How Can I Order Food for an Inmate or Fund Their Commissary?

There is no standard way to order food and have it delivered directly to an inmate, the way you might send a gift basket to someone at home. Most correctional facilities do not accept food packages from outside, and those that do have highly specific rules about approved vendors and items.

The most universal option is funding the inmate's commissary account. Commissary is the store inside the facility where inmates can purchase food items, snacks, drinks, and other approved goods on a scheduled shopping day, typically once a week. You put money on the account from the outside, and your inmate uses it to buy what is available in their commissary. Common services for adding funds include JPay, Western Union Quick Collect, GTL, and the facility's own deposit system, depending on where your inmate is housed.

Some county jails have arrangements with approved outside vendors or nearby stores that allow families to order specific food packages directly for delivery to the facility. These programs are not universal and vary significantly. If this option exists at your inmate's facility, the jail's website or a call to the administration office will confirm it.

For longer-term state and federal facilities, commissary funding is almost always the most practical path. Most inmates rely on their commissary account for the food extras that make institutional meals more bearable. Keeping a consistent amount on the account is one of the most meaningful things you can do for someone inside.

InmateAid can help with money transfers to commissary accounts if you need a straightforward way to send funds.