Free Food Parcels and Emergency Relief Assistance for the Coffs Harbour Community, NSW

If you’re in Coffs Harbour and finding it hard to afford groceries, you’re not alone. Many people here are relying on charity food programs, soup kitchens and emergency relief services just to get through the week.

Loaves and Fishes is part of that safety net.

We operate a free, shop-style community food pantry in Coffs Harbour so individuals and families can choose the groceries they need at no cost. We also help connect people with other Coffs Harbour charity food programs, crisis relief services and community meals.

Whether you’re between Centrelink payments, dealing with unexpected bills, or wondering what to do when you have no money and no food, this page is for you.

Who We Help

Our free food and emergency relief assistance is designed for people in the Coffs Harbour region who are doing it tough, including:

Individuals and families on low incomes
People receiving Centrelink payments
Workers whose hours have been reduced or who’ve lost their job
People facing sudden crisis (illness, car breakdown, bond, funeral, disaster)
Those leaving unsafe situations or experiencing homelessness

If you’re asking things like “How do I get free food with no money near me?” or “What can I do if I have no money and no food?” then you are exactly the person our pantry exists to support.

You don’t need a referral to talk to us. If you’re unsure whether you fit the criteria, just contact us or come in—we’ll listen and explain how we can help.

Our Free Community Food Pantry in Coffs Harbour

Loaves and Fishes is a free, shop-style food pantry rather than a traditional pre-packed hamper service.

That means:

Our shelves are stocked with donated, rescued and purchased food.
You walk through the pantry and choose the groceries your household needs.
There’s no checkout and no prices—the food is free.

Some people take a few items to get them through a tough week. Others might fill a trolley because things have been especially hard. We simply ask everyone to take what they reasonably need, with others in mind, so there’s food left for the next person.

If you’ve searched for “Coffs Harbour food pantry”, “Coffs Harbour soup kitchen” or “free food parcels Coffs Harbour”, this is the kind of support we provide—free groceries from a welcoming, charity food program in your local area.

If You Need Free Food Today

If you’re out of food or close to it, please start here.

Visit us in person

📍 Location: Cnr Argyll st & Pacific Hwy Coffs Harbour
🕒 Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m lunchtime
☎️ Phone: 0408 298 899

What to bring (if you can):

Any Centrelink or concession card
Some form of ID (licence, Medicare card or similar)

If you don’t have ID or a card with you, please still come. Talk to our team and we’ll do our best to help.

If you can’t get to us

If you have no transport, have mobility issues, are unwell, or live outside town, call us on 0408 298 899. We can:

Talk through how our pantry works
Check if a visit is still possible
Point you towards other crisis relief services in Coffs Harbour, mobile food vans, or community meals that may be closer to you

What You’ll Find on Our Shelves

Stock changes from week to week, but you’ll usually find:

Pantry staples such as rice, pasta, noodles, cereal and flour
Tinned foods – vegetables, fruit, soups, tuna, beans
Long-life milk and basic breakfast items
Sauces, spreads, oil and other cooking essentials
Snacks and lunchbox items for kids
Basic hygiene and household items when available

We try to provide options for different diets and cultures where possible. If you need halal, vegetarian, gluten-free or baby food, let us know and we’ll show you what’s available.

We also do our best to offer school holiday food support in Coffs Harbour when we have enough donations, as this is often when families feel the most pressure.

Emergency Relief and Food Vouchers

Sometimes visiting the pantry isn’t enough. If you’re in serious financial hardship, we may be able to provide or connect you with:

Emergency food relief
Free food vouchers through local partners and relief programs
Information on other Coffs Harbour crisis relief services and disaster relief (e.g. after floods or storms)

People often search for terms like:

“free emergency food vouchers online NSW”
“how to get a free food voucher”
“where can I get a free food voucher”
“Salvation Army food vouchers Coffs Harbour”

Different agencies in NSW provide these vouchers and relief schemes. At Loaves and Fishes, we can:

Explain what support we can provide directly
Let you know if there are vouchers or assistance available through our programs
Help link you with other providers such as the Salvation Army, Vinnies and other local emergency relief services if they’re a better fit

For more detail, see our Food Vouchers and Emergency Relief in Coffs Harbour page or call us on 0408 298 899.

Other Coffs Harbour Charity Food Programs & Community Meals

Loaves and Fishes is part of a wider network of Coffs Harbour charity food programs and community services, which may include:

Community meals and volunteer meal services in Coffs Harbour
Local churches running low-cost or free meal nights
Mobile food vans operating in the region
Indigenous-led food relief and culturally specific support
Council and community groups offering additional disaster relief and crisis support

If you’re not sure where to start, you can:

Visit our pantry and ask our team about other local options
Use Ask Izzy or Service NSW to search for “Coffs Harbour emergency relief services”
Call us and we’ll help point you in the right direction

Our goal is that no one in Coffs Harbour goes hungry, whether we’re the best service for you or another organisation is.

What to Expect When You Visit

Walking into a food service can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. Here’s what actually happens at Loaves and Fishes:

You’re greeted by a friendly volunteer or staff member.
We’re used to talking with people in all kinds of situations, so there’s no judgement.
We have a simple, private chat.
We’ll ask a few questions about your household and what’s happening right now. This helps us understand how to support you.
You shop the pantry.
You’ll walk through our shelves and choose the groceries that make sense for your family—like a small supermarket, but everything is free.
We offer extra support if you want it.
If you’d like, we can talk about referrals to other services—housing, financial counselling, disaster relief, mental health support and more.

We treat every guest with dignity, respect and confidentiality. You don’t need to tell your entire life story to receive food. You will never be shamed for needing help.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often can I use the pantry?

We aim to support people through both short-term crises and ongoing hardship. There may be limits on how often some forms of emergency relief are available, but we’ll always explain this clearly and work with you on a plan.

Is the food really free?

Yes. Loaves and Fishes is a free food pantry. There is no charge for the groceries you take home. Our work is supported by donations, grants and community partners so that cost is never the reason someone in Coffs Harbour goes hungry.

Will anyone know that I’ve asked for help?

We respect your privacy. We collect only the information needed to provide support and to meet basic reporting requirements. We don’t share your story without your consent, except where we’re legally required to for safety reasons.

Is this a soup kitchen?

Some people search for a “Coffs Harbour soup kitchen”. We don’t serve sit-down meals on site in the traditional soup kitchen style. Instead, we provide free groceries through our pantry, and we can let you know about local community meals and volunteer meal services if you need a hot meal.

Want to Help? Donation Drop-Off and Volunteering

If you’ve landed here because you searched for “donation drop-off Coffs Harbour food relief”, thank you—your support keeps our shelves stocked.

Donate food or funds

We’re always grateful for:

Shelf-stable pantry items
Long-life milk
Tinned goods and cereals
Hygiene products and basic household items

You can drop donations at Cnr Argyll st & Pacific Hwy Coffs Harbour on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m lunchtime or give financially to help us purchase what’s most needed.

Find out more on our Donate to Loaves and Fishes page.

Volunteer with Loaves and Fishes

If you’re interested in volunteer meal services or helping a charity food program in Coffs Harbour, we’d love to hear from you.

Volunteers help with:

Receiving and sorting donations
Stocking shelves and keeping the pantry running smoothly
Welcoming guests and offering a listening ear

See our Volunteer at Loaves and Fishes in Coffs Harbour page for current opportunities and how to apply.