What to Do When Food is Running Low - Baltimore

Many families find it hard to put food on the table from time to time. This can be scary.

There are steps you can take to get help with food running low. You and your children do not have to go without the food you need.

Non-government food programs:

• There are places you can go when low on food that are not run by the government.
• Go to www.feeding-america.org or call 1-800-771-2303.
• Baltimore, Maryland Resources:
• Community Assistance Network - Food Pantry; 410-285-4674, Ext: 112; https://www.canconnects.org/food-pantry
• To find more lists of food pantries, including addresses and phone numbers:
• Food Pantries dot Org, Baltimore Area - https://www.foodpantries.org/ci/md-baltimore
• Maryland Food Bank - https://mdfoodbank.org/need-food/

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• SNAP is a government program that gives qualifying people a debit card with a certain amount of money on it each month for food.
• Cards are often referred to as "food stamps" even though stamps are not used anymore.
• For more information and to see if you are eligible call 1-800-332-6347 or go to www.fns.usda.gov/snap.

The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program:

• WIC is a government program for pregnant women and children under age 5.
• To learn more about WIC, and to see if you are eligible, call 1-800-242-4WIC or go to www.fns.usda.gov/wic.

Free or reduced lunch:

• Public and non-profit private schools can participate in a government program called the National School Lunch Program.
• Under this program, some children qualify for a free lunch and some children qualify for a reduced lunch (at a cost of 40 cents).
• The school counselor at your child's school should have information about free or reduced lunch. You should also receive an application at the beginning of the school year for free or reduced lunch.
• If you receive SNAP (food stamps), you automatically qualify for free or reduced lunch. For more information, go to www.fns.usda.gov/slp.