How to Get Free Food
Sometimes when you run out of food it can be easier and cheaper to find free food. There are more ways to get free food than you think.
Let’s take a look at some of the places to get delicious food at no charge to you.
A food pantry is a place that provides free food to local members in its community. In the United States, Feeding America provides distributes over 4.3 billion meals each year. So if you need help, don’t worry. You are not alone.
Go here to find the food pantry nearest to you.
Restaurants
Most restaurants can’t keep a lot of the food they sell overnight. Try going to a restaurant just before they close and see if they have any leftover food. If you ask nicely they are more likely to help you out.
Free Samples
Some stores will offer free samples of their products. They can offer everything from sandwiches to snacks and coffee. It all depends on what kind of store it is.
The larger the store is, the less likely they will care if you ask for extra samples. Places like Costco, Trader Joe’s, or Walmart are good places to get free food.
Food Dumpster
Many restaurants and markets have food dumpsters. These dumpsters will often have packaged and boxed food inside.
This should only be an extreme last resort because it means that you have to dig through some garbage.
Coupons and Rewards Programs
If you collect enough coupons you may be able to get free food and other products.
Take a look through the store’s catalogs and cut out any coupons offered in them. Once you collect enough of them you can go to the cashier and turn them in.
Rewards programs are a good way to get free food as well. Since stores normally only let you use one coupon per item, it’s a good idea to see what kind of rewards program a store offers.
Work at a Restaurant
Restaurants usually give their employees extra food at the end of the night, so it’s a good idea to see which ones are hiring in your area.
If you have no experience working at a restaurant, don’t worry. If you’re willing to learn and put in the work, a lot of them will train you first. Then you can make money while also getting free food.
Free Events
Check around your area to see what kind of events are happening. Many concerts, art exhibits, and religious services offer free food to anyone that goes.
Sometimes private events will have food catered, and if you go when they’re finishing up they may have extra food for you.
New Stores
When a new supermarket, restaurant, or other store opens up they sometimes have free food to attract customers. Look to see if any new places are opening up in your area.
Now that you know about many ways to get free food, it’s time to plan your next free meal. And remember to reach out to your local food bank if you really need food. You can also apply for SNAP benefits.