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Where to get a free Thanksgiving Day meal in NYC
By
Karen Yi
Published Nov 26, 2025
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Photo by Raychel Brightman/Newsday RM via Getty Images
By
Karen Yi
Published Nov 26, 2025
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This Thanksgiving, food pantries and organizations around New York City will welcome people to their doors who are looking for a special meal for the holiday — even if they can’t afford it.
With food insecurity on the rise, and the unprecedented two–week pause of federal food assistance benefits this month, Gothamist is compiling a list of locations offering free Thanksgiving Day meals below.
Did we miss one? Share the details in the comments.
Adam Clayton Powell building
The Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building located at 163 West 125th St. in Harlem will distribute 600 meals between 9 a.m. and noon to several nonprofits that will distribute them to their networks.
City Councilmember Yusef Salaam will host a feast there at 3 p.m. for pre-registered guests. Reach out to his office for details.
Bowery Mission
The group will continue serving its annual Thanksgiving Day meal, a tradition that started in 1879.
A hot breakfast will be served between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and Thanksgiving meals will be offered between 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 90 Lafayette St., on the sixth floor. Outdoor seating is also available.
Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen
The soup kitchen will serve about 500 people on Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 296 Ninth Ave. in Manhattan. The meal includes roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and apple cider.
New York Common Pantry
The organization is hosting a Thanksgiving lunch on Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 8 East 109th St. in East Harlem.
Pantry workers say 118% more people are enrolled in the pantry this week than at the same time last year.
Queens Borough President
Resort World New York City, a casino, is sponsoring a 6,000 meal giveaway along with the Queens Economic Development Corporation and chef JJ Johnson, a James Beard Award winner. Meals will be distributed at 9 a.m. on Wednesday at Queens Borough Hall at 120-55 Queens Blvd. in Kew Gardens to nonprofits to give out to their networks.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards will hold a feast at 12:30 p.m. for pre-registered guests. Reach out to his office for details.
Xavier Mission
The organization is hosting its annual Thanksgiving Day dinner for disabled and senior members of the community from noon to 2 p.m. at 55 West 15th St., Hurtado Hall.
Correction: Holiday meal information at BronxWorks has been removed from this list. Their meal is for clients only.
This story has been updated with additional information about meals at the Adam Clayton Powell building and Queens Borough Hall.
Tagged
economy
food
new york city
Karen Yi
Karen Yi covers homelessness and poverty. She joined the WNYC and Gothamist newsroom in 2020. Before that, Karen covered Newark for the Star-Ledger and spent almost a decade working for newspapers in New Jersey and Florida. She grew up in Miami and has a dog named Cashew. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-589-1460.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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