The holiday season is a time for celebration, generosity, and community, but it can also bring financial and emotional stress for many families in our community. Whether you’re looking for the food banks, volunteer opportunities, or gifts, Waco has a wide range of holiday resources available. Here’s your complete guide to holiday food resources in Waco, Texas!
Holiday Food Pantries and Meal Assistance in Waco
No one should go hungry during the holidays. There are several food assistance programs and food banks in Waco to help individuals and families in need or at risk of food insecurity.
Caritas of Waco
Caritas of Waco exists to provide urgent support to those in need in the community. In addition to their food assistance program, they also offer a variety of emergency services. This holiday season, Caritas is a fantastic resource not only for food services but also for holiday toy assistance and utility bill help in the cold winter months.
- How to Receive Food: Visit the Caritas food pantry in-person. Reservations are not required but they are an option. You can make a reservation in person or by phone at (254)-640-0906.
- Eligibility Requirements: Anyone is welcome to visit the Caritas food pantry. The amount of food distributed is dependent on your household size.
- Location: 300 South 15th St., Waco, Texas 76701
- Hours: The pantry is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Important reminder that Caritas pantry stops accepting clients 15 minutes before closing to finish serving those already inside.
- Holiday Volunteer Opportunity: If you are looking for last minute holiday gifts, consider stopping by Caritas Treasures Resale Store. All proceeds from the shop help fund the Caritas programs.
For more information on additional services and holiday help this season, visit the Caritas website.
Shepherd’s Heart
Shepherd’s Heart partners with churches, schools, and medical centers throughout the greater Waco area with 18 mobile food pantry distributions each month. They are an excellent resources this holiday season and also have an abundance of voulnteer opporuntities.
- How to Receive Food: Shepherd Heart’s offers two options for food pick-up. The first is to visit one of their mobile food pantries. For updates on the location and hours of mobile pantries, visit Shepard Heart’s online calendar. Additionally, visitors can pick up food at the Shepard Heart’s Bellmead Pantry.
- Eligibility Requirements: Anyone is welcome to visit Shepard Heart’s mobile pantry or Bellmead pantry.
- Location: For mobile pantry locations, visit the Shepard Heart online calendar. The Bellmead Pantry can be found at St Paul Lutheran Church on Wheeler St. next to the LaVega Elementary School.
- Hours: To find times for mobile food pantry distributions, visit the Shepard Heart online calendar. The Bellmead Pantry is open Tuesday through Thursday from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
- Holiday Volunteer Opportunity: Consider supporting Shepard Heart’s toy assistance program this holiday by purchasing a gift for a child in your community. Visit any of Shepard Heart’s registries to explore gift options.
For more information on additional services and holiday help this season, visit the Shepard Heart’s website.
Salvation Army Waco Corps
The Salvation Army Waco Corps is providing an abundance of help this holiday season. From free take-out meals, to their angle tree program, to housing assistance, Salvation Army is ready to meet immediate needs this winter. Those in need of food assistance should visit both the Salvation Army community kitchen and food pantry.
- How to Receive Food: Salvation Army had two ways to receive food this holiday season. One is to visit the community kitchen where free-meals are provided three times a day. Salvation Army also has a food pantry where they distribute groceries, formula, baby food, and hygiene items.
- Eligibility Requirements: Anyone with valid ID is welcome to stop by Salvation Army to pick up a free meal at their community kitchen.
- Location: The Salvation Army community kitchen can be found at 300 Webster Ave Waco, TX. The pantry can be found at 4721 West Waco Drive Waco, TX 76710.
- Hours: A cold breakfast is served at the community kitchen Monday through Saturday from 7:00 to 7:30am. Hot breakfast is served on Sunday from 8:00 to 9:00. Lunch is served Monday and Tuesday from 12:00 to 12:30pm and dinner is every evening from 5:30 to 6:15pm. The pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
- Holiday Volunteer Opportunity: This holiday season, consider participating in Salvation Army’s angle tree program, giving you the opportunity to shop for holiday gifts for kids in your community. For more information on how to get involved, check out their website.
For more information on additional services and holiday help this season, visit the Waco Corps Salvation Army website.
Meals on Wheels Waco
Meals on Wheels is seeks to provide food assistance to those who are homebound and unable to prepare themselves nutritious meals. This holiday season, if you are someone who is or unable to leave your home, this is a amazing resource. Meals on Wheels also delivers pet-food to make sure you and sure you and your furry friend stay happy and healthy this winter!
- How to Receive Food: To apply for the Meals on Wheels program, submit your application through the Meals on Wheels Waco website.
- Eligibility Requirements: To qualify for the program individuals must be homebound and unable to get into a vehicle without the assistance of someone else, unable to prepare nutritious meals, socially isolate, and live in McLennan, Falls or Hill counties. A social worker will assess all applicants to ensure that eligibility requirements are met.
- Location: Meals on Wheels unique programs delivers meals right to your door.
- Hours: Program participants must be available to receive meals between 10:30am and 12:30pm.
- Holiday Volunteer Opportunity: Sign up to volunteer with Meals on Wheels this season and use a little bit of your time off from work or school to deliver warm meals to seniors across Waco.
For more information on how Meals on Wheels can support you this holiday season, visit their website.
For more information on local Waco food pantry and assistance programs, visit Prosper Waco for a full list of food resources.
The Gift of Giving
One thing each of these outstanding organizations have in common is a need for volunteers and donations. This winter, if you are lucky enough to have an abundance of food on your holiday table, consider supporting food banks in Waco by offering your time, giving financially, or dropping off resources. In this season of giving, let us be reminded to care for those most in need to ensure a sense of celebration, generosity, and community is enjoyed by every member of our community this holiday season.
