Beginning November, many of our neighbors may lose access to SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown. If you or someone you know is affected:
The Giving Garden provides organic produce every Monday from 4:30-6pm. We offer any vegetables we have available, which currently includes mainly cooking greens and salad greens. Our address is 225 NW 12th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601. No sign up or credential is necessary to receive our produce.
Join Facebook group, Gainesville Free Food, which posts regularly about food distribution throughout our region.
Gainesville Food Not Bombs is a mutual aid organization that serves prepared meals each Friday at 6:30pm at Haisley Lynch Park, across Main Street from the Civic Media Center. The Giving Garden donates organic produce to FNB monthly to supply meal-making.
The Free Grocery Store offers walk-up pantry and food delivery services on the dates listed below, providing fresh food from the Giving Garden and other organic, local farms. The easiest way to get food is to go to their in-person pantry at the Civic Media Center (433 S. Main St. Gainesville). Signup begins at 2 PM and the pantry opens around 3 PM. No ID or proof-of-address required. Always FREE, and always you-pick your own groceries. They will run until 5:30 PM, while supplies last.
Free Grocery Store Distribution Dates:
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
UF HealthStreet has announced the launch of The HOPE (Helping Other People Eat) @HealthStreet food pantry, located at 2401 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608. Food distribution at that address occurs on Mondays and Thursdays from 12pm-4pm and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am-4pm.
Visit Findhelp.org, put in your zip code, and search for food resources in our community.
Bread of the Mighty Food Bank has an online resource to help residents find food: https://breadofthemighty.org/find-food-now
If you still have a balance on your EBT card or any farmers markets tokens, you can still use those at local markets like the Grove Street Farmers Market.
Check your MyACCESS Florida account or contact DCF for updates.
Plan ahead by using any current benefits to purchase self-stable staples.
Gainesville Giving Garden
Nonprofit farm combating food insecurity by donating produce and educating our community in horticulture.
As of October 1st, 2025, we are Giving Garden — A Working Food Farm! Learn more about our merge here. Together, we’ll work smarter, reach more people, and strengthen our shared mission to create a fair, sustainable local food system.
We believe that fresh food is medicine — for our bodies, and for healing disparate communities.
We grow organic produce for those experiencing food insecurity.
We provide Food Systems Leadership Training and horticulture education for marginalized groups and the wider community.
Through education and food production, the Giving Garden is dedicated to uplifting equitable fresh food access and food sovereignty in Alachua County.
“We love all of the greens that were given.
I’m also loving the recipe cards. They are great - the different meal ideas are a plus for my family. Today I’m going to prepare the stir fry greens recipe. I’m looking forward to more different ways to enjoy great food from the Giving Garden. Thank you so much.”
Harvest recipient of donated produce, 2021
“I loved the Giving Garden! It helped me open up to new people… it also got me out of the house, and got me to learn about different plants and how to grow them. I love the Giving Garden and can’t wait until next time.”
Makalia, Project YouthBuild, age 17
