Content added Sept. 24, 2025

Hot Meals + Ways to Get Fed. Providing FREE HOT MEALS IN THE PARK! Flyer 9-24-25

We’re a group of happy volunteers who enjoy cooking & bringing free hot meals to area parks several times a month, for anyone who’s hungry. 

1. We come from all faiths and belief systems, and purposely don’t talk about religion so all can feel comfortable at our Neighborhood Table. 

2. We never ask for ID, or check personal details. Not our our business, we’re your neighbors. 

3. We source free food from area grocery stores and our #1 Nationwide award-winning Farmer’s Market that would only be landfilled, Then our cooks turn it into delicious meals for our neighbors.

4. We love to feed folks, and here, in our town, no one goes hungry if we can help it.

5. We cook food FRESH in our own homes before our Meals, and by bulk in a church kitchen once a month, so there’s nothing that’s sat on a shelf for years.

6. We package it all up & bring it to the Gazebo at Flat Branch Park in Columbia, to share with whoever shows up. It's always a party!

Content added June 9, 2025

To participate in Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture’s Produce Prescription Program, you will need to be a patient at Compass Health Network who lives in Boone County and has children 19 and younger in your household. Healthcare providers at Compass Health can then "prescribe" fresh fruits and vegetables to eligible patients. The program is now administered by Columbia Farmers Market, starting January 11, 2025. 

Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture
PO Box 1742
Columbia, MO 65205
(573) 514-4174
Email: info@columbiaurbanag.org

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Content added June 7, 2025

Bountiful Baskets is a food coop to get baskets for fruits and veggies at discount prices. You pick up your basket on Cherry Street and must be on time, 8:15 am. You have to volunteer once per month and set up a free account on their website. Step by step how to get set up details at this link: www.bountifulbaskets.org

Content updated April 18, 2024

The mission of Helping Hands Southern Boone is to unite families in need with resources and donations in the spirit of God’s love.

Helping Hands Free Store
113 E. Broadway
Ashland, MO 65010
(573) 356-1174
Email: helpinghandssoboco@gmail.com

Mondays 2:00-4:00 PM
Tuesdays 2:00-4:00 PM
Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 PM
Thursdays 5:30-7:30 PM
(CLOSED second Thursday of the month)
2nd & 4th Saturdays Each Month 9 AM - 12 PM

Ways to support the Free Store

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Content updated May 29, 2025

This brochure lists some of the resources available in the categories of meals, food, crisis lines, shelters, warming centers, medical clinics, and mental health.

Link to brochure

Our mission is simple: feed families, spread kindness, and strengthen communities. Our global community of Lasagna Love volunteers prepare lasagnas each week and deliver them free of charge and contact-free to the doorstep of local families who have requested a meal. Families can privately sign up to receive a meal (no questions asked!).

Request a lasagna website
Social Handles: @WeAreLasagnaLove (Facebook, Instagram)
Lisa Hade, Regional Director - lisa@lasagnalove.org

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Content updated May 14, 2025

The city of Columbia announced the return of its Summer Lunch Program for children and teenagers younger than 18 on Tuesday, according to a news release.

The program starts June 2 and runs through Aug. 7, excluding June 19 and July 4, which are federal holidays. Meal sites will operate Monday through Friday.

CHA Residents

Content updated Oct. 1, 2025

A visit to the Annie Fisher Food Pantry located at 616 Park Avenue can help growing families in the neighborhood meet their nutritional needs. The food pantry is open every Wednesday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is stocked regularly with food from the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri.

616 Park Avenue
Columbia, MO 65201
(573) 815-1072

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Content updated Sept. 30, 2025

Mobile Pantries distribute food monthly at set locations throughout The Food Bank’s service area. When you attend a Mobile Market, volunteers place your groceries right in your vehicle for you to take home.

To find pantries, locations that share meals or other food resources, check out our complete Food Map. 

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Content updated Jan. 22, 2024

The Hogan House food pantry is open every Sunday, 1–3 pm. People can come during this time and shop (all food is free). It’s preferred that they bring their own boxes or bags. If it is their first time, they will need to fill out some paperwork as we are under the mid Missouri Central food pantry. Each initial visit they will need to check-in but not fill out any more forms.  People are able to come every Sunday!

Food pantry is located at 313 Hogan Drive, Columbia, MO 65201.

Ginger Riley
Hogan House Programs Director
Email: ginger@dosomethingrightnow.org

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Content updated June 18, 2025

Search by location for shelters, food pantries, health clinics and clothing.

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Content updated Sept. 4, 2025

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) division provides income-based nutrition services to pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and children up to their 5th birthday. The WIC staff helps families eat well and stay healthy.

• Breastfeeding support

• Nutrition education and counseling

• Vouchers for healthy foods

• Health screenings

• Risk assessments

• Referrals to health care

• This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Families that qualify for supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) or temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) automatically qualify.

To see if you pre-qualify for WIC services, use this pre-screening tool or call us at 573.874.7384opens phone dialer. WIC appointments can be made over the phone or in person at the WIC office, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1005 W Worley
Columbia, MO 65203
573-874-7355

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Content updated Oct. 1, 2025

The Bare Necessities Pantry is designed to help MACC students access necessary personal care items or small food items they otherwise could not afford. The Bare Necessities Pantry is open to all currently enrolled students at MACC. Each campus location will have items to distribute to students. If you know a student that could benefit from receiving items from the Bare Necessities Pantry, please refer them to the campus contact for information.

Campus Contacts:
Moberly – Jennifer Haynes; Financial Aid Office
Columbia – Katherine Peavler, 573-234-1067
Mexico – Caroline Groves
Hannibal – Wendy Johnson
Kirksville – Denise Farmer

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Seniors, individuals with disabilities or chronic illness.

Content updated Oct. 3, 2025

Meals on Wheels of Columbia is a non-profit organization that aims to extend independence to seniors in our community. Through the help of our many friendly volunteer drivers, we provide a daily M-F hot, nutritious meal to individuals who meet the following criteria:  1. Any senior 65 or over; 2. Any adult who has a diagnosed disability or chronic illness (any age 18+); 3. Any adult needing short-term food support after a recent hospitalization. We serve individuals of all incomes and have a pay what you can model. It is easy and quick to sign up. Complete form on website at www.mealsonwheelscolumbia.org or call to sign up: 573-886-7554.

800 Hospital Drive
Columbia, Mo 65201
Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
573-886-7554
Email: office@mealsonwheelscolumbia.org

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Brunch Every 2nd Sun: 11:30 AM. All are welcome to participate.

204 E. Ash
Columbia, Mo 65203
573-443-5423

Content updated July 26, 2024

To see a list of locations, click here: PDF

Content updated May 11, 2024

Dinner is served from 5:00-6:15 pm everyday of the week. Click here to volunteer to serve and/or donate food items with us!

Open to everyone

Must be sober. No-one admitted under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

1509 Ashley St.
Columbia, MO 65201
573-449-4363

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Updated on: Jan. 24, 2024

Always available. Shelf sustainable foods and hygiene items. Also will be stocking with gently used sweatshirts, sweatpants and socks, gloves, hats, scarves and the like. Free Little Pantries and Blessing Boxes.

Location of the boxes in the area as of 12/30/2023: Visit website

Map of the boxes - Visit website

University of Missouri students, faculty, and staff and MU Healthcare employees

Content updated Nov. 8, 2024

Tiger Pantry and Truman's Closet offers nonperishable and perishable food items at no cost to students, faculty, and staff of the University of Missouri and MU Healthcare employees. Truman's Closet provides professional clothing rentals at no cost to Mizzou-affiliated people.

Hours of operation:
Sunday: 12-2pm
Tuesday: 4:30-6:30pm
Wednesday: 4:30-6:30pm

299 Hitt Street
Columbia, MO 65201
573-882-2704
Email

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All in need of food and supplies

Content updated Oct. 3, 2025

Monthly Food Pantry services available to all in need.
Monthly Open Hours, 2nd Saturday, 10am-12pm
Call for emergency needs between 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday

4919 Prairie Ridge St Columbia, MO 65203
For emergency needs: 573-474-5885

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