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Free Groceries: 8 Legit Ways to Get Free Groceries in 2024

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Written by: Kate Starr

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Best Websites to Get Free Groceries

Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys logo

$0.50 – $5 on average per survey with bonus points ($1 sign up bonus)

Average survey length is 10-20 minutes and minimum payout is $5

Collect rewards in PayPal, Direct Deposit or gift cards (100+ brands)

Swagbucks

Swagbucks logo

$0.50 to $1.50 per survey – earn up to $100 each month using Swagbucks

18 unique ways to earn money and free gift cards, plus $5 sign up bonus

Redeem e-gift cards from $1 or withdraw $5 minimum payment from PayPal

Survey Junkie

Survey Junkie logo

$0.50 – $3 per survey + extra ways to earn up to $100 with focus groups

Each survey time varies, but on average it takes 15 minutes to complete

Redeem rewards using PayPal, e-giftcards or bank transfer when earned at least $5

Fun Ways to Get Free Groceries

Participate in Paid Surveys


Branded Surveys Summary

  • $1 sign up bonus
  • Earn $0.50-$5 on average per survey
  • Average survey length is 15 min
  • Pays by bank transfer, PayPal & gift cards
  • Cash out from $5
  • Bonuses available for daily survey takers

There are numerous surveys for money that allow you to redeem your earnings for gift cards that you can use to get free groceries.

Surveys consist of a set of multiple choice or open questions that you need to fill out in order to make money with paid survey sites.

For example, one of the best survey sites for free food – Branded Surveys – rewards you with gift cards when you provide your honest opinion about various topics, brands, products, and services. 

Gift cards you can get from Branded Surveys include:

  • Amazon 
  • Chipotle
  • Walmart
  • Target
surveys for free food

Redeem Your Cashbacks


Rakuten Summary

  • High cashback potential of up to 40%
  • Earn cashback at over 2500 online stores
  • 6 different ways to earn cashback
  • Get $10 for free just for signing up

Different cashback sites and apps allow you to earn a certain amount of your spent cash back to your account. You can then redeem your cashback for gift cards that you can use for your grocery purchases.

The amount of cashbacks you can get from cashback apps varies from site to site. However, you can expect to get cashback within the range of 2% to 40%.

What’s good, cashback apps offer deals when you shop in stores you’re probably visiting anyways.

Some of the most popular stores and retailers you can get cashbacks at include:

  • Amazon
  • Target
  • Walmart
  • Dunkin’ Donuts
  • Starbucks
  • Ulta
  • Gap

Cashback apps that offer gift cards when you buy stuff through their apps include:

Get Free Food Samples


BzzAgent Summary

  • Free products from L’Oreal, GIllete, Nestle, P&G and more
  • You get to keep the product you test
  • You’ll not be penalized for a negative review
  • Pays $10 per user referred

Many companies who plan on launching new food products offer free grocery samples, so they get your feedback before mass-producing their new products.

Some of the best product testing programs offering free food and grocery samples include:

free samples

Organizations Helping With Free Groceries & Food


Following nonprofit organizations are helpful towards the society and have been running various programs to aid those struggling to get groceries. 

Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is one of the best nonprofit organizations administered by various organizations such as: 

  • Catholic Charities
  • Salvation Army Centre
  • Churches
  • Aging Centre
  • community action agencies
  • And other neighboring charitable organizations in certain areas. 

The organizations above join their forces to fulfill the Meals on Wheels free groceries deliveries.

This powerhouse organization provides short-term and long-term beneficial aids to improve a healthy lifestyle for beneficiaries like: 

  • Seniors
  • Disabled people
  • Sick people 
  • Any other people who are striving hard to buy groceries to prepare food

Volunteers offer quality services by visiting those who are old, sick, struggling, and depressed across the country. They cater to their needs by going to nearby grocery stores and buying vital food products, toiletries, etc. These services are provided free of cost. 

free food

WhyHunger National Hunger Hotline


There are plenty of people across the country who are striving hard to earn even a single meal and unable to survive the pressure. 

The WhyHunger National Hunger Hotline is a fantastic initiative that acts as a mediator that connects people who are starving with several good-hearted organizations such as: 

  • Grassroots organizations
  • Government nutrition programs
  • Summer meals websites
  • Soup kitchens
  • Food pantries

These organizations work toward providing nutritious, tasty foods and free groceries. 

To get free groceries from WhyHunger, you’ll need to:

  • Call the WhyHunger hotline at 1-800-548-6479
  • Text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479
  • Or enter your zip code on the WhyHunger website and click the “find food” button to find free food in your area
free meal

Feeding America BackPack Program


Feeding America is an extremely popular network that is available to help those who are in need. 

Are you in a pathetic position where you are in search of free groceries and food? The Feeding America network program is available in every county within the USA. 

Simply find the Feeding America organizations in your area by entering your zip code. Once you locate the nearest organization,  you should reach out to them and explain your needs. 

The Feeding America BackPack is an excellent program tailored to provide free meals and absolutely free groceries for more than 20 million children across the country. 

This program offers children free meals at schools and supplies essential groceries to help them prepare nutritious food during the weekend.

Get Free Groceries from Government (for Low-income Families)


A few government programs are providing free groceries for low-income families.

How do you know if you fall under a low-income family category? In fact, income thresholds to consider a family low-income may vary from state to state. However, in general, a family of 4 whose annual income doesn’t exceed $40,000 is considered low-income.

Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)


The Emergency Food Assistance Program collects food freshly from farms and distributes them to various food banks. These organizations deliver free groceries and food to low-income and starving families.

The TEFAP is a unique federal nutrition program, which plays an essential role in the Feeding America Network’s food supply. 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) directly buys healthy groceries like vegetables, fruits, nuts, and staples with the help of the TEFAP program. Every State then joins hands with the Feeding America network program to distribute free groceries and foods to those in need and starving. 

The TEFAP is on a health mission to provide more than 100 varieties of groceries in the form of:

  • Pasta
  • Cereal
  • Rice
  • Grains
  • Whole grains
  • Cheese
  • Milk
  • Nuts
  • Fish
  • Poultry
  • Meat
  • Eggs
  • Vegetables
  • Fruits
  • And more 

To get free groceries from the TEFAP program, you’ll need to call:

  • USDA Information Hotline: (202) 720-2791
  • Or SNAP Toll-free Information Number: 1-800-221-5689

Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (SSNPWIC)


The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, otherwise known as the WIC Program, is a strong community striving to protect health conditions of: 

  • Low-income women who are pregnant, or breastfeeding
  • Infants, toddlers, and children below five years old suffering from starvation and insufficient nutritional levels

The SSNPWIC is an incredible mission to provide highly nutritional food supplements, free grocery giveaways, and other essentials for eating healthy diets. 

To apply for the SSNPWIC for free groceries, you should click your state on the map and call the relevant number. The program coordinator will talk to you to determine your eligibility for free groceries or not and arrange everything for you.


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Kate Starr

Dollarbreak

About the author:

Kate Starr is a personal finance, FinTech and MarTech writer. Her areas of expertise include making money, investing, and money management.

From earning money as a beginner entrepreneur to advanced investing in the stock market, Kate’s guides can help you to get more ideas on how to earn income online and increase your wealth.

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