7 Places to Find Free and Low-Cost Food in and Around Harris County Precinct 4

August 19 2024

It is estimated that one in five children in Texas are affected by food insecurity. For more than 3 million Texas children, school lunch is the only full meal they will eat every day. While many of these children will soon head back to school and receive free lunches due to the National School Lunch Program, the need for free and low-cost groceries still exists.

Harris County Precinct 4 is working with local partners such as the Common Market and the Houston Food Bank to help get food to those who need it most. Harris County Public Health’s Connect program also assists eligible families sign up for federal, state, and local benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Throughout Precinct 4, there are also dozens of organizations and programs dedicated to serving the community by providing free food and resources.

See the list below to find programs and organizations near you:

Common Market: Precinct 4 and The Common Market are distributing local, farm-fresh produce to residents of Harris County to address food insecurity. Registration is required to receive a box of produce, and availability is limited. For details and to register, call or visit one of the community centers below.

Participating community centers:

Bayland: 6400 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77074 | Phone: 713-274-3240
Burnett Bayland: 6026 Chimney Rock Rd, Houston, TX 77081 | Phone: 713-274-4774
Radack: 18650 Clay Rd, Houston, TX 77084 | Phone: 832-927-3000

Houston Food Bank: The Houston Food Bank is the largest food bank in the world and provides food to many programs in the Greater Houston Area. Find a location for food or services near you by using its agency locator found here.

Cy-Fair Helping Hands: Cy-Fair Helping Hands provides residents with access to a community food pantry, toiletries, infant formula, and essential household supplies. The community food pantry is open to residents who require assistance with necessary items, as well as those who are unhoused. Services are available by appointment only. Click here to apply.

Located at 9204 Emmott Road, Houston, TX 77040
Open Monday, Thursday, and the first and third Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries: The Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries is a faith-based organization that provide low-income families with access to its food pantry. Individuals and families that live in the Tomball area with the zip codes 77735 and 77377, are members of their sponsoring churches, or live in within the Tomball Independent School District may access the food pantry.

Located at 300 W Main Street Tomball, TX 77375
Open Tuesday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Mission Bells: Mission Bells is a volunteer-based ministry that assists those facing food insecurity. Its food pantry is open and available to families and unhoused individuals in Harris County. Online registration is required to receive food before coming on site, and you must show your registration card when you arrive. Registration cards can be picked up on Wednesdays from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. upon showing a valid ID.

Open on Tuesdays and Saturdays 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Located at 15325 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77083

West Houston Assistance Ministries (WHAM): WHAM offers food assistance to residents of the Greater Houston area. Its food pantry provides families and individuals with staple and organic goods. WHAM’s services include drive-thru distributions, walkup distributions, and drive-thru food fairs.

Drive-thru distributions: Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Walkup distributions: Thursdays from 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Drive-thru food fairs are open on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Free food is given to the first 250 cars.
Located at 10501 Meadowglen Ln., Houston TX, 77042

My Brother’s Keeper (Outreach Center): My Brother’s Keeper Food Pantry services families and individuals who face food insecurities and require staple pantry items. Walk-ins are available on a first come first serve basis.