Food ass1stance
Our organization offers assistance in learning how to access SNAP, WIC, Emergency Food Assistance, School Meals, and food benefits for the elderly and those who identify as Native American. These programs can get very tricky to understand and find, let alone apply for and receive. Hopefully the information we gathered for you below will help you find any and all assistance you need. Worrying about where your next meal will come from should never be a reality of an American. We are here to help you learn how to get these benefits and access nutritious food for you and your family.
SNAP Benefits
Food Stamps
When prompted, please select the state you reside in
Then click, State SNAP Website
Once redirected to your state's snap website, you are able to apply online through one of the links attached to the website
SNAP benefits can help you put food on the table and provide for your family. It can be used to purchase food at participating stores and is accepted at most major grocery stores. SNAP benefits provide nutritional assistance to help people and families buy the food they need for good health. These benefits are provided monthly, and can be used to purchase food at authorized retailers.
Do you qualify?
SNAP Benefits provide individuals and families with the opportunity to purchase nutritious food with the help of a monthly electronic benefit transfer (EBT) from the government. To qualify for SNAP Benefits, you must meet your state's eligibility requirements, including income limits. States may also consider other resources such as bank accounts as part of the eligibility process. Depending on your state, you can apply for SNAP Benefits online, in person, by mail, or by fax. Our team can help you through the application process and answer any questions you may have.
WIC Program
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
When prompted, please select the state/tribe under the By State or By Tribe you reside in
Then click apply to pull up all contacts and resources to apply to the WIC program
WIC provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care and other services free of charge to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk. WIC services are available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. Recipients of WIC assistance receive checks or vouchers to supplement their diet with nutritious foods
Do you qualify?
To be eligible for WIC benefits, you must be either pregnant, breastfeeding (up to the baby's first birthday), or within six months of having given birth or your pregnancy ending. As well as meet certain income and residential requirements
Does your child qualify?
The WIC program provides nutrition assistance to eligible families with children under the age of 5.
Emergency Food ass1stance
Get immediate food assistance from government and/or private organizations. If you are hungry now, learn where to find food in your area.
Where to contact government and/or private organizations for help
-
Call 211 to find agencies and community organizations that can assist you with finding food in an emergency.
-
Call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273). Information is available in English and Spanish. The hotline operates Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Eastern Time.
-
Contact community or religious organizations to find a local food bank or food pantry.
School meals and food programs for children
School Year Programs:
-
The Special Milk Program, which provides milk for students in schools that do not participate in a federal school meal program
The Summer Food Service Program:
The Summer Food Service Program offers one or more free meals during summer break. All children and teens 18 or younger qualify. There is no application process and no income limit.
The Free/Reduced School Lunch Program provides children from low-income families with access to healthy meals at school. Through the program, eligible students can receive meals at no cost or at a reduced price. This helps to ensure that all children have access to the nutrition they need to stay healthy and succeed in school.
Does your child qualify?
Your children may qualify for free meals or milk during the school year if:
-
You meet household income guidelines
-
You receive SNAP (food stamps), TANF (welfare), WIC, or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
-
They are foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court
-
They are enrolled in Head Start
Check with your child's school for specific eligibility requirements for your state.
How to apply for school meal programs
Ask your child's school for a meal program application. You can do this at the beginning of the school year or at any time if circumstances change.
Food ass1stance for older adults
If you are 60 years or above, you may be
eligable for food assistance, based on your income.
Please select your state under the By State Tab.
Some states offer prgrams for older adults such as the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) which provides coupons for fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs. These benefits are distributed through coupons that can be used at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community farms. There is also the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) which provides a monthly package of healthy food
Do you qualify?
You may be eligible for SFMNP and CSFP if you are:
-
60 or older
-
Have an income at or below 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines
If you don't see your state in the search results you may live in an area that does not offer these programs. Instead of these programs, you may be able to find assistance through SNAP benefits
Food ass1stance for Native Americans
The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
When prompted, please select the state/tribe under the By State or By Tribe you reside in
Then click apply to pull up all contacts and resources to apply to the FDPIR program
The programs available to low income Native Americans is the The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) which provides monthly packages of healthy food.
Do you qualify?
-
Meet income requirements
-
Live on a reservation
-
Live near a reservation or in Oklahoma, and someone in your household is a member of a federally recognized tribe
Your tribal organization or regional Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) office can help you find out if you are eligible.