How to Get Free Food when You Have No Money

There are some good ways to get food if you should become jobless, or even homeless, and find you just don't have enough income to buy much, or any, food.

Most people have some savings or other resources to live on should they lose their job, but others are already living to close to the edge of disaster and a job loss would equal tragedy for them.

Using some or all of the following ideas for free food, at least you would still be able to eat, until you get back on your feet again.

Apply for Food Stamps immediately. (I believe they have a new name in many states but the program is the same.) You will undoubtedly qualify and may get food stamps right away if you have no food or are homeless, so be sure to let the people at the food stamp office know that when you apply. Do a google search for "food stamps" and information and your areas food stamp locations will be on the web site. You can also look up what paperwork you will need with you when you apply.

Apply for a food box from your local food pantry. You can only do this once a month as a rule but a box of food from a food pantry can be a real lifesaver when you really need help.
If you don't know where to go to get a food box, ask at your local food stamp office, your areas library information desk, and at local churches. Most of these places will know where you can get a food box and will often have a sheet listing all your area food pantry's.

Go to a local soup kitchen as often as they will let you. Some soup kitchens are only open once a week, or even less, while others are open daily, so you'll have to do some research to find out the hours at your local soup kitchens. Again, area churches often know where the soup kitchens are, and in fact many times the soup kitchens are located in a church. But if not, they usually know where to find them, so ask.

If you are homeless and are able to stay in a homeless shelter, they usually provide a meal or two every day for their residents.

Glean for food. This means asking local farmers if you can pick the fruits or vegetables that are left in the fields or orchards after the pickers are done harvesting for the farmer.

Gleaning can also mean things like dumpster diving behind grocery stores, bakeries, bread stores, bakeries, fast food establishments, and restaurants for food.
I've never done this but there is a big movement of people who do. They call themselves Freegans. If you do this, remember to be safe. Fresh vegetables and fruits should be fine, as well as packaged breads and bakery products, but meats and dairy products and freezer items are probably better left alone.

Go to your local farmers markets or Saturday markets at the very end of the day. Ask if they can let you have the leftover veggies and fruits for a good price. Often they will just let you have some food, or charge you very little to take some of their food home with you. It saves them packing it up to take home with them, and it is usually good wholesome produce, often organic.

Freecycle and craigslist sometimes have people posting in the free sections offering excess garden produce, fruit, or even bags or boxes of food from somebodies kitchen who is moving but can't be bothered packing the food to take with the, Keep your eyes open for these deals and call right away to tell them you want the food. The only thing is, you will need transportation to pick up the food and get it to your own place.

Eat free food samples in grocery stores.

Enter free grocery contests in grocery stores. This usually requires at least a telephone number and address. Along this same line, enter any restaurant meal contests you run across too.

Keep your eyes open for any free food offerings from fast food places. These are always changing so you just have to notice them when they are doing the promotion and follow up right away.

Some places offer free desserts, or even a free meal, on your birthday. Ask around, you never know which restaurant or fast food place does this unless you ask. You'll need ID to show proof that it really is your birthday.

Tell all your family members and friends that you are having a hard time financially and would welcome any food that they won't be eating or don't want. This one requires swallowing your pride a bit.

Some people gather free fruit from fruit trees in peoples yards or gardens that is just going to waste otherwise. Always ask the homeowners permission first before picking any fruit, or helping yourself.
Often the homeowner can't be bothered, but will be glad of your help in getting the fruit off of their lawn or property, so it's a win-win situation.