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Food

With the rising cost of food, feeding a family on a budget isn't easy, but there are resources that can help.  Many states also run food banks where you can get food for your family.  Check Texas.gov to see what is available in your community and to find out if you need to make an appointment to visit the food bank.  

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

You can also learn more about all the food assistance programs that may be available to you and your family at How To Get Food Help from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Food is expensive, but you can find tips to help you eat well on a tight budget. For example: 

  • Prepare stews and casseroles to help stretch expensive food items and provide meals for multiple days.
  • Choose fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. Healthy foods that tend to be reasonably priced and available year-round include apples, bananas, potatoes, carrots, and greens.
  • Buy groceries when you are not hungry or rushed.
  • Avoid convenience foods, such as frozen dinners, pre-cut vegetables, and instant oatmeal--you pay more for convenience.

If you are struggling to put food on the table, consider programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and school meal programs for children.

LOCAL EMERGENCY FOOD PROGRAMS (e.g., food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, etc.)

Tarrant Area Food Bank (greater Fort Worth area) is the distribution hub of a 13-county network of hunger-relief charities and social services centers. As a central clearinghouse for donated food and groceries, the food bank receives fresh, frozen and nonperishable food donated by the food industry and the community. We distribute this product from our 69,000 square-foot warehouse in Fort Worth to our 300 partner agencies that serve abuse victims, children, elderly, chronically ill, unemployed, working poor, homeless, and other Texans in need.

2600 Cullen St.
Fort Worth, TX 76107
817-332-9177

List of other Fort Worth area food pantries (Parker, Johnson, Wise, Hood, Erath, Palo Pinto, and Tarrant Counties)

North Texas Food Bank (Dallas area) is a searchable site providing contact information for over 1,000 feeding programs in 13 north Texas counties including Grayson, Fannin, Lamar, Denton, Collin, Hunt, Delta, Hopkins, Dallas, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis, and Navarro counties.

STATE ASSISTANCE

You may also call 211, or search directly online at 211Texas.org, listing your location (town, city, or zip), and "food" as needed service category.

 Also, here's a list by search engine of many Emergency Food Programs in Texas by location via HSD Helping the Needy.

Can you get SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps, provides eligible families with help purchasing food. Find out if you're eligible and apply for the SNAP program. If you're eligible, you'll receive an electronic benefits card, pre-loaded with your benefits, that you can use like a credit or debit card at the store. Learn more about SNAP.

If you need help filling out an application for SNAP, you can visit an HHSC benefits office near you or contact a community group that works with HHSC. You also can call toll-free 2-1-1 for help.

[SNAP Application (opens new window)]

Emergency SNAP Benefits

Emergency SNAP benefits are also known as expedited SNAP because the benefits are given faster to those in an emergency situation, such as:

  • A family with resources worth $100 or less, and monthly income less than $150.
  • A family with resources and monthly income that are less than the most recent monthly expenses for rent/mortgage and utilities.
  • A family that includes a migrant or seasonal farm worker who has $100 or less in resources and very little income.

To apply for emergency SNAP, visit a HHSC benefits office or call 2-1-1.

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Food