Editor's note: This article was last updated April 30.
We're living in an unprecedented time, where local restaurants and nonprofits are stepping up to help those who are short on money or food because of coronavirus closures and layoffs. Because there are so many options right now, we've compiled a list of where to find a free meal by day of the week in the Tucson area.
You may notice that some programs have been included multiple times in this list. That's because we wanted to break it up by day, for easier browsing. Have we missed anyone? Email me at aberlin@tucson.com and we'll add your program to the list.
Monday
• Tucson Food Share: Food Not Bombs has started a grocery distribution program that gives out free groceries twice a week to anyone who needs them. The distributions happen Mondays and Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. at 403 N. Fifth St. You can also request a delivery through their website.
• Sammy's Mexican Grill: This Mexican restaurant in Catalina is offering free meals to anyone in the Tucson area who is out of work and hungry. Just come inside and tell them where you were previously working, and they will make you anything off the menu. They are located at 16502 N. Oracle Road. Limit one meal per person. Available during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• La Cocina: Downtown's La Cocina restaurant is serving free meals to restaurant workers displaced by the crisis. Stop by Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2-4 p.m. at 201 N. Court Ave. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. A recent meal (Monday, April 27) was a roasted chicken leg quarter, potatoes and a green salad. Call 520-444-5155 for more information.
Tuesday
• Carnitas for the Community: Forbes Meat Company is partnering with Geronimo's Revenge, Thunder Canyon Brewery and the People's Defense Initiative to give out boxed carnitas tacos. They're operating every Tuesday, 2-6 p.m. at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway.
• Sammy's Mexican Grill: This Mexican restaurant in Catalina is offering free meals to anyone in the Tucson area who is out of work and hungry. Just come inside and tell them where you were previously working, and they will make you anything off the menu. They are located at 16502 N. Oracle Road. Limit one meal per person. Available during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Wednesday
• Sammy's Mexican Grill: This Mexican restaurant in Catalina is offering free meals to anyone in the Tucson area who is out of work and hungry. Just come inside and tell them where you were previously working, and they will make you anything off the menu. They are located at 16502 N. Oracle Road. Limit one meal per person. Available during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• La Cocina: Downtown's La Cocina restaurant is serving free meals to restaurant workers displaced by the crisis. Stop by Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2-4 p.m. at 201 N. Court Ave. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. A recent meal (Monday, April 27) was a roasted chicken leg quarter, potatoes and a green salad. Call 520-444-5155 for more information.
Thursday
• 4th Avenue Deli: They will give away 25 grab-and-go sandwiches every Thursday for out-of-work service industry workers or people in need of a meal. Options include turkey and provolone, ham and swiss, roast beef and cheddar, as well as a veggie option. They are open from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. on Thursdays. Call 520-624-3354 for availability.
• Tucson Food Share: Food Not Bombs has started a grocery distribution program that gives out free groceries twice a week to anyone who needs them. The distributions happen Mondays and Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. at 403 N. Fifth St. You can also request a delivery through their website.
• Sammy's Mexican Grill: This Mexican restaurant in Catalina is offering free meals to anyone in the Tucson area who is out of work and hungry. Just come inside and tell them where you were previously working, and they will make you anything off the menu. They are located at 16502 N. Oracle Road. Limit one meal per person. Available during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday
• Sammy's Mexican Grill: This Mexican restaurant in Catalina is offering free meals to anyone in the Tucson area who is out of work and hungry. Just come inside and tell them where you were previously working, and they will make you anything off the menu. They are located at 16502 N. Oracle Road. Limit one meal per person. Available during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• La Cocina: Downtown's La Cocina restaurant is serving free meals to restaurant workers displaced by the crisis. Stop by Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2-4 p.m. at 201 N. Court Ave. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. A recent meal (Monday, April 27) was a roasted chicken leg quarter, potatoes and a green salad. Call 520-444-5155 for more information.
Saturday
• Sammy's Mexican Grill: This Mexican restaurant in Catalina is offering free meals to anyone in the Tucson area who is out of work and hungry. Just come inside and tell them where you were previously working, and they will make you anything off the menu. They are located at 16502 N. Oracle Road. Limit one meal per person. Available during regular business hours, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday
• Pop's Hot Chicken: Stop by American Eat Co. and get a free Pop's Hot Chicken sandwich every Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., for the next few weeks. The meal is sponsored by the program Feeding Those Who Feed Us through the Peoples Defense Initiative. American Eat Co. is located at 1439 S. Fourth Ave.
Other places to find free food
• Free lunch for kids: Many area school districts and schools are distributing free meals for children under 18 every weekday. Here's a huge list of where to go.
• Free meals for seniors and healthcare workers: Earlier this month, #ThisIsTucson produced an exhaustive resource guide that includes information about where seniors and first responders can find free and discounted food.
• Free meals for refugees: Iskashitaa Refugee Network provides free produce for asylum seekers, refugees and underserved members of the community. Follow their Facebook page to learn more about their organization. Or call 520-440-0100.
• The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona: The Tucson Community Food Bank is offering a drive-thru and limited touch distribution from its headquarters at 3003 S. Country Club Road. New hours are Tuesday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. They also provide a regularly-updated map of free meals across Southern Arizona at communityfoodbank.org/Locations/Tucson. Make sure you call each location ahead of time to verify hours and requirements.
