Grocery Assistance for African Americans

As the cost of groceries continues to climb more people are struggling to buy them. For the last few years it is estimated that the cost of groceries has gone up at least 25% in the U.S. This means that a lot of people are finding it difficult to purchase food. Chances are, their salary has not increased, which is making them unable to keep buying the groceries. The good news is that there is grocery assistance for African Americans and others who are struggling to buy food.

Having groceries is essential and is a basic need. Getting that basic need met is crucial, regardless of whether or not you are single or have a family to feed. Without getting grocery assistance there is a good chance that you are or family will not be getting the food they need. It is important to have your basic needs met, so you need to know where to look for grocery assistance.

Grocery Assistance Programs

You will find grocery assistance programs that are made possible through federal and state government funds, as well as by organizations in your local area. Many churches are also good resource for obtaining free food and hot meals. Contact your local churches to see if they have any programs that will help you obtain grocery assistance. Programs that provide assistance to not expect you to pay it back. You can get the help you need without worrying about ever having to pay back the program.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – This program used to be called food stamps, but the name was changed under the Obama administration to SNAP. The program remains the same. The mission of the program is to ensure that people’s basic food needs are being met. Those who earn a low income may qualify for help paying for groceries. Those who are approved for the program will get a debit-style card that can be used to pay for groceries at the stores and some markets. The amount that you receive will be determined by how many dependents you have in your home. The more dependents you have, the more funds you will get each month to buy groceries. This program is federally funded. You can apply online or at your local social services office. There is no limit to how long you can receive assistance through this program. To get more information or apply for the program, click here.

Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) – This is another federally funded grocery program, but it is for a specific group of people in the country. To qualify for the program you have to have a low income and be a woman who is pregnant or has a child ages five and under. The program aims to ensure that women and young children are getting their nutritional needs met. If you are approved, they will provide you with free healthy foods each month. The foods include such things as bread, cereal, milk, etc. To apply for the WIC program you  have to do it in person at your local WIC clinic. To get more information and find a clinic near you, click here.

211 – This organization can help you find all kinds of local programs that will assist with your situation. You can call them or visit their website and let them know the type of assistance you need. They will look through their database of programs to find ones that can help you. They have access to information about local programs that you may be able to get help from. Their service is free and is open to everyone in the country to use. To get more information about the organization or service they offer, click here.

Food Pantries – There are free food pantries all over the country. Some are run by local churches, while others are run by non-profit organizations. They play an important role in helping people in the community obtain groceries. If you need help obtaining food you can stop into a food pantry and they will give you bags of food to take home. They usually have a lot of food on hand to help people in the community. Contact your local churches, too, so you can see if they have a food pantry or will be doing food drops. Many hold local food drops, where they set up a time and date where they give out bags of food to people in the community. To find food pantries in your area, click here.

Salvation Army – This faith based organization provides food assistance around the country. They have many locations around the country and most give out some type of food assistance. They provide hot meals that you can stop in and get, and some give out bags of food to those in need. While they are a faith-based organization you do not have to be religious in order to get help from them. To find a location near you, click here.

Catholic Charities – This is another popular faith based organization that helps people around the country. They have many locations, with some in each state. Their service are open to everyone, regardless of your religious affiliation. They provide people who need help with free food, clothing, shelter, etc. To find a location near you, click here.

Saint Vincent De Paul – This is another faith based organization that has locations around the country. They provide assistance to those in the community who need help. They do provide grocery and food assistance, as well as helping with other needs. Their food pantries have fresh and non-perishable foods that they provide to people to take home. To get more information about their programs and find a location near you, click here.

In addition to these resources, check with your local social services department. They may know of other sources that are local to you area. There are many churches and non-profit organizations that have a mission of helping people in the community with things like obtaining food.

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