Etowah County · AL
Soup Kitchens & Free Meals in Gadsden, AL: Hours & Schedule
Gadsden has 3 soup kitchens & free meals, plus 6 other free-food locations shown below. Filter by type or what's open, and call ahead to confirm hours.
- 9 places
- No ads
- No login
- Updated September 2026
Thu: 10 AM – 2 PM CT
All areas
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 9 AM – 4 PM · Wed: 9 AM – 11:30 AM CT
Etowah County
Fri: 11 AM – 12 PM CT
All areas
Thu: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM CT
Etowah
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM CT
All areas
1st Monday of each month · 9 AM – 1 PM • 3rd Thursday of each month · 9 AM – 1 PM
All areas
3rd Wednesday of each month · 9:30 AM – 12 PM
No ID needed All areas
Call ahead for hours
ID needed All areas
Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri: 11 AM – 1 PM CT
All areas
None open then.
Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County and the eighteenth-largest city in Alabama. The directory lists 9 places to get free food here as of September 2026: 6 food pantries, 3 soup kitchens & free meals. Ladle of Love Soup Kitchen (115 S. 5th St.) and Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church (530 Chestnut St.) are among them. Every listing is checked against public sources. We hide the ones we can't confirm, we say call ahead where hours aren't confirmed, and there are no ads, logins, or fees.
What to bring
- A photo ID, if you have one (many pantries don't require it)
- Proof of address, like a piece of mail (some ask, most don't)
- Bags, a box, or a cart to carry groceries home
- The number of people in your household, that's usually all they need
How it works in Gadsden
- Find a pantry on the map above that's open today
- Call ahead to confirm hours (they can change)
- Go during open hours; most are walk-in, no appointment
- Take what you need. There's no cost and no application
You're welcome here. Pantries are for anyone going through a hard stretch. No judgment.
What neighbors know
These places change. If you've been to a pantry in Gadsden, leave a quick note so the next person walks in prepared: what to bring, when lines form, how they treat folks.
No notes yet. Be the first to help someone out.
Open by day in Gadsden
Planning around a day off? Here's what's open each day in Gadsden. Call ahead to confirm.
Soup Kitchens & Free Meals open Monday in Gadsden
- Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
- Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen: 11 AM – 1 PM
- Etowah Baptist Missions Center: 9 AM – 4 PM
- Rainbow Church of Christ: 9 AM (1st Monday)
Soup Kitchens & Free Meals open Tuesday in Gadsden
- Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
- Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen: 11 AM – 1 PM
- Etowah Baptist Missions Center: 9 AM – 4 PM
Soup Kitchens & Free Meals open Wednesday in Gadsden
- Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
- Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen: 11 AM – 1 PM
- Etowah Baptist Missions Center: 9 AM – 11:30 AM
- The Church at Wills Creek: 9:30 AM (3rd Wednesday)
Soup Kitchens & Free Meals open Thursday in Gadsden
- Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
- Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen: 11 AM – 1 PM
- Catholic Center of Concern: 10 AM – 2 PM
- Etowah Baptist Missions Center: 9 AM – 4 PM
- Love Center Shelter For Men: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
- Rainbow Church of Christ: 9 AM (3rd Thursday)
Soup Kitchens & Free Meals open Friday in Gadsden
- Ladle of Love Soup Kitchen: 11 AM – 12 PM
- Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen: 11 AM – 1 PM
- Etowah Baptist Missions Center: 9 AM – 4 PM
Soup Kitchens & Free Meals open Saturday in Gadsden
- Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church: 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Good to know
Which soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open today?
It depends on the day. By day of week, Gadsden soup kitchens & free meals are open: Monday (3), Tuesday (3), Wednesday (3), Thursday (5), Friday (3), Saturday (1). Each listing below shows its exact hours. Call ahead to confirm, especially around holidays.
Are there soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden open on weekends?
Yes, 1 open Saturday in Gadsden. Look for the Sat/Sun markers in the schedule below.
Where can I get emergency food in Gadsden today?
Most Gadsden soup kitchens & free meals take walk-ins during open hours. No appointment needed. For same-day help any time, call 211 (Oklahoma's free, confidential food-assistance line). The listings below are kept current and most serve anyone in need without income verification.
What do I need to bring to a food pantry in Gadsden?
Most Gadsden soup kitchens & free meals are open to anyone in need and don't require proof of income. It helps to bring a photo ID, proof of address if you have it (a utility bill or piece of mail), bags to carry food, and the number of people in your household. Requirements vary. Check each listing or call ahead.
Do I need an appointment, or can I walk in?
Most soup kitchens & free meals are walk-in during open hours. A few run on set monthly dates or by appointment. Those say so on their listing.
Which soup kitchens & free meals serve Gadsden, Oklahoma?
These soup kitchens & free meals serve Gadsden and nearby areas, including ZIP codes 35901, 35904. Anyone in need is welcome. You don't have to live in a specific ZIP.
Which soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open on Monday?
4 soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open Monday: Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church, Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen, Etowah Baptist Missions Center, Rainbow Church of Christ. See each listing's exact hours below and call ahead to confirm. Hours can change around holidays.
Which soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open on Tuesday?
3 soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open Tuesday: Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church, Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen, Etowah Baptist Missions Center. See each listing's exact hours below and call ahead to confirm. Hours can change around holidays.
Which soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open on Wednesday?
4 soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open Wednesday: Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church, Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen, Etowah Baptist Missions Center, The Church at Wills Creek. See each listing's exact hours below and call ahead to confirm. Hours can change around holidays.
Which soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open on Thursday?
6 soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open Thursday: Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church, Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen, Catholic Center of Concern, Etowah Baptist Missions Center, Love Center Shelter For Men, Rainbow Church of Christ. See each listing's exact hours below and call ahead to confirm. Hours can change around holidays.
Which soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open on Friday?
3 soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open Friday: Ladle of Love Soup Kitchen, Way of the Cross Soup Kitchen, Etowah Baptist Missions Center. See each listing's exact hours below and call ahead to confirm. Hours can change around holidays.
Which soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden are open on Saturday?
1 soup kitchens & free meals in Gadsden is open Saturday: Mercy Depot Soup Kitchen at Cornerstone Church. See each listing's exact hours below and call ahead to confirm. Hours can change around holidays.
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