Food Resources:
Channel One Regional Food Bank (Food Shelf & Grocery Delivery) 507.287.2350
131 35th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904
Provides indoor shopping Monday–Thursday (8 a–6 p) and Friday (8 a–noon). Weekly visits are allowed. If you are new to Channel One, registration takes a few minutes. No appointment is needed, and no identification, proof of address, proof of income, or proof of household size is required.
https://www.helpingfeedpeople.org/
125 Live Community Center Pantry 507.287.1404
125 Elton Hills Dr NW, Rochester MN 55901 Lower Level
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 1:00pm – 2:30pm and Saturday 11:30 am –12:30 pm. No income requirements; one bag per household. Open to all Members and the public, targeting older adults. Photo ID required.
https://125livemn.org/food-pantry/
Hosanna Food Ministries (Hosanna’s Pantry) 507.285.0092
2815 57th ST NW, Rochester MN
Monthly pantry (4th Saturday of the month 9:00–11:30am) distributing food & personal-care items. https://www.hosannalutheran.org/hosanna-food-ministries
Life Gate Pantry 507.206.3174
1310 10th Ave NE, Rochester MN
1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month 10:00am - 12:00 (noon). African and Hispanic cultural foods are included in the food served. Follow on Facebook at LifeGate Services.
Oasis Church 507.289.8596
3819 18th Ave NW Rochester, MN 55901
Every 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00am - 11:30am Grocery’s & Warm meal.
https://www.oasisrochester.org/supermarket-saturday
Pamoja Pantry 507.226.8101
829 3rd Ave SE Ste 205, Rochester MN
We partner with Channel One Food Bank to offer hot, culturally appropriate meals (East African) and a food pantry stocked with culturally appropriate foods.
Ruby’s Pantry
Ruby’s Pantry is for anyone that is looking to extend their monthly grocery budget. For a $25 bundle donation, you will receive an abundance of groceries. There is no income or residency requirement. Guests can attend as many locations each month that work for their schedule.
Rochester MN, Holy Cross Lutheran Church 2703 9th Ave NW, 2nd Saturday of the month. Registration begins at 9:00am. Food bundles are available 9:00am-10:30am.
St. Charles MN, Brookwood Park, 272 West 1st Street, 2nd Thursday of the month. Registration begins at 4:00pm. Food bundles are available 4:00pm-5:30pm.
Zumbrota MN, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 1549 East Ave, Zumbrota MN, 1st Saturday of the Month. Registration beings at 9:00am. Food bundles available 9:00am-10:00am
The Salvation Army Food Pantry 507.288.3663
115 1st Ave NE, Rochester MN
Food Shelf Tuesday & Friday 10:00am - 3:30pm
Bread Shelf Mon-Friday stocked at 8:00am on Wednesdays
https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/northern/rochester/programs-and-services/
Little Pantries in Rochester
Northwest – 55901
Family Promise Rochester, 913 1st St NW, Rochester
Forager Little Free Pantry 1005 6th St NW, Rochester
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Little Pantry 1212 12th Ave NW, Rochester
Hosanna Lutheran Church Helping Hands Pantry, 2815 57th St NW, Rochester
Southwest - 55902
Christ United Methodist 400 5th Ave SW, Rochester
People of Hope 3703 Country Club Road Southwest, Rochester
Zumbro Lutheran Church mini pantry, 624 3rd Ave SW, Rochester
Southeast - 55904
Hope Summit Christian Church 1315 6th Ave SE, Rochester
Next Chapter Ministries 720 3rd Ave SE, Rochester
Redeemer Lutheran Church Little Free Pantry 869 7th Ave SE, Rochester
Slatterly Neighborhood Little Free Pantry 869 7th Ave SE, Rochester
Northeast - 55906
Recovery Is Happening 25 16th St NE, Rochester
https://www.facebook.com/LittleFreePantriesofRochesterMN/
Free Bread
Great Harvest Bread
North Broadway and 2483 Commerce Drive NW
Walk in and take what you need from the shelf that is labeled.
Salvation Army Bread Pantry 507.288.3663
115 1st Ave NE, Rochester, MN
Guests are welcome to take bread from our free bread pantry stocked at 8:00am Monday – Friday.
Pet Pantries
Hawthrone Education Center (Pet Pantry)
700 4th Ave SE, Rochester
Paws & Claws (Bin on backside of building) 507.288.7226
3224 19th St. NW, Rochester
Free & Prepared Meals
Community Food Response (CFR) 507.281.5061
120 1st St NE, Rochester MN (Salvation Army Campus) Prepared meals and take-home dishes (soups, sandwiches, hot meals) no eligibility requirements.
No proof of eligibility is required to receive food. All who need food are welcome. The food we distribute is rescued from hospitals, restaurants, caterers, grocery stores and other commercial kitchens in Rochester. In addition to helping people in need, CFR helps reduce the amount of food waste generated by area businesses. Drop-in Monday, Wednesday and Friday 4:00pm-6:00pm.
https://www.communityfoodresponse.org/
Open Table Food Truck 507.288.2649
Open Table is a mobile food ministry that serves a meal every Thursday evening to guests in SE Rochester. All are welcome. No registration required. Anyone who desires a free meal is welcome.
Summer Locations (June-Oct.):
5:00 – 5:45pm Parkside Park
6:00 – 6:30pmEastridge Estates
Winter Locations (Nov.-May):
5:00pm Oak Terrace mailboxes
5:30pm Parkside mailboxes
6:00pm Eastridge Estates
https://www.zumbrolutheran.org/open-table
Salvation Army 507.288.3663
115 1st First Ave NE, Rochester MN
Free lunch served Monday - Friday 11:30am – 12:30pm
https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/northern/rochester/programs-and-services/
The Landing 507.884.0423
426 3rd Ave SE Rochester, MN – Unhoused guests have access to the cafe throughout the day for breakfast / lunch / snacks and are served a hot meal each day during dinner service.
Community Free & Prepared meals for Seniors
Family Service Rochester Senior Café (for seniors)
Senior Cafe 1625 Hwy 14 E, Rochester MN Meals Monday and Tuesday at 11:30am (call by 2:00pm the day before); $4 suggested donation (free if unable to pay)
https://familyservicerochester.org/Senior-Cafe
Meals on Wheels 507.287.2010
Meals on Wheels provides home delivered, dietetically correct, hot, nutritious meals to Rochester seniors.
https://familyservicerochester.org/Meals-On-Wheels/
SEMCAC Senior Dining
Anyone age 60 and over. Spouses are automatically included regardless of age. Diners are given the opportunity to donate toward the cost of the meal. Donation guidelines are posted at the sites. No one is denied a meal because of inability to contribute. Food Stamp EBT, debit and credit cards are welcome. A reservation made 24 hours in advance is required. Contact your local dining site between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon to reserve your meal for the following day.
https://www.semcac.org/senior-dining/
Church & Community Meal Programs
Christ United Methodist 507.289.4019, 400 5th Ave SW, Rochester, MN
Wednesday Soup Dinner 5:20pm (During school year)
Saturday appetizers at 11:00am, lunch served at 12:00pm (noon), https://cumethodist.com/saturdaynoonmeals/
St. Francis of Assisi Church 507.288.7313, 1114 3rd St SE, Rochester MN
The Sunday Lunch Program is a weekly, noon meal sponsored by the six Rochester Catholic Parishes and provided at no cost to any needy person in the Rochester Community. https://www.stfrancis-church.org/ministry-and-outreach
Oasis Church 507.289.8596
3819 18th Ave NW Rochester, MN 55901
Every 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00am - 11:30am Grocery’s & Warm meal.
https://www.oasisrochester.org/supermarket-saturday
Peace United Church of Christ
1503 2nd Ave NE, Rochester MN 55906
We really look forward to making Tuesday evenings the highlight of your week with a chance to share a meal, enjoy a presentation 6:00pm –7:00 pm (as scheduled) and get to know your Peace Community.
https://www.peaceunited.us/events
The Exchange
3945 10th Ave NW, Rochester MN 55906
Neighborhood Dinner Thursdays 3:00-5:00. Prep and dinner served at 5:30. Family style meal that you help prepare.
https://www.exchangeco-op.org/activities
Oronoco Food Shelf 507.367.4711
Presbyterian Church of Oronoco, 20 3rd St SW, Oronoco 55960
2nd & 4th Wednesdays 5-6:30pm. We provide a welcoming place with good food options for those in northern Olmsted County. Like a small grocery store, we hope that everyone will feel comfortable finding the items they might need for pantry and fridge. Will ask for your zip code and the number of people in the household that you are shopping for (seniors, adults, children). There is no cost.
Other Supportive Programs
Commodity Supplemental Food Program 507-287-2350 or 1-877-500-8699
Channel One Food Bank (Serves Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona counties.)
A monthly supply of food, nutritionally designed for individuals 60 years of age and older, to enhance monthly groceries. Participants select what they need from specific food options. Prepare their own meals and do not live in a facility that provides meals. https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/csfp/income.html
https://www.health.state.mn.us/taxonomy/term/1229
Diaper Club/Family Resource Center 507.218.3255
930 40th St NW, Rochester MN
No income guidelines or ID required. May receive diapers up to once per week. Thursdays 8:30am-6:00pm.
Application form https://forms.office.com/r/vir0mZ6VS7
WIC Assistance (Women’s Infants and Children) 507.328.7555
2100 Campus Dr SE, Rochester MN
WIC (Women Infants and Children) serves families with infants and children up to age five and pregnant and postpartum people. All families are welcome at WIC, including dads, grandparents, foster parents, and working families.
https://www.olmstedcounty.gov/residents/services-individuals-families/child-youth/WIC
Current as of 10/27/2025 10:00am
Resource list prepared by Three Rivers Community Action Program and Workforce Development, Inc.