The cost of food has been increasing at an alarming rate all around the country in recent years. Each year, people are seeing the cost of things go up when they head to the grocery store. This is concerning for most people, but especially so for seniors, who may be living on a fixed income. The good news is that there are programs that offer food assistance for seniors.
Knowing where to turn to get food assistance can make a world of difference for seniors. It will help ensure that they get their basic food needs met and they won’t have to give up paying for something else they need in order to purchase food. Ensuring that their basic food needs are met will provide them with a way to keep eating, while they use any additional money they have on paying other bills.
There are numerous places that offer food assistance for seniors. Some of the programs are provided by the state and federal government programs, while others are offered through charitable organizations and churches. It is important to reach out to as many programs as you feel needed to ensure that your needs are being met. While programs provided by the government may have stricter requirements for getting approval, those provided by other organizations are usually easier going. They strive to help everyone in the community who needs assistance.
Food Assistance Programs for Seniors
Below you will find a combination of resources that can be explored to obtain free food assistance. Contact all of the programs to see which ones you can get assistance from immediately and ongoing.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – This is a food assistance program provided by the federal government. It is available around the country and open to everyone who has a low income and is a citizen or legal non-citizen. If you are approved for the program, you will receive a debit-style card that is electronically loaded with funds each month. The card is then used as a payment source at the grocery store or some farmer’s markets. The amount of funds you get each month depends on how many dependents are in the household. There is no limit to how long you can get help through this program as long as you continue to meet the qualifications. This program used to be called food stamps and is what many people still call it today. To get more information and sign up, click here.
Meals on Wheels – This is a program that many seniors to turn for food assistance. The program ensures that seniors have their basic food needs met by delivering meals to them. Their service is provided around the country. To get meals from them, visit their website and enter your zip code, which will provide you with local program information. To get more information and register for meal service, click here.
Salvation Army – This organization offers many locations around the country. They provide free hot meals to those in the community who need them, as well as offering food supplies to take home. They also offer free clothing, shelter services, and more. To get more information and find a location near you, click here.
Catholic Charities – With locations around the country, this faith-based organization helps many people with food assistance each year. You can contact them to get free food. In addition to providing free food supplies, they also offer free clothing, shelter, and more. You do not have to be religious to get help from the organization. To get more information and find the location near you, click here.
211 – This is the number to call to reach a free referral program that can help you find food assistance programs in your local area. They will search their database to find places you can contact for free food. It’s free to use and open to everyone in the country. To get more information about this program provided by the United Way, click here.
Churches – There are churches all around the country, and they are great resources for obtaining free food. Many of them provide free food items to people in the community who need it, while others will also serve up hot meals for those who need it. Check with your local churches to see what type of food assistance they provide. They do not have strict requirements for getting help. Churches usually have a mission of providing assistance to anyone in the community who needs it. You do not have to be a member of the church to get assistance.
Feeding America – This organization can help seniors find food banks and pantries in their area. Food banks and food pantries are places that people can turn to for free food. Some of them will provide people who need help with bags of free food, while other programs are set up where you can go to a store-type setting and shop around for what you need. You will get the items for free at the end of your shopping trip. Additionally, there are some programs that will provide free food delivery to those who may have difficulty getting out of the home. You can use Feeding America’s search tool to find food banks and pantries in your area. To get more information, click here.
Senior Centers – Around the country there are senior centers and Council on Aging offices. These are good places to find resources in your area to obtain free food. Reach out to these places in your area to see if they offer a free food assistance program of if they know of one in your area.
Additional Resources
There is a good chance that there are other local programs right in your community that provide free food for seniors and others who are in need. Ask or search around for charities and programs that are providing free hot meals to the public, free food drops, and offering baskets of food during holidays and other times. The resources are usually out there on local levels. It’s just a matter of locating them within your community.
