Mark Luigi Dacumos
What’s most people’s number one priority during the COVID-19 pandemic? Staying safe. What’s number two? It’s probably staying fed since eating is essential for survival.
Unfortunately, all of the business shutdowns have made food much harder to come by since they’ve negatively impacted the economy and led to record job and income loss. While this is undoubtedly frustrating, you can’t give up. And you must know that there is help out there, whether you need it right now or well into the future, until you get back on your feet.
We’ll look at short and long-term food assistance so you can start making moves to feed your family right now. If times are tough, put this at the top of your priority list, as a lack of nutrition can lead to much more costly problems down the line.
Short-Term COVID-19 Food Assistance
If you need help with getting food right now, this section is for you. No matter how empty your kitchen may be, these resources can step in to save the day without having to wait too long.
To start, give the National Hunger Hotline a call. It’s been around for a couple of years, and many families have used it for emergency food assistance. You can call the National Hunger Hotline by dialing 866-3-HUNGRY. Make sure you do so during operating hours, which are between 7 am and 10 pm on Monday through Friday. When calling, you should be connected with an operator. Follow their instructions to get in touch with local food assistance programs.
Although the National Hunger Hotline should be the first call you make, don’t forget to dial 211. It can also offer emergency food assistance, plus much more. Chances are, you’ll need help with other issues like healthcare and housing, which your 211 operator can provide.
You can also find immediate food assistance by going online. Whether you’re seeking a soup kitchen, food bank, or food pantry to get a quick, hot meal or pick up some supplies, these websites can help:
Those sites are loaded with local food assistance venues in their directories, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding what you’re looking for.
Long-Term COVID-19 Food Assistance
If you need food right this second and your family is at the point of starvation, those options above are your best bet. But what about later on? You’ll probably need more food assistance to get on your feet until things go back to normal, which is what the following resources can help you find.
Perhaps the best option for long-term food assistance is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP. Commonly known as food stamps, this program can help you buy groceries with funds distributed to an EBT card. You can learn more about SNAP by going here.
Another popular long-term food assistance program that can help during the pandemic is WIC. It serves pregnant women or mothers with children less than five years of age. If you qualify, you’ll be able to get the essential supplies you need, such as nutritional foods, milk, and baby formula. To learn more about WIC, go here.
Last but not least, you can find free children’s meals by using the No Kid Hungry site. Use all of the resources in this guide, and you should be good to go as far as food is concerned.
