Find help
Whether you’re hungry tonight, need a safe place to sleep, are fighting an addiction, or just feel lost — people in Garner and across the Triangle are ready to help. Almost everything here is free.
“Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.” Psalm 34:18
In danger right now? Call 911. In a crisis, call or text 988 any time. To find local help with food, housing, or bills, dial 211 — it’s free and confidential.
Groceries to take home, hot meals, and help signing up for food benefits.
Every pantry and free meal on this page, by day of the week.
Everything on today’s schedule has ended.
Nothing on the regular schedule this day. Try another day, search the Food Bank’s FoodFinder, or call 211.
Everything on today’s schedule has ended.
Nothing on the regular schedule this day. Try another day, search the Food Bank’s FoodFinder, or call 211.
Everything on today’s schedule has ended.
Nothing on the regular schedule this day. Try another day, search the Food Bank’s FoodFinder, or call 211.
Everything on today’s schedule has ended.
Nothing on the regular schedule this day. Try another day, search the Food Bank’s FoodFinder, or call 211.
Everything on today’s schedule has ended.
Nothing on the regular schedule this day. Try another day, search the Food Bank’s FoodFinder, or call 211.
Everything on today’s schedule has ended.
Nothing on the regular schedule this day. Try another day, search the Food Bank’s FoodFinder, or call 211.
Everything on today’s schedule has ended.
Nothing on the regular schedule this day. Try another day, search the Food Bank’s FoodFinder, or call 211.
Hours can change, especially around holidays and bad weather. Call ahead if you can.
7 are run by churches in our directory — see churches that share food.
Food pantry
Walk in — no appointment needed. Please arrive by 11:30 a.m.
For residents of ZIP codes 27529 and 27603, once every 60 days. Bring a photo ID and proof of address, like a lease or utility bill. Other adults in the home need a photo ID too.
Food pantry · First Baptist Church of Garner
No appointment needed.
Walk-in pantry: bring a photo ID; you can come once each month. Drive-thru: open to everyone — no ID or Garner address needed, and it doesn’t count as your monthly visit.
Food pantry · Love & Hope Fellowship Church
Open to everyone in the community.
Food pantry
The Food Bank lists the pantry at 502 Creech Road; the church’s main address is 401 Creech Road. Call ahead to confirm.
Food pantry · Shalom Christian Community Church
Call ahead to confirm.
Food pantry
Food pantry · Raleigh Dream Center
A mobile food giveaway in the Parrish Manor neighborhood that ends when the food runs out. Call to check which Tuesdays.
Food pantry
A Food Bank truck comes every other Monday, except holidays. Upcoming dates are on the church’s events page.
Food pantry · Reaping the Harvest Christian Church
Groceries are shared once a month. Ask for help through the church’s outreach page or by phone.
Hot meals, served free. Distances are from downtown Garner.
Free meal
Three meals on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Free meal
Free meal · Church of the Good Shepherd
In the church basement — the entrance is at the back, near the corner of Morgan and McDowell streets.
Anyone and everyone is welcome, no questions asked.
Free meal
Evening meal on weekdays. Closed on holidays.
Free meal · Raleigh Dream Center
A hot meal, worship, and Bible study. Free bus rides from Moore Square and the shelters on Wilmington and Second streets.
For anyone experiencing homelessness.
Free meal · Garner United Methodist Church
Every Saturday. A hot meal, a warm shower, and clothing when donations allow. Call the church for the time.
For neighbors facing housing challenges. Churches across Garner help serve.
Within about 10 miles of Garner, nearest first.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Also open by appointment — call.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Also open for emergencies — call.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Call ahead to confirm hours.
Food pantry
Closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.
Food pantry
Also open by appointment — call.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Second phone number: 919-779-6401.
Food pantry
Curbside food boxes from 8:30 a.m. until the day’s supply runs out. Call the pantry line for closings.
Open to all Wake County residents, no referral needed. One food box per household each week.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Closed on holidays.
Food pantry · Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh
Closed Tuesdays. Check the posted holiday schedule.
Food pantry
Food pantry
A low-barrier pantry for the Alliance’s clients and members of the community.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Ends when the food runs out.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
By appointment during office hours — call.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Food pantry
Also open for emergencies — call.
Food pantry
Every other Saturday — call ahead to confirm.
Food pantry
For Clayton residents, once a month. Bring an ID to every visit.
Food pantry
Food pantry
Emergency food Mon, Tue & Fri, 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. — call first.
Food pantry
Once a month, on the Friday after the 3rd Sunday, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Call to confirm.
Help buying groceries, meals for kids and older adults, and more places to find food.
Enter your ZIP code to find nearby pantries, meal sites, and free pop-up markets. The Food Bank can also help you apply for SNAP.
foodbankcenc.orgApply for or manage SNAP food benefits through Wake County.
wake.govHealthy foods, formula, and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new moms, babies, and children under 5. Apply by phone or online.
wake.govWake County public school students can get free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. Apply online, or call the meal-benefits line with questions.
wcpss.netChildren 18 and under can get free breakfast and lunch at sites across Wake County each summer. No registration and no questions asked.
wake.govMany Wake County farmers markets take SNAP/EBT, and some double your SNAP dollars for fresh local food. Check the county’s list before you go.
wake.govPantry and meal times come from each pantry’s own website when it has one, and from the Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC’s FoodFinder. Checked September 29, 2026.
Emergency shelter, rescue missions, and day centers for anyone without a safe place to sleep tonight.
Start here for a Wake County shelter referral. A daytime hub for people experiencing homelessness, with care coordinators, showers, laundry, and weekend meals.
oakcitycares.orgWake County’s shelter for men experiencing homelessness, open around the clock, with emergency beds and longer stays for men working with a case manager.
wake.govA first-come, first-served overnight shelter for single adults, run by The Bryant Center.
WebsiteA first-come, first-served overnight shelter for families with children and for women in their third trimester.
salvationarmyusa.orgA 24/7 shelter run by Urban Ministries of Wake County for single women without children, with help finding housing. Beds are filled through a Coordinated Entry referral.
urbanmin.orgExtra emergency beds open when temperatures will drop below 35°F, and in other severe weather. Call the alert line to hear whether White Flag is in effect.
WebsiteA 24/7 crisis shelter for young people ages 10–17 who have run away, are homeless, or are in a family crisis, with counseling and rides to school.
havenhousenc.orgStreet outreach and shelter referrals for young adults ages 18–24 without a stable place to live. Call and leave a message, or walk in.
havenhousenc.orgHelps Wake County families with children move from homelessness into a home, with short-term housing, rent help, and mentoring.
familiestogethernc.orgShelter, homelessness prevention, and help finding housing for families with children across the Triangle.
familypromisetriangle.orgTransitional housing in Cary for working families with children who are experiencing homelessness, with life-skills coaching.
thecaryingplace.orgA Christian ministry where men stay for several months to rebuild, with housing, meals, recovery, and job training. For emergency beds, it refers people through Coordinated Entry.
raleighrescue.orgThe Garden Campus in Knightdale offers women and their children a Christian program with housing, meals, counseling, tutoring, and planning for the future.
raleighrescue.orgA Christian shelter offering men a bed, food, clothing, and Biblical counseling. Bring a photo ID, or a criminal-history printout from the police or sheriff.
durhamrescuemission.orgThe Good Samaritan Inn shelters women and mothers with children up to age 12, with three meals a day, clothing, counseling, and job help. Bring a photo ID.
durhamrescuemission.orgDurham’s main shelter for single adults, with meals and case management. Shelter intake is done by phone through Entry Point Durham.
umdurham.orgFree recovery programs, support groups, and help for the people who love someone struggling.
A free recovery program for Wake County adults 18 and older, with a walk-in shelter and non-medical detox that are open around the clock.
healing-transitions.orgA free, multi-year live-in recovery program in Durham, with housing, meals, counseling, and job training. The person seeking help calls admissions directly.
trosainc.orgA Christian recovery program for men and women struggling with addiction, with counseling and support to rebuild their lives.
durhamrescuemission.orgFree meetings for anyone who wants to stop drinking, including several in Garner churches. Call the 24-hour helpline or search meetings online.
raleighaa.comFree peer meetings for anyone who wants to stop using drugs. Call the statewide line, or text your address to get the nearest meetings.
ncregion-na.orgA Christ-centered 12-step program for any hurt, habit, or hang-up. Use the official group finder to see meetings near Garner.
crlocator.comSupport groups for families, friends, and teens of someone who drinks too much. Search for a meeting near you.
alanonalateen6nc.orgFree kits of naloxone, which reverses an opioid overdose, at Wake County Public Health while supplies last. If someone won’t wake up, call 911.
wake.govA free, confidential line for anyone using drugs alone: a volunteer stays on the phone and sends help if you stop responding.
neverusealone.comFree, confidential treatment referrals and information for mental health and substance use, 24 hours a day.
samhsa.govWalk-in crisis care, mobile crisis teams, and people to talk with, day or night.
A 24/7 walk-in crisis center for adults facing a mental health or substance-use crisis. Anyone in crisis can come in.
wake.govWalk-in mental health and substance-use care for ages 4 and up — no appointment needed, and an alternative to the ER.
monarchnc.orgAlliance manages public mental health and substance-use services for Wake County. Member services: 1-800-510-9132.
alliancehealthplan.orgA 24/7 mobile crisis team that can come to you for mental health, substance-use, or developmental-disability crises.
wake.gov24/7 crisis support for young people ages 5–20 facing a mental health or substance-use crisis, including mobile outreach.
wake.govFree, confidential support by text from a trained crisis counselor — for stress, loneliness, self-harm, thoughts of suicide, or anything that feels like too much.
crisistextline.orgSupport groups and classes for people living with a mental health condition and for the families who love them.
nami.orgA caring support group in Garner for anyone grieving the death of someone they love.
garnerchurchofgod.orgGrief support for children, teens, and adults across the Triangle, with groups and counseling in person or by video.
transitionslifecare.orgHelp with past-due rent and utilities, facing an eviction, and keeping a roof over your head.
A ministry founded by Garner churches that helps residents of 27529 and 27603 with past-due utilities, rent, and prescriptions. It also runs a food pantry and thrift store.
gam-nc.orgHelp with past-due utility bills, rent, or mortgage for residents of 27529 and the Garner part of 27603. Appointments are booked by phone.
communityofhopeministries.orgWake County help for renters who have fallen behind on rent (apply online), plus emergency home-repair grants for eligible homeowners.
wake.govHelp with a heating or cooling emergency (CIP, year-round while funds last) and with winter heating bills (LIEAP, December–March). Apply online or through Wake County.
ncdhhs.govFree legal help for people with low incomes facing eviction, foreclosure, or problems with a landlord — plus other civil legal issues. Apply online or call.
legalaidnc.orgVolunteers from Community of Hope Ministries do minor home repairs and yard work for Garner neighbors who need a hand — especially widows, single moms, seniors, and people with disabilities.
communityofhopeministries.orgA Garner church that helps neighbors with rent, utilities, transportation, or phone bills. Ask through the form on its ministries page; help is paid to the bill, not in cash.
oakcommunity.churchClinics for people without insurance, prescription help, and how to apply for Medicaid.
Free primary care, mental health care, and prescriptions for Wake County adults without health insurance.
urbanmin.orgPrimary care for Wake County adults without insurance who work, or who live with a family member who works. Call to ask about becoming a patient.
alliancemedicalministry.orgThe county’s main public health clinic, with health and dental clinics, prevention services, WIC, and help applying for Medicaid. Call before you go.
wake.govNorth Carolina expanded Medicaid, so many adults ages 19–64 now qualify. Apply online through ePASS or with Wake County Human Services.
wake.govFree prescription medicines, mailed to your door, for North Carolinians without health insurance who meet income limits. Apply online.
medassist.orgDental care for uninsured, low-income Wake County adults, by referral from a partner clinic. There’s a $40 fee per visit.
wakesmiles.orgA community health center (formerly Advance Community Health) with primary care, pediatrics, dental, behavioral health, and a pharmacy. Sliding-fee discounts by income.
amplifyhealth.orgClothes, diapers, and furniture — most are given through a caseworker or school referral.
Low-cost clothing, shoes, and household goods in Garner, run by Garner Area Ministries.
gam-nc.orgA Garner church ministry that gives free clothes to people who are homeless, escaping abuse, or older — by appointment.
rhcc12.orgFree clothing for children and their families, requested by a school counselor, social worker, or other partner. Ask your child’s school.
noteinthepocket.orgBeds, furniture, and household goods for Wake County families moving into a home. A caseworker at a partner agency must make the referral.
thegreenchair.orgDiapers and hygiene supplies, given out through local partner agencies rather than by the Diaper Bank itself. Use its partner finder to see where to go.
ncdiaperbank.orgFinding work, finishing school, and replacing a lost ID or birth certificate.
Free help finding a job: job listings, career coaching, workshops, and information about training.
capitalareancworks.comA job-readiness class in Garner — résumés, interviews, and job searching — for anyone out of work or underemployed. Sessions run several times a year, in person or on Zoom.
communityofhopeministries.orgFree interview clothes, career coaching, and job-search programs for women. New clients start online.
dfstrianglenc.orgWake Tech’s College & Career Readiness classes help adults build reading, writing, and math skills, finish high school, or learn English.
waketech.eduState ID cards are free for anyone 17 and older at the DMV. Younger teens who are homeless can get one free with a letter from a shelter.
ncdot.govOrder a certified copy of a Wake County birth certificate online or in person. The downtown office can also issue North Carolina birth certificates from 1971 on.
wake.govGarner’s public library: free library cards, books, Wi-Fi, computers, printing, storytimes, and meeting rooms you can reserve.
wake.govIf you’re being hurt, threatened, or exploited — or you’re worried about someone who is. If someone is in danger or missing, call 911 right away.
Free, confidential help for people experiencing domestic violence: a 24-hour crisis line and weekday walk-in support, with interpreters available.
interactofwake.orgConfidential support from trained advocates for anyone affected by relationship abuse. Call, text, or chat online.
thehotline.orgDomestic violence and sexual assault help for Johnston County, including a safe shelter, safety planning, and court support.
harborshelter.orgConfidential help for anyone being forced to work or trade sex — or anyone who suspects it. Call, text, or chat.
humantraffickinghotline.orgFree, confidential support for young people who have run away, are homeless, or are thinking about leaving home — and for their families.
1800runaway.orgIf you think a child in Wake County is being abused or neglected, call Child Protective Services. You don’t need proof. After hours, call 911.
wake.govWake County Adult Protective Services looks into abuse, neglect, or exploitation of adults who can’t protect themselves. After hours, call 911.
wake.govFree, expert, confidential help by phone or online. If someone collapses or has a seizure, call 911 instead.
poison.orgCrisis support and free help with benefits for veterans and their families.
Confidential 24/7 crisis support for veterans, service members, and their families. Call, text, or chat.
veteranscrisisline.netFree help for veterans and families with VA claims and benefits, VA health care enrollment, housing, and job resources.
wake.govMeals, rides, in-home help, and protection for older neighbors and people with disabilities.
Wake County’s information line for older adults and caregivers: in-home care, rides, housing, meals, caregiver support, and more.
resourcesforseniors.orgMeals delivered to the homes of Wake County residents 60 and older who have trouble shopping or cooking for themselves.
wakemow.orgA monthly group at First Presbyterian Church of Garner for anyone caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Sitters are available during meetings.
firstpresbyterianchurchgarner.comFree membership for adults 55+, with fitness, social, learning, and arts programs. Named 2023 Senior Center of the Year by the NC Senior Center Alliance.
garnernc.govWake County’s ride-by-appointment van service for older adults, people with disabilities, work trips, rural residents, and others.
wake.govWhere to apply for Medicaid, food benefits, child care help, and other public assistance.
Wake County’s main number for Medicaid, food assistance, child care subsidies, adult services, and more.
wake.govFor Garner residents who live in Johnston County: Medicaid, food assistance, child care help, adult services, and help for people who are homeless.
johnstonnc.comFeeling lost?
Maybe you’ve lost a job, a home, or someone you love. Maybe you can’t even explain it — you just can’t find your way. You don’t have to have it figured out to take one small step.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Garner’s churches would be glad to listen and pray with you — no membership or church background needed. Call a church office and ask for the pastor.
He already knows your story, and He’s listening right now. If you don’t know what to say, start here.
Many Garner churches run food pantries, clothing closets, recovery groups, and benevolence funds. You don’t have to be a member to ask for help.
Find a church near youWe checked these listings on September 29, 2026, but hours and programs change. If you spot a mistake or know a resource we’ve missed, please tell us.
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