Good NestingBefore your family hits the point of starvation, see if you can find free food via this list of resources.
211
As you’re about to see, there is no shortage of resources that can offer food assistance. But if you’re stressed and want the quickest help possible, you may get it by dialing 211 on your phone.
Calling 211 can connect you with a local operator who knows of charities offering free food in your area. But that very same operator can also help you get assistance with housing, healthcare, counseling, paying bills, and more, which is why we list this resource first.
National Hunger Hotline
Another great place to call for food assistance is the National Hunger Hotline. You can reach it by calling 866-3-HUNGRY between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm Eastern, Monday through Friday. Assistance is available in both English and Spanish, and you can use this avenue to quickly find soup kitchens, food drives, and other nutritional opportunities in your area.
It’s worth noting that the National Hunger Hotline also operates via text. So if you don’t want to make the phone call, text 9779 with a food-related question to trigger an automated response.
Federal Government
You can find more information regarding all of the federal government’s food assistance programs by clicking this link. It will take you to the USA.gov food assistance page, which can help you learn more about food stamps (SNAP), WIC benefits, school lunch programs, and more.
State Government
While the federal government may fill all of your nutritional needs, give your state a look as well. Go here to find your state’s social services programs that can help you with free food, employment, childcare, and more.
News
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, food distribution sites are popping up everywhere. Although they may not be a long-term fix, you can find a site that offers free packages of food to feed your family for the time being.
Watch your local news to see if any new food distribution sites pop up, or you can also visit your news stations’ websites or Facebook pages.
Food Pantry Websites
Several websites can connect you with a local food pantry in your area. Feeding America is one example, as it features over 60,000 food pantries and 200 food banks across the country. Simply visit the site’s home page here and enter your zip code, and you’ll see all of the food banks near you.
Ample Harvest is another option for finding food pantries quickly. Go to this link and enter your location, and you will find which food bank is closest so you can visit it and pick up what you need.
Lastly, give Foodpantries.org a try. The site makes it easy to find food pantries nearby, as all you have to do is select your state from the home menu to start searching for resources. You can also use the site to find options for subsidized groceries.
