By: Kimberly Montez, MD, MPH, FAAP & Kofi Essel, MD, MPH, FAAP

Children need enough healthy food to grow, but food can cost a lot. Many families worry that they will run out of food and not have enough money to buy more.

When you go to the doctor with your child, they may ask one or two questions about whether your family has enough food. It’s okay to answer honestly. These answers are just to give the health care team an opportunity to give resources and support.

They can explain government programs and connect you with local places like food pantries and food banks. Here are some programs that may help your family.

Food programs from the government

There are government programs that can help families pay for food, such as:

 

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): SNAP is also known as “food stamps.” To get SNAP, you must apply in your state and meet certain requirements. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you can still apply to see if you qualify. Applying for or receiving SNAP will not affect your immigration status. Learn more here.
• Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): This program helps with breastfeeding support, baby formula, or other needs for infants and children. You can also get referrals to health care providers through WIC. Find out who can sign up for WIC here.
• School meals: Children can get breakfast, lunch or after-school meals during the school year. Learn more about school meal programs here.
• Summer meals: When school is out, there are meal options for children through the summer meals program and summer EBT program. Find locations here.
• Child and Adult Care Food Program: Children who attend child care or after-school care programs that participate in this program can get meals and snacks.

 

Food pantries, food banks & emergency food

But what if your family does not qualify for food benefits through SNAP, WIC or meals at school or child care?

Ask your pediatrician about food pantries, food banks and emergency food resources.

What is a food pantry?

Food pantries come in many forms, including:

• Community centers, places of worship and non-profit groups
• Mobile food pantries that travel around to neighborhoods
• At schools in the community (usually open to all students, even if they are not students at the school or do not get free or reduced breakfast or lunch)
• In some health care clinics

What to expect at a food pantry

When you visit a food pantry, they may ask for some information about you.

• Your ZIP code, an ID, or other information can show that you live in the area that they serve. Not all food pantries require an ID, but they may ask for other information. Depending on where the pantry is located, they may need this information to find out if there is another pantry located closer to you that you can visit.
• How many people live in your household. This will help them figure out how much and what kind of food you need.

Food pantries usually get food from local food banks, grocery stores, food drives, farms and restaurants. Some have non-food items like hygiene products or clothes, too.

Food pantries may have limited hours and days. Check their schedules before you visit. And they may have limits on when and how many times you can visit. This is to make sure there is enough food for all the families that visit them.

What is a food bank?

A food bank is a place that gathers, prepares, and delivers food from various sources, such as food manufacturers, government agencies and farmers. Food banks store food and hire drivers to deliver it to local food pantries and other nearby places.

Some food banks offer extra food services, such as:

• Help applying for SNAP
• Classes on how to prepare and cook healthy meals
• Career resources such as job training and placement
• Community teaching gardens
• Health screenings such as blood pressure checks
• Summer and after-school meal programs
• Home-delivered food

Emergency food help

There are ways to find help if you need food right away.

• 211: Call or text 211 or go to the 211 website to be connected to local services. The number can be used almost anywhere in the U.S. Staff and volunteers connect people with food, housing, help with utilities and more. Information is available in multiple languages.
• FindHelp: Locate free or low-cost food and get information about housing and financial assistance and health care. Visit FindHelp.org.
• Hunger hotline: Call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) or visit Hunger-Free America.
• Find Shelter:Search for a food pantry, shelter or health clinic or find clothing.
• Feeding America: Search by ZIP code for school food pantry, mobile food pantry, and local meal programs.
• Anti-hunger organizations: Search by state here for local anti-hunger organizations that help families find resources