During a power outage, food can stay in a closed refrigerator for about four hours before it is no longer safe to eat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Frozen food will be safe in the freezer for 48 hours if the freezer is full and 24 hours if it is half full. The mantra of food safety agencies: “When in doubt, throw it out.” 

If you’re running out of food, here are some options. We will keep updating this post as necessary.

If you or your organization are providing food and you’re not on this list, please send the information to [email protected].

City rec and health centers

The Greater Cleveland Food Bank will deliver meals to the these locations on Friday at 1 p.m. 

On the East Side

Zelma Watson George Recreation Center, 3155 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., 216-420-8821

Collinwood Recreation Center, 6300 Lakeshore Blvd., 216-420-8323

J. Glen Smith Health Center, 11100 St. Clair, 216-957-5600

On the West Side

Cudell Recreation Center, 1910 West Blvd., 216-664-4137

Michael Zone Recreation Center, 6301 Lorain Ave., 216-664-3373

McCafferty Health Center, 4242 Lorain Rd., 216-651-5005

Other resources

Cleveland Liberation Center, 9801 Denison Ave., offers wifi, charging, activities for kids, lunch 12-2 p.m., a family-friendly movie at 3 p.m. and dinner 7-9 p.m. (This is the plan for Friday, Aug. 9. Follow the center on Instagram for updates.)

Gatewood Home, located at 532 E. 185 St., has wifi, free water and coffee, spirits for purchase, a game room with video and board games, and a fence-in backyard with tables and chairs, a grill, fire pit and basketball hoops.

Greater Cleveland Food Bank produce and pantries

Aug. 9 produce distribution

MetroHealth Parma, 12301 Snow Rd., Parma, 216-409-3002, 9-11 a.m.

Bethany Baptist Church, 1211 E. 105th St., 216-509-5156, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

North Star Neighborhood Reentry Resource Center, 1834 E. 55th St., 216-924-7193, 1-4 p.m.

Aug 9. pantries

Brookside Family Center, 3764 Pearl Rd., 216-541-1444, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

University Settlement, 4800 Broadway, 216-641-8948 x136, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Community Resource Center, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd., 216-738-2067, 9-11 a.m.

Aug. 10 produce distribution

Fairhill Partners, 12200 Fairhill Rd., 216-299-9225, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Elizabeth Baptist Church, 6114 Francis Ave., 440-349-9941, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

New Second Metropolitan Baptist Church, 2244 E. 55th St., 216-374-1928, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Second St. John Baptist Church, 717 E. 125th St., 216-258-1232, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Grace Tabernacle Baptist Church, 5020 Mayfield Rd., Lyndhurst, 216-401-0414, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Aug. 10 pantries

Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Community Resource Center, 15500 S. Waterloo Rd., 216-738-2067, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

South Euclid United Church of Christ, 4217 Bluestone Rd., South Euclid, 216-658-4254, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Call the Food Bank’s help center at 216-738-2067 to find the nearest pantry or mobile pantry.

Aug. 12 produce distribution

May Dugan Multiservice Center, 4115 Bridge Ave., 419-261-4600, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1349 W. 78th St., 216-255-4758, 5-7 p.m.

Malachi Center, 2416 Superior Viaduct, 216-771-3036, 3-5:30 p.m.

Cuyahoga County Public Library Brooklyn Branch, 4480 Ridge Rd., 216 398 4600, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Aug. 12 pantry

Brookside Family Center, 3764 Pearl Rd., 216-541-1444, 9:30 a.m to 1 p.m.

Aug. 13 pantry

University Settlement, 4800 Broadway, 216-641-8948 x136, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Replace spoiled food purchased with SNAP benefits. 

If you receive SNAP benefits and your power was out for more than four hours, you can request benefits to replace food you lost.

• Fill out this form. 
• Document the amount of food you lost. Take a photo of your refrigerator or provide a grocery store receipt if you have it. 
• You can’t request more than the amount of benefits you get in one month. 

Ice, ice, maybe 

FirstEnergy said free water and ice is available at 14 Giant Eagle stores, including seven in Cuyahoga County. The utility said the residents without power could each get a bag of ice and two gallons of water. On Thursday, residents posted online that at least one location –Westlake Market District – wasn’t able to participate because its registers were down. 

Avon Lake Giant Eagle – 31990 Walker Road

Route 82 and I-77 Giant Eagle – 4343 Royalton Road

Biddulph Plaza Giant Eagle – 6300 Biddulph Road

Chesterland Giant Eagle – 12692 Chillicothe Road

Day Drive Giant Eagle – 7939 Day Drive

Midway Mall Giant Eagle Elyria – 320 Market Drive

Southgate Giant Eagle Maple Heights – 5321 Warrensville Center Road

Tyler & Center Giant Eagle – 8383 Tyler Blvd.

Middlefield Giant Eagle – 15400 West High Street

North Madison Giant Eagle – 6556 North Ridge Road

Parma-Broadview Rd  Giant Eagle – 7400 Broadview Road

Strongsville Market District – 15919 Pearl Road

Westlake Market District – 30275 Detroit Road (When registered re-open)

Willoughby Commons Giant Eagle 36475 Euclid Avenue

The free giveaway will continue through next Wednesday (Aug. 14) or while supplies last.