Houston Food Bank Portwall Street Guide — Address, Hours & How to Help

Houston Food Bank — Portwall Street guide

America's largest food bank by distribution volume

The Houston Food Bank's main campus at 535 Portwall Street is the largest food bank facility in the United States. It distributes more than 200 million pounds of food a year through 1,800+ partner pantries, schools, and meal programs across 18 southeast Texas counties.

Contact & access

Address

535 Portwall Street, Houston, TX 77029 (Clinton Park, east of downtown)

Phone

(713) 223-3700

Public transit

Limited Metro bus service to Clinton Park; driving is easiest. Free on-site parking. Closest highway exit: I-10 East at Wayside Drive or Mercury Drive.

Language access

English and Spanish staff on-site; partner pantries serve additional languages.

About the Portwall Street campus

The Houston Food Bank moved to 535 Portwall Street in 2011 after outgrowing two earlier facilities. The campus is a 308,000-square-foot former CVS distribution center in the Clinton Park neighborhood, just east of downtown Houston near the Houston Ship Channel. It includes a 31,000-square-foot production kitchen (the Keegan Kitchen), volunteer floors, a teaching kitchen, and a small grocery and clothing co-op for low-income clients.

Address and directions

535 Portwall Street, Houston, TX 77029. Take I-10 East from downtown and exit at Wayside Drive or Mercury Drive. Free parking on-site for volunteers and partners. Limited Metro bus service — driving is the easiest way to reach the campus.

How the Houston Food Bank operates

The food bank is a warehouse, not a walk-in pantry. Food comes in from farms, grocery chains, manufacturers, and the USDA, then leaves on trucks to partner organizations who actually distribute to families. New to the distinction? Read our guide on food bank vs. food pantry.

Programs run from Portwall Street

Partner agency distribution — 1,800+ pantries, shelters, and schools.
Mega-distributions — large drive-through events for thousands of families at a time.
Backpack Buddy — weekend food packs for 36,000+ Houston-area kids.
Senior Box Program — monthly groceries for low-income seniors.
Keegan Kitchen — prepares 30,000+ hot meals a week for partner sites.
Teaching Kitchen — free nutrition and cooking classes.
Workforce program — career training that has placed thousands in food-industry jobs.

Volunteering on Portwall Street

The Portwall campus is built around volunteers — about 100,000 a year. Sign up online for shifts of 2–4 hours. Common roles include sorting donated food on the warehouse floor, packing Backpack Buddy bags, packing senior boxes, and prepping meals in the Keegan Kitchen line. Groups of 10–60 can book team shifts.

Donating

The Houston Food Bank can turn one donated dollar into about three meals through wholesale and retail partnerships. Cash donations go furthest. Food drives are welcome — shelf-stable proteins, canned vegetables, peanut butter, and rice are the highest-need staples.

Getting help in Houston

Don't drive to Portwall Street if you need a food box today. Instead, use FoodCycled's directory to find a Houston Food Bank partner pantry near you:

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Houston Food Bank on Portwall Street?

The Houston Food Bank's main campus is at 535 Portwall Street, Houston, TX 77029, in the Clinton Park area east of downtown. It is the largest food bank facility in America by distribution volume.

Can I get food directly from the Houston Food Bank?

Usually no. The Houston Food Bank distributes food through more than 1,800 partner pantries, schools, and nonprofits in 18 southeast Texas counties. You can, however, attend mega-distributions and select drive-through events held at the Portwall Street campus.

How do I volunteer at Houston Food Bank on Portwall Street?

Sign up for a shift on the Houston Food Bank's website. The Portwall Street campus needs volunteers daily for sorting donated food, packing senior boxes, packing weekend Backpack Buddy bags for kids, and serving on the Keegan Kitchen line.

What hours is the Houston Food Bank open?

The Portwall Street campus is open Monday through Saturday for volunteer shifts and partner pickups. Public food distributions happen on a published schedule — check the Houston Food Bank's website for current times.

What's the fastest way to get help if I'm in Houston?

Use FoodCycled's Houston food assistance directory to find a pantry near your ZIP. Most Houston pantries are walk-in, and several offer same-day or next-day distribution.