How many free food pantries are there in Des Moines, Iowa?

Feed America's directory lists 53 free food pantries, food banks, soup kitchens, mobile pantry sites, and WIC offices in Des Moines, Iowa. Every listing is verified against federal, state, or community data sources.

Do I need to qualify or apply for free food in Des Moines?

Most food pantries in our directory are walk-in and free — no income proof, application, or appointment needed. A few specialized programs (like WIC) require eligibility verification. Each location page tells you what to bring.

What hours are food pantries in Des Moines open?

Hours vary by location. Many pantries operate 1–2 days per week, often weekday mornings or Saturday mornings. Always call before visiting — hours can change with no notice. If a pantry shows "Open Now" on our site, that's based on its published schedule.

Can I get food today in Des Moines, Iowa?

Call 211 first — it's free, 24/7, and the dispatcher can route you to a pantry open right now or to an emergency food box. Soup kitchens (which serve hot meals) also operate same-day in most cities. We list both on this page.

Are there mobile pantries in Des Moines?

Mobile pantries are pop-up food distributions that change location week to week. Look for "mobile pantry" tagged listings on this page — they include the upcoming distribution location and time.

Is Feed America affiliated with the local food bank in Des Moines?

Feed America (feedam.org, EIN 92-1761881) is an independent 501(c)(3) directory. We are not affiliated with any local food bank. We aggregate publicly-available data from food banks, USDA, HRSA, and community sources to make finding help easier. For full nonprofit disambiguation, see /disclosures.

All States › Iowa › Des Moines

Food Pantries in Des Moines, IA

53 free food locations

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Des Moines, IA, Des Moines, IA 50301

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Verified 31d ago

Food Pantries in Des Moines, IA

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Food Bank of Iowa

Food Bank of Iowa

MovetheFood - Food Distribution Center

St. Vincent de Paul - South

Baptist Convention of Iowa Hunger Ministries - SBC

Bethel Mission

Bond of Unity Food Pantry

CFUM - Children & Family Urban Movement

Catholic Charities Food Pantry (DMARC)

Catholic Charities St. Mary

Central Iowa Shelter and Services

Community Kitchen

Community Youth Concepts

Creative Visions

DMARC-ket

Drake Area Food Pantry

EMBARC Iowa

Eastview Community Center (DMARC)

Food Bank of Iowa

Freedom for Youth Ministries

Friendship Baptist Center

Grand View University - Henning Student Center

Harbor of Hope

Iglesia del Nazareno

Joppa

Knock and Drop Iowa Food Pantry

MovetheFood

New City Church DSM

Polk County River Place (DMARC)

Polk County River Place Food Pantry

Proteus Inc. Food Pantry

Ruth Harbor

Sandy McNamar Memorial Food Pantry

St. Theresa Catholic Church

The Salvation Army - E 25Th Court Corps

The Salvation Army - E Court Ave

The Salvation Army - E Euclid Ave

The Salvation Army - Se 14Th St

The Well Covenant Church

True Vine HELPS

Urban Dreams

Watchmen Food Pantry

YMCA Supportive Housing Campus

YSS - Iowa Homeless Youth Centers

Young Women's Resource Center

Dream Center Des Moines

Families Forward Bidwell Pantry

Catholic Charities Outreach Center

Des Moines Community Action Agency

Salvation Army Citadel (East)

St. Vincent de Paul - North

Bidwell Riverside Center

More food pantries in Iowa

Apply for monthly food benefits in Iowa