The United States Department of Agriculture reports that families should budget $1,000 to $1,600 per month for their groceries, depending on how thrifty of shoppers they are. This is a sharp increase since the pandemic, and millions of families are struggling to make ends meet, including to purchase their groceries each month. The good news is that there is groceries assistance for low income earners.
Having food to eat is a necessity, so it’s not something that families who have a low income can simply do without. They need to make sure their basic needs are being met, and that may call for some people to get assistance through a variety of helpful programs. For many people, the groceries assistance is difference in their kids going hungry or having enough to eat.
Programs Offering Groceries Assistance
You can get assistance from more than one of these resources at a time. There is no limit to how many you can get help from at once. Be sure to reach out to multiple programs so that you can make sure your families’ food needs are being met. Plus, you will never have to pay back any of the assistance you receive obtaining groceries. It is considered a gift to help people in the community who are struggling.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – This is the largest resource in the country for food assistance for low income earners. This is a program provided by the federal government, and it is available to everyone in the country. The qualification for being approved for the program is that you earn a low income. There is no limit to how long you can get groceries assistance through this program. Those who are approved will receive a debit-style card that is used at the grocery store to pay for food. Each month, the federal government will add funds to the account automatically. The payment source can be used on a wide variety of foods. It cannot be used to pay for prepared foods, such as subs from the deli or hot ready-to-eat meals. The amount that you receive is based on the number of dependents in your family. You will need to apply for SNAP online or at your local social services office. To get more information about the program, click here.
Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) – This is a groceries assistance program for women who are pregnant or have children ages five and under. Those who meet that qualification and have a low income may be able to receive assistance purchasing healthy food from the store. This program focuses on providing people with healthy food to ensure nutritional needs are being met. The federally funded program requires that you apply at a WIC clinic. To get more information and find a WIC office near you, click here.
Salvation Army – This organization is a good resource to turn to for free groceries. They run food programs that help people with obtaining free hot meals, as well as provide them with bags of groceries. You can contact your local Salvation Army to get free food, as well as other helpful programs. To get more information and find a location near you, click here.
Catholic Charities – This is another organization that has locations around the country. They provide a variety of helpful programs for low income earners, including providing people with free food. They provide people with free meals, as well as groceries assistance through their pantry. You can contact a location near you to get assistance. To find a location in your area, click here.
St. Vincent De Paul – This organization has many locations in the country. They provide helpful services for those who have a low income and need assistance. They will provide people with groceries assistance, as well as other programs. To get more information and find a location near you, click here.
211 – You can call this number to locate food pantries in your area. Food pantries are places you can go to for free groceries. They allow those who have a low income to obtain free food on a weekly or monthly basis. The 211 program is provided as a fee referral services by the organization called the United Way. You can call the number and they will refer you to the pantries near you. To get more information about the free referral service, click here.
Find Help – You can use this website to find local food pantries, which are places that will provide you with free grocery assistance. Use their website by entering your zip code to find resources in your local area. The resources in the database will provide free helpful services, and by using their zip code tool you can find ones in your local area. To get more information about the service, click here.
Hunger Free America – This is a service funded by the federal government. If you need help obtaining groceries you can call or text their hotline. They provide information to help you find programs that will help you with obtaining groceries. They offer information in English and Spanish. They also have information about hunger issues in each state. You should find helpful information and be able to get immediate food assistance through this agency. You can call or text their hunger hotline at 914-342-7744. They have programs in place that they can provide to you and refer you to that will help you get food quickly. To get more information about Hunger Free America, click here.
In addition to the resources, be sure to check with your local churches. Many of them have programs that provide free meals for people, and others that have food pantries. Most cities have food pantries which allow people to get free groceries. Additionally, there are many “food drop” events that take place around the country. They are events where anyone can attend and get free groceries. They are typically put on by churches or other non-profit organizations in your local area.
