No one should go hungry, especially not in a city as generous and community-minded as Adelaide. If you’re struggling to make ends meet or simply want to know what support is available for those doing it tough, there are plenty of services across South Australia providing warm meals, essential groceries, and amenities to those who need it most. From free soup kitchens and food hubs to apps that help reduce food waste while feeding more people, here’s a handy guide to affordable food support options around the state.
Affordable SA
Affordable SA provides free soup to people who are homeless, each day except Saturdays, between May and October. From 6:30pm at Hurtle Square and from 7pm at Whitmore Square, volunteers from the Adelaide Day Centre for Homeless Persons will be on deck and ready to help.
Where: Hurtle Square, Adelaide, SA 5000 and Whitmore Square, Adelaide, SA 5000
For more information, click here.
Foodbank Food Hubs
Image: Foodbank
There are multiple Foodbank Food Hubs located around the state, where people can access pantry foods, meat, frozen foods, personal hygiene products, household cleaning products, vegetables, fruit, and bread, which are offered free with a voucher. Welfare agencies that are customer members of Foodbank provide their clients with vouchers, which can then be redeemed for these goods.
To find out how to get a referral, click here.
Where: Christies Beach, St Marys (formerly Edwardstown), Davoren Park and Woodville and regionally in Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge, Whyalla, Alice Springs, Ceduna and Darwin.
For more information, click here.
Fred’s Van Meal Service
Image: St Vincent de Paul Society
The Vinnies Fred’s Van meal service operates at eight sites across Adelaide, as well as one site each in Port Lincoln and Port Pirie. At these vans, they can provide a meal, blankets, toiletries, snacks, hot beverages and importantly, companionship. They encourage people in the community who are sleeping rough or who are in insecure accommodation to come down, access the services, and stay for a chat.
People are under no obligation to pay for the meals or goods provided.
Where: Aldinga, Adelaide CBD, Christie Downs, Kilburn, Elizabeth, Gawler, Semaphore, Salisbury, Port Lincoln, and Port Pirie.
For more information, click here.
Hutt St Centre
On Monday through Saturday, the Hutt St Centre provides a safe space with hearty meals and warm showers. They have laundry, bathroom, mail, and locker services, as well as breakfast and lunch on these days.
Where: 258 Hutt St, Adelaide SA 5000
For more information, click here.
Ozharvest
OzHarvest operates on a ‘take what you need, give if you can’ philosophy. They provide fresh produce, pantry items, and cooked meals to those in need. They have a market in Hindmarsh where you can head in and grab what you need. They also have a free and anonymous food relief service with heaps of locations across the city.
Where: OzHarvest Market, 27 Manton St, Hindmarsh SA 5007
For more information, click here.
Too Good To Go
Too Good To Go is an anti-waste app where perfectly good food, like pastries left at the end of a slow day at a bakery or leftover bread loaves, are packaged up and available to buy for reduced costs. It’s simple to use, just download the app, search for nearby eateries, and purchase a Surprise Bag, usually worth two to three times the price paid. You won’t know exactly what’s inside, but that’s part of the fun. It’s a food lucky dip, but with no mediocre prizes.
For more information, click here.
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