GET HELP

World Hunger Year realizes that locating food assistance or other services in your community can be challenging process when you're not sure who to contact or where to start. This list of resources can make your search for food assistance easier.

National Hunger Clearinghouse
The National Hunger Clearinghouse is an online directory that contains information on thousands of organizations across the country that are working on hunger, poverty, nutrition, agriculture and food issues. This directory will assist you in locating food resources in your community.

America's Second Harvest
This organization distributes food and grocery products across the country to food banks and food-rescue organizations. You can search for a food bank or food-rescue organization that serves your community. The food bank can then refer you to their member agencies such as food pantries or soup kitchens in your specific area.

United Way of America
United Way brings communities together to focus on improving people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. The United Way system includes approximately 1,400 community-based United Way organizations. Each is independent, separately incorporated and governed by local volunteers. Many local United Ways have Help and Referral lines, as well as web-based referral systems that can assist you in locating food in your area.

MealCall
Meals on Wheels is the most recognized name brand of senior nutrition programs.  But other senior meal programs by various names are in many communities in the U.S. and around the world and often go by names other than Meals on Wheels (a generic term generally reserved for home delivered meal programs).  While Meals on Wheels programs are delivered to the home, seniors may also find congregate meal programs at local senior centers, churches, or community centers. 

Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities USA is the membership association of one of the nation's largest social service networks. Catholic Charities agencies and institutions nationwide provide vital social services to people in need, regardless of their religious, social, or economic backgrounds. Services provided vary per local agency. Some of the many services include: food assistance, emergency housing, immigration services, and senior services. Contact your local office to see what kind of services they provide.

Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs

The Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs assist individuals and families by providing cash and in-kind benefits to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles. Find out how if you may qualify for any of the following Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs.

Food Stamps
The purpose of the Food Stamp Program is to end hunger and improve nutrition and health. It helps low-income households buy the food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk and meet certain income guidelines, by providing food vouchers, nutrition education, and referrals to health care.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
TEFAP distributes surplus food commodities to low-income households and local emergency feeding programs. Government commodities are foods intended to supplement the diets of low-income individuals. To locate distribution site in your area you can call the National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3 HUNGRY.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
CSFP is a federal food distribution program made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to States. The participants are pregnant, breast-feeding, and postpartum women, children, and elderly persons who meet income and residence guidelines. This program is not available in all states.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.

School Breakfast Program (SBP)
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides cash assistance to states to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions. The program operates in more than 72,000 schools and institutions, serving a daily average of some 8.4 million children.

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
SFSP is the single largest federal resource available for local sponsors who want to combine a feeding program with a summer activity program. During the school year, nutritious meals are available through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. But those programs end when school ends for the summer. USDA's Summer Food Service Program helps fill the hunger gap. Contact your state agency to find a location which provides this service near you.

Disaster Assistance

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA's mission is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. To get help call 1-800-621-3362.

American Red Cross
Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. 1-800-HELP-NOW

If you still have questions you can call the National Hunger Hotline: 1-866-3-HUNGRY. The hours are Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm E.S.T.