How to Use the Find Food Map to Find Free Food Near You

Feeding San Diego hosts free food distributions throughout San Diego County. We work with hundreds of partners to provide food assistance at a variety of convenient locations, including churches, schools, and community centers. If you’re wondering, “How do I find free food near me?” our Find Food Map is a helpful resource to locate a distribution near you. The map is easy to use and available to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

How It Works

You can navigate to the Find Food Map in two ways. You can enter the URL feedingsandiego.org/find-food/ directly or click the “Find Help” button on any page on our website. Once on the page, you’ll see the map.

The Find Help button is orange and is part of the top navigation of each page.

There are several ways to use the map. You can:

1. Scroll through the list of distributions on the left-hand side of the map. This list contains all Feeding San Diego and partner distributions open to the public.
2. Click on the blue dots on the map itself to zoom in on locations.
3. Filter the list of distributions by entering your zip code or the name of a distribution into the search field that says, “Enter a location.” You can also select how wide an area you would like to search using the dropdown next to the search field. By default, the search radius is set to ten miles.

In this view, the map is filtered to show food distributions within 10 miles of zip code 92121.

You can also filter the results by whether the distribution is a walk-up or drive-through site. For some distributions, you are expected to stay in your vehicle. These are considered drive-through distributions. For others, you will be expected to walk through the distribution. Some sites offer both walk-up and drive-through options.

Check the Descriptions for More Details

When you review the free food distributions available near you, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Day of Distribution: Some distributions are weekly, while others occur on a specific day each month. For example, a distribution may take place on the second Tuesday of each month. Make sure to confirm the distribution is open before heading there.
• Registration: Most of our distributions do not require registration. However, some require you to call first or make an appointment. Keep an eye out for a “Call First” label.
• Requirements: Some distributions are restricted to certain demographics or area codes. A distribution may be for seniors only or require you to show a military ID to receive food. Others require you to live within certain zip codes. Be sure to confirm that the distribution you plan to attend is open to all, or that you meet their requirements, before you go.
• Distribution Time: Most distributions are first-come, first-served. They often close once food runs out, which may be before the scheduled end time.
• Groceries Available: Each distribution is different, and we cannot guarantee what food will be available on any given day. The majority of our distributions provide fresh produce. Some also provide pantry staples. Certain distributions serve hot meals. Since a large percentage of what we provide is donated or rescued surplus food, what’s available will vary.

An example of a distribution with a “Call First” label

Get Help When and Where You Need It

With distributions and partners across the county, Feeding San Diego offers a range of distribution options. The Find Food Map is an excellent tool for finding free food near you. However, if you still need more help, you can call 858.452.3663 to speak to our community advocate during our office hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday). For other resources, you can call 2-1-1 or visit 211sandiego.org.