 or (828) 253-5487 There may be a variety of free groceries. Cereal, milk, pasta, rice, crackers, and more may be offered to the low income.

Bethel Seventh Day Adventist

Address is 238 South French Broad Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 252-8105

Montmorenci UMC

Soup kitchen and pantry - 89 Old Candler Town Road, Candler, NC 28715. Dial (828) 667-1211

Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church

Main address is 56 Walton Street, Asheville, NC 28801. Telephone number - (828) 255-0054 When resources are available, the pantry may have perishable items, holiday meals, canned goods, and much more is provided.