Root and Nourish

The safety net is changing. The gaps are growing. And we are not looking away.

You have likely heard about the historic cuts to SNAP, the largest in the program's history. What you may not know is that TEFAP, the federal program that supplies food banks and pantries with USDA commodities, lost $500 million in funding in 2025 alone. Food orders were canceled. Truckloads of food that families and distribution centers were counting on never arrived.
 

Root and Nourish exists to reach into the spaces that larger systems cannot always fill. We deliver essential items directly to struggling families in the Pensacola area: food, infant and ADULT diapers, feminine hygiene supplies, vitamins, and nutritional supplements like PediaSure. The things a mother needs at 2am. The things that make the difference between a family that is barely surviving and one that has just enough stability to begin dreaming again.

​The things that don't show up on an EBT card. We believe that nourishing a family today is an investment in what they will build tomorrow.

Build a Dream is not a food bank. But we stand firmly behind ​​​Our Community Partners. We believe in strengthening the hands that are already doing the work:

​Little Flower Catholic Church St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Mission Food Pantry 6495 Lillian Hwy, Pensacola · 850-455-4851 Wednesdays & Fridays · 9 AM–Noon
St. Anne Catholic Church Bellview St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry 5200 Saufley Field Rd, Pensacola · 850-457-3833 Tuesdays & Thursdays · 10 AM–Noon · By appointment.

Manna Food Pantries, a non-profit organization that provides emergency food assistance and addresses hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Florida, through its main pantry and various community programs. It offers free groceries to individuals and families in need, operates with no government funding, and relies on community support, accepting donations of non-perishable food and funds. Manna also runs specialized programs for vulnerable populations like seniors and children, partnering with other local agencies.
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​Below you will find a curated list of additional food banks, pantries, and community resources serving Pensacola and the surrounding area. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to these organizations directly. They are doing extraordinary work, and they need your support too.
If you would like to donate essential items, make a financial gift, or partner with Root and Nourish, we would love to hear from you.

​RESOURCES:
 

Sometimes what helps most is just getting pointed in the right direction. If you haven’t already, you can dial 211 to reach United Way of West Florida, they’re a strong resource here in Pensacola and can help with a wide range of needs.​

211 Northwest Florida — United Way of West Florida Call or text 211 · unitedwaywestflorida.org

findhelp.org — Comprehensive social services search findhelp.org

Feeding the Gulf Coast — Find a Pantry feedingthegulfcoast.org/find-a-pantry

Community Health Northwest Florida Community resource navigation and food assistance referrals

EFNEP Escambia County — University of Florida/IFAS Nutrition education and food resource support sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/escambia

Sunshine Health Welcome Room — Pensacola sunshinehealth.com/supporting-florida-communities/welcome-rooms/pensacola.html

​Food Pantries & Distribution Sites

Manna Food Pantries 3030 N E Street, Pensacola · 850-432-2053 By appointment only — call to schedule Accepts food donations Mon–Fri, 9 AM–4 PM

Feeding the Gulf Coast 5709 Industrial Blvd, Milton · 850-626-1332 Regional food bank serving Escambia County via mobile pantry and partner sites Mobile pantry schedule varies — check website

Myrtle Grove Elementary / Warrington Emergency Aid Center 406 S Navy Blvd, Pensacola · 850-972-9304 Thursday & Friday · 10 AM–1 PM Located in Warrington Presbyterian Church annex

East Brent Baptist Church 4801 N Davis Hwy, Pensacola · 850-477-5812 Tuesdays · 9–11 AM · Walk-in welcome

Elijah Food Pantry 1030 N 57th Ave, Pensacola · 850-456-7463 Tuesdays · 2 PM · First 40 families served · ID required

St. Vincent de Paul Society 2200 W DeSoto St & 5200 Saufley Field Rd, Pensacola 850-434-6615 / 850-457-3833 Tuesday & Thursday mornings · By appointment · Two locations

Brownsville Assembly of God — The Hope Center 3100 W DeSoto St, Pensacola · 850-430-2100 Wednesdays · 7–9 AM · Drive-through pantry Also Sunday distribution

Salvation Army — Pensacola 1501 N Q St, Pensacola · 850-432-1501 Tuesday & Thursday · 10 AM–12 PM Wednesday & Friday · 2–4 PM · Walk-in welcome

Samaritan Hands — First Baptist Church 511 N Tarragona St, Pensacola · 850-438-8907 Monday–Thursday · 9–11:30 AM Groceries and clothing assistance

Holy Cross Episcopal Church 2100 W Fairfield Dr, Pensacola · 850-477-8596 Wednesdays · 9–10:30 AM · Drive-through pantry

Loaves & Fishes Soup Kitchen 257 E Lee St, Pensacola · 850-438-7616 Breakfast: Mon–Fri · 7 AM Lunch: Saturday · 11:30 AM Dinner: Sunday, Monday & Wednesday · 5 PM Shelter residents fed daily

Perdido Bay Baptist Church 12600 Sorrento Rd, Pensacola · 850-492-2604 Wednesdays · 9–11 AM · Walk-in · ID and proof of address required

St. Joseph Catholic Soup Kitchen 140 W Government St, Pensacola · 850-436-6461 Tuesdays · 10–11 AM · Hot lunch · Walk-in welcome

Harvest of Hope Pantry — NWFCO 9191 N Davis Hwy, Pensacola · 850-505-9673 Monthly Fridays · 5:30–6:30 PM · By appointment

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church 303 S Navy Blvd, Pensacola · 850-456-5218 2nd & 4th Wednesdays · 8–9:30 AM · Drive-through pantry

Ensley Church of the Nazarene 8300 N Palafox St, Pensacola · 850-476-4458 5 times per year · Saturdays · 9 AM Large-scale drive-through giveaways

The Father's Heart Ministries 4212 E Olive Rd, Pensacola · 850-477-9154 2nd Tuesday · 1:30–3 PM · First-come, first-served

Pensacola Caring Hearts pensacolacaringhearts.org/contact-us.html

​Grassroots & Community-Based

Pensacola Grocery Buddies Facebook-based food sharing community · Ongoing

The Shelf Grassroots community pantry · Facebook-based theshelfpantry@yahoo.com

Know of a resource we missed? Please let us know at diana@buildadreamfoundation.org and we will add it to this list. This page is maintained and updated regularly by Build a Dream.​ 

​Build a Dream is not able to help with rent or utilities.

What we can do is help with groceries (including nutritional supplements) and diapers. If you feel groceries, supplements, or diapers are needed to help carry you through right now, we’d like to understand a little more about what’s going on so we can respond thoughtfully. When you have a moment, please walk through the questions below. Your answers are 100% confidential.