Our services have moved to The Food Bank Market!

Central Pantry closed on Saturday, October 21, 2023, but services have found a new home! The Food Bank Market - located at 705 Business Loop 70 W - is open. Neighbors now have access to more resources, a new shopping experience, expanded nutrition education and more in this new space. Please sign up to get the latest Market updates by email.

Address

705 Business Loop 70 West, Columbia, MO 65203

Phone Number

(573) 874-7848

 

Hours

Tuesday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Market will be closed the following days in 2024:

  • January 13 (in observance of MLK Day)

  • January 25 (staff professional development)

  • April 25 (staff professional development)

  • May 25 (in observance of Memorial Day)

  • June 19 (in observance of Juneteenth)

  • July 4 (in observance of Independence Day)

  • July 25 (staff professional development)

  • August 31 (in observance of Labor Day)

  • October 24 (staff professional development)

  • November 28-29 (in observance of Thanksgiving)

  • December 24-25 (in observance of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)

  • January 1, 2025 (in observance of New Year’s Day)

Weather-related closures will be posted on our social media accounts and the homepage of our website.

  • If you live or work in Boone County and are in need of food assistance, you are welcome to visit The Market. Our intake process is entirely self-declared, so no paperwork is required, just bring yourself to enroll at The Market. Everyone in your household does not need to be present during the initial intake. A form of ID helps intake move quicker and the names and birthdates of other households written on a piece of paper help, but none are necessary. The Market respects your privacy and personal information will never be sold or shared.

    We ask that you also bring grocery bags if you are able.

  • If you are age 60 and older and have limited income, then the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), also known as Senior Boxes, may be for you. Senior Boxes provides nutritious food packages to eligible seniors each month. Find out if you meet the income guidelines.

    If you're interested in signing up, fill out the application and bring it to The Market during your next visit. You will also need to bring proof of residence (an I.D. with current address), and a driver’s license or a birth certificate.

    If you would like to designate someone to pick up your Senior Box on your behalf, please complete the proxy form and turn in with your application.

  • The Food Bank is piloting a delivery program with the help of DoorDash. Neighbors age 60+ who live within a 10-mile radius of The Market may be eligible to get food delivered to their door through the program. To get a delivery, please request delivery by telephone by the second Friday of the month to be added to the delivery list for the 3rd Friday of the month. Call (573) 874-7848.

    Please note:

    • Deliveries count as a regular monthly pantry visit

    • Items are pre-selected and include a Mixed Produce Box and perishable and non-perishable items with quantities based on household size.

    • Neighbors must be present to accept the delivery, so we can make sure no perishable foods go to waste.

What to expect at the market

With a new name and new layout, The Market brings a refreshing change to a traditional understanding of food pantries. Neighbors can look forward to a shopping experience that's more like a grocery store. More space allows The Market staff to better meet your needs, with additional cold storage for the healthiest foods, areas for nutrition education and space for visiting services to provide access to resources that serve the whole person.

Neighbors can shop at The Market once per calendar month.

Access to new resources

A dedicated Resources Navigator will be available to help assess your immediate and long-term needs and provide you with information on available local resources. In addition, The Market will host other non-profits and community resources to bring together many different types of support - all under one roof. Space for visiting services on the retail floor means you can get help from local experts on a variety of topics, like SNAP, utilities assistance and more. In addition, our partnership with Compass Health Network means access to healthcare may be more accessible for those who pick up food.

A greater selection

With more floor space and a setup that’s similar to a traditional grocery store, The Market provides the space needed to offer neighbors a greater selection in the foods they take home.

To help keep distribution equitable and ensure there are items for all neighbors in need, The Market uses a checkout system. During check-in, each neighbor will receive a shopping list that outlines how many items they can choose from each shopping category (fresh produce, frozen foods, cold foods, breakfast, grains, dry protein, canned fruit and vegetables and more), all based on family size. During checkout, volunteers help bag items and let you know if you’ve missed anything.

Market 2 Meal

The Food Bank’s Registered Dietitian Alma Hopkins offers food tastings at The Food Bank Market on most Thursdays. Alma also works to help neighbors learn more about seasonal produce and legumes and highlights healthy recipes using foods available through The Food Bank. We invite everyone to access Alma’s library of recipes and try these tasty and healthy dishes at home.