Food assistance programs can help individuals and families afford groceries, obtain nutritious food during pregnancy and early childhood, receive school and summer meals, and find food during an emergency.
Eligibility and application procedures vary by program and location. Open Door Peace helps you find the right starting point and official place to apply.
SNAP — Help Buying Groceries
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP, provides eligible households with benefits on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase food.
Each state administers its own SNAP program and determines eligibility under applicable rules. Applications may be available online, in person, by mail, or by fax, depending on the state.
Go to SNAP:
Find your state SNAP office and application information
WIC — Pregnancy, Infants, and Young Children
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to other services.
WIC serves qualifying people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, recently pregnant, and children under age five. Income, nutritional need, and residence requirements also apply.
Go to WIC:
Find WIC information and your state WIC agency
School Meals and Summer Food Programs
Children may qualify for free or reduced-price school breakfast and lunch. Families should contact the child’s school or school district for the local application process.
During summer, SUN Meals provides free meals at participating locations for children and teens age 18 and younger. SUN Bucks provides eligible families in participating states with grocery benefits during summer; some children are enrolled automatically based on other benefits they receive.
Find School and Summer Meals:
School meals and summer food programs
Food Assistance for Older Adults
Adults age 60 and older may qualify for programs such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) or Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) where those programs operate.
Availability and eligibility vary by state. Older adults may also qualify for SNAP.
Find Food Benefits for Older Adults:
Food assistance programs for older adults
Need Food Right Now?
If you or your family needs food immediately, do not wait for a long-term benefits application to be completed.
Local food banks, food pantries, community organizations, and government emergency programs may provide immediate assistance. USAGov also recommends 211 as a way to locate nearby community assistance.
Find Emergency Food Assistance:
Find emergency food assistance
Before You Apply
It may help to gather information about your household, income, expenses, identity, and residence. The agency administering the particular program will tell you exactly what documentation is required.
Do not send Social Security numbers, immigration documents, bank information, passwords, or other sensitive records to Open Door Peace through ordinary email or website messages.
Important
Open Door Peace provides general information and navigation to public resources. We do not determine eligibility, approve benefits, or guarantee that a person will qualify.
Program rules can change. Always confirm current requirements with the government agency administering the program.
If immigration status affects a benefits question, do not assume that you or another household member is ineligible. Immigration and public-benefit rules can be complex, so use current official information or qualified legal assistance before making an important decision.