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Learning About Getting Help With Food

Many people need help getting food. They may live in an area where there are few grocery stores and where food costs a lot. Or they may not have enough income to buy food and pay the bills. It can also be for many other reasons, such as an illness, a job loss, a growing family, or going to college.

  • Worrying about getting food can be stressful. If you need help getting food, talk to your doctor, a social worker, or a faith leader. They can connect you to local resources.

  • You can also find help by going online to findhelp.org or to benefits.gov or to 211.org or by calling 211.

Where can you get help?

The programs that offer food will depend on where you live. And you may need to give some information to help you qualify, such as your income, your age, or if you have refugee status. To find out more about a program, try looking it up online or asking at your local library. Here are some other tips and online resources.

  • Food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens. These places give out free food or meals.

    • feedingamerica.org
    • foodfinder.us

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It gives you a debit (EBT) card to buy certain foods. Your local SNAP office can help you apply.

    • fns.usda.gov/snap/state-directory

  • Double Up Food Bucks. If you use SNAP, you may be able to get free fruit and vegetables from farmers markets.

    • doubleupamerica.org

  • National food programs for children. These include the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Ask your child's school counselor about these programs.

    • usa.gov/school-meals

  • Home food delivery. Many communities have programs that deliver free or low-cost meals to people who have a hard time cooking or shopping for food.

    • mealsonwheelsamerica.org

  • Commodity Supplemental Food Program. It gives out monthly boxes of food to older people who qualify.

    • fns.usda.gov/csfp

  • Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program. It provides older people with coupons for fruit and vegetables from farmers markets.

    • fns.usda.gov/sfmnp

  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. It gives out monthly boxes of food. It's mostly for people living on American Indian reservations or for Native Americans living in certain areas near reservations.

    • usa.gov/native-american-food-programs

  • Veteran Health Administration Food Security Office. It connects veterans to food programs, like SNAP.

    • nutrition.va.gov/Food_Insecurity.asp

  • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). It gives you a debit card to buy certain foods. It's for people who are pregnant, are breastfeeding, or have children under 5 years old.

    • fns.usda.gov/wic/program-contacts

  • Farmers Market Nutrition Program. It provides people who have WIC with coupons to use at farmers markets or roadside stands.

    • fns.usda.gov/fns-contacts

  • Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). If you've recently been through a natural disaster, you may be able to get a debit card to buy certain foods.

    • disasterassistance.gov

  • Food programs for people who are refugees or immigrants. You may qualify for a national or local food program. Check with your local refugee or immigrant center.

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