Mobile Food Pantries in Lakeland and Polk County

We recognize that over the past two years, many families in our community have been impacted by layoffs, reductions in work hours, or changes to your income. There are food pantries and support systems in place to help at an unprecedented time like this. It is ok to need help.

The United Way of Central Florida’s George W. Jenkins End Hunger Initiative and Feeding Tampa Bay have weekly Mobile Food Pantry stops in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and across Polk County. Other community organizations are also providing weekly food assistance and have food banks in Lakeland and across the county. Below you’ll find a master list of Polk County Food Pantry times and locations, as well as a map to help find a food bank near you.

Many attraction closures and event postponements have been announced beginning September 27 due to Hurricane Ian. We are editing our calendar and articles if we receive notice of event changes, but please be sure to check directly with organizers to confirm any events or activities from September 27 - October 2. A link is provided at the bottom of every event on our calendar and in all articles.

If you are in need of food, visit a mobile food pantry location on the set day and time to pick up a pre-packaged box or bag of groceries, free of charge. They do not require ID, papers, or pre-screening to obtain free food at a Mobile Pantry.

Please note, due to rapidly changing circumstances during this time, mobile pantries can be canceled without much notice. Links are provided to check directly with the source, we are not typically notified about any schedule changes.

Check the United Way of Central Florida Website, Central Florida Health Care, or Feeding Tampa Bay Website for schedule changes.

Table of Contents

Other Community Resources + Assistance Programs

If you need support in other areas – mental health, housing, health care, financial stability, child care – we also have a list of Community Resources and Assistance Programs.

Volunteer at a Food Pantry

Volunteers are needed to help distribute food at each of these locations.
Visit the United Way website to learn more about volunteer opportunities at food distribution sites.
Visit the Feeding Tampa Bay website to sign up for the Mega Pantry at Lakes Church in Lakeland each week.

Polk County Food Pantry Schedule

Below is a list of regularly scheduled food pantries in Polk County, coordinated by the United Way, Central Florida Health Care, and Feeding Tampa Bay. Use this list to find a free food giveaway today.

BE SURE TO CONSULT A CALENDAR. Remember that the stops follow each month’s calendar – for example, the 1st Tuesday may not fall after the 1st Monday if the week starts on a Tuesday.
If there is a holiday, there is most likely not a food pantry that day. Links are provided under the schedule to check with food pantry organizers for updates.

1st Monday

9am – Pilgrim Rest Free Will Baptist Church
1052 N Kettles Ave., Lakeland, FL 33805

1st Tuesday

11am – Blessings & Hope
2150 E. Edgewood Dr., Lakeland, Florida (LINE UP AT HIGHLAND PARK CHURCH – 4730 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33813 – held every Tuesday)

1st Wednesday

10am – Frostproof Care Center
17 Scenic Highway S, Frostproof, FL 33843

4:30pm – Crystal Lake Elementary
700 Galvin Dr., Lakeland, FL 33801

1st Thursday

10am – B Street Community Service Center Lake Wales
230 B Street, Lake Wales, 33853

1st Friday

10am – Wahneta Baseball Park
2816 Rifle Range Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33880

2pm – Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church / Mulberry Community Service Center
306 Southwest 2nd Ave., Mulberry, FL 33860

1st Saturday

9:30am – Central Assembly of God Auburndale
601 Lemon St., Auburndale, FL 33823

2nd Monday

9am – Multiply Christian Church
3900 Lake Blue Dr. Winter Haven, FL 33881

2nd Tuesday

11am – Blessings & Hope
2150 E. Edgewood Dr., Lakeland, Florida (LINE UP AT HIGHLAND PARK CHURCH – 4730 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33813 – held every Tuesday)

12pm – Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine – 600 W. Peachtree Street, Lakeland, FL 33815

2nd Wednesday

2pm – Trinity Worship Center International Ministries
2795 N. 10th St., Haines City, FL 33844

5:30pm – RCMA Mulberry
4440 Academy Drive, Mulberry, FL 33860

2nd Thursday

11am – Peace River Park (HELP of Ft. Meade)
1638 US Hwy 98 E., Fort Meade, FL

1pm – Church Service Center Bartow
495 E Summerlin St, Bartow, FL 33830

2nd Friday

10am – First Missionary Baptist Church
200 Ave R NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881

2nd Saturday

9am – Donald Bronson Community Center in Polk City
124 Bronson Trail, Polk City, FL 33868

3rd Monday

9am – Pilgrim Rest Free Will Baptist Church
1052 N Kettles Ave., Lakeland, FL 33805

3rd Tuesday

11am – Blessings & Hope
2150 E. Edgewood Dr., Lakeland, Florida (LINE UP AT HIGHLAND PARK CHURCH – 4730 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33813 – held every Tuesday)

3rd Wednesday

10am – Frostproof Care Center
17 Scenic Highway S, Frostproof, FL 33843

4:30pm – Crystal Lake Elementary
700 Galvin Dr., Lakeland, FL 33801

3rd Thursday

10am – B Street Community Service Center Lake Wales
230 B Street, Lake Wales, 33853

3rd Friday

3rd Saturday

9:30am – Central Assembly of God Auburndale – 601 Lemon St., Auburndale, FL 33823

4th Monday

9am – Multiply Christian Church
3900 Lake Blue Dr. Winter Haven, FL 33881

4th Tuesday

11am – Blessings & Hope
2150 E. Edgewood Dr., Lakeland, Florida (LINE UP AT HIGHLAND PARK CHURCH – 4730 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33813 – held every Tuesday)

4th Wednesday

2pm – Trinity Worship Center International Ministries
2795 N. 10th St., Haines City, FL 33844

5:30pm – RCMA Mulberry
4440 Academy Drive, Mulberry, FL 33860

4th Thursday

11am – Peace River Park (HELP of Ft. Meade)
1638 US Hwy 98 E., Fort Meade, FL

1pm – Church Service Center Bartow
495 E Summerlin St, Bartow, FL 33830

4th Friday

10am – First Missionary Baptist Church
200 Ave R NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881

4th Saturday

9am – Donald Bronson Community Center
124 Bronson Trail, Polk City, FL 33868

Last Monday

Last Tuesday

12pm – Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine
600 W. Peachtree Street, Lakeland, FL 33815

Last Wednesday

Last Thursday

Last Friday

Last Saturday

Mobile Food Pantry Locations by City

Check for schedule changes and updates:

Lakeland Food Pantries

Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine – 600 W. Peachtree Street, Lakeland, FL 33815
2nd & last Tuesday at 12pm

Crystal Lake Elementary – 700 Galvin Dr., Lakeland, FL 33801
1st & 3rd Wednesday at 4:30pm

Blessings & Hope – 2150 E. Edgewood Dr., Lakeland, Florida 33803
Every Tuesday from 11am – 1pm and every 3rd Saturday 10am-12pm
(LINE UP AT HIGHLAND PARK CHURCH – 4730 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33813)

Pilgrim Rest Free Will Baptist Church – 1052 N Kettles Ave., Lakeland, FL 33805
1st & 3rd Monday at 9am

Other food banks in Lakeland FL can be found at local churches or by calling 211.

Auburndale Food Pantries

Central Assembly of God Auburndale – 601 Lemon St., Auburndale, FL 33823
1st & 3rd Saturday at 9:30am

Mulberry Food Pantries

Mulberry Community Service Center – 306 Southwest 2nd Ave., Mulberry, FL 33860 (located at Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church)
1st & 3rd Friday at 2pm

RCMA Mulberry – 4440 Academy Drive, Mulberry, FL 33860
2nd & 4th Wednesday at 5:30pm

Bartow Food Pantry

Church Service Center Bartow – 495 E Summerlin St, Bartow, FL 33830
2nd & 4th Thursday at 1pm

Winter Haven Mobile Food Pantries

First Missionary Baptist Church – 200 Ave R NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881
2nd & 4th Friday at 10am

Wahneta Baseball Park – 2816 Rifle Range Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33880
1st & 3rd Friday at 10 am

Multiply Christian Church – 3900 Lake Blue Dr. Winter Haven, FL 33881
2nd & 4th Monday at 9am

Polk City Food Pantries

Donald Bronson Community Center in Polk City – 124 Bronson Trail, Polk City, FL 33868
2nd & 4th Saturday at 9 am

Fort Meade Food Bank

Peace River Park (HELP of Ft. Meade) – 1638 US Hwy 98 E., Fort Meade, FL
2nd & 4th Thursday at 11am

Frostproof Food Bank

Frostproof Care Center – 17 Scenic Highway S, Frostproof, FL 33843
1st & 3rd Wednesday at 10am

Lake Wales Food Pantries

B Street Community Service Center – 230 B Street, Lake Wales, 33853
1st & 3rd Thursday at 10 am

Haines City Mobile Food Pantries

Trinity Worship Center International Ministries – 2795 N. 10th St., Haines City, FL 33844
2nd & 4th Wednesday at 2pm

Map – Find a Food Pantry Near Me

Church Food Pantries in Lakeland FL + Polk County FL

There are many churches and community organizations providing assistance and food resources on a weekly basis in our community. To find a church food pantry near you, visit the Feeding Tampa Bay website, select Find a Food Pantry Near You, and search using your zip code. Please note that some organizations do require advance registration.

As food donations continue to fluctuate, please know that different items will be available at different times. Unfortunately, during this time the food banks near you cannot guarantee specific food items or categories. The Feeding Tampa Bay team continues to source whatever food they can and they remain committed to providing a well-rounded box/bag of food for you and your family.

To learn more about the United Way of Central Florida or the George W. Jenkins End Hunger Initiative visit https://uwcf.org/initiatives/endhunger/.

Community Guide

Check out our Community Resources Guide for Lakeland + Polk County to find places to volunteer and donate, community assistance, foster care, and more.

SEE MORE COMMUNITY RESOURCES