Together Apart: Food Resources for Central Appalachia
Food Security
Hunger and food insecurity is not just an Appalachian problem. The Covid-19 pandemic has made problems more difficult for families all over the U.S. and around the world. This is an update of a list we did in the spring of 2020. There are many other agencies and churches organizing food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency sharing of food. Many are not on the Internet. Please share what is happening where you live, realizing the needs are growing and no list can keep up=to-date for all help.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) PROGRAMSFood and Nutrition Service. Find The Meals for Kids interactive map was updated 12/3/2020. Search map from the box and find locations within 5 miles of need. This exceptional tool may be difficult to access. https://www.fns.usda.gov/meals4kidsNational Hunger Hotline/Families without convenient wi-fi connections can turn to the USDA National Hunger Hotline. The hotline, operated by Hunger Free America, can be reached Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479).Español: Actualmente, es difícil encontrar información del gobierno federal sobre alimentos para familias en español en este momento. Puedes llamar 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) (for Spanish).Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)How to Apply: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/who-gets-wic-and-how-applyKentucky Department of Public HealthNutrition Services Branch275 E. Main St.HS2W-CFrankfort, KY 40601Nicole Nicholas, WIC DirectorPhone: 502-564-3827Kentucky Department of Public HealthDivision of Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition Services Branch275 E. Main StHS2W-DFrankfort, KY 40621Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)Nicole Nicholas, WIC DirectorPhone: 502-564-3827Fax: 502-564-8389Toll Free: 1-800-462-6122VOC Contact: 1-877-597-0367Tennessee Nutrition Services SectionAndrew Johnson Tower710 James Robertson Parkway, 8th FloorNashville, TN 37243Peggy Lewis, DirectorDirector's Phone: 615-741-7218Phone: 615-741-7218Fax: 615-532-7189VOC Contact: 1-800-342-5942 (1-800-DIAL-WIC)Virginia Department of HealthOffice of Family Health Services109 Governor St., Ninth FloorP.O. Box 2448Richmond, VA 23218-2448Paula Garrett - WIC Program ManagerDirector's Phone: 804-864-7850Phone: 804-864-7800Fax: 804-864-7853Toll Free: 1-888-942-3663VOC Contact: 804-864-7200 NNOption 3 OR 1-888-942-3663West Virginia Department of Health and Human ResourcesOffice of Nutrition Services-WIC Program350 Capitol St.Room 519Charleston, WV 25301-3717Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)Melinda S. Westfall, MBA, Assistant Director, Office of Nutrition ServicesDirector's Phone: 304-356-4494Fax: 304-558-1541Phone: 304-558-0030VOC Contact: 304-558-0030The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps low-income people buy food for healthy meals at participating stores. SNAP benefits increase household food buying power when added to the household's income. Kentucky: 855-306-8959Apply through KyNect at MyKentucky.govTennessee: 866-311-4287 Apply for Family Assistance at https://faonlineapp.dhs.tn.govVirginia: 800-552-3431 Apply for CommonHelp at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/access/West Virginia: 877-716-1212 Apply through WVPath at https://www.wvpath.org/P-EBT Emergency Cash Assistance/Tennessee for Disabled and Non-English SpeakersIf there is need for assistance with this site because of a disability or being a non-English speaker, free assistance is available. Contact the Family Assistance Service Center Number 866-311-4287 and/or the TTY number at 711. After the recorded message, you will reach an operator who can provide you with an interpreter. Spanish (español) Se ruega que nos informe si necesita ayuda con este sitio ya que tiene una discapacidad o no habla inglés. Tenemos asistencia gratuita disponible.Comuníquese con el Centro de Servicio de Asistencia Familiar al número 866-311-4287 y/o al número de TTY al 711. Después del mensaje grabado, atenderá un operador que le podráun intérprete.Food Kitchens, Food Banks, Meals in SheltersNo Kid Hungry: Patch reports Coronavirus Meal Finder Map: Find Free Meals For Hungry Kids/Encuentra Comidas Gratis Para Niños. No Kid Hungry's map shows where America's kids sidelined from school by the coronavirus crisis can get access to free meals.https://patch.com/tennessee/knoxville/s/h3951/coronavirus-meal-finder-map-find-free-meals-for-hungry-kids?utm_term=article-slot-2&utm_source=newsletter-daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter\ Meals: The Helping the Needy website has a searchable list of homeless shelters and food kitchens by state, county and city at https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/foodbanks/ (popup ads on their search pages can be confusing)Feeding America provides a national resource base to find local food banks, like Second Harvest. Enter your zip code and find the closest distribution program: https://www.feedingamerica.org/need-help-find-foodFoodBanks.net: put in a zip code or place and find the closest help like the Letcher County KY Food Pantry. https://www.foodbanks.net/search.php?q=Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) COVID-19 Child Nutrition Guidance and Meal Sites by State https://frac.org/research/resource-library/state-websites-and-meal-lists-mapsKentucky food banks: https://food-banks.org/kentucky-programs.htmlTennessee food banks: https://food-banks.org/tennessee-programs.htmlVirginia food banks/pantries (searchable by city): https://www.foodpantries.org/st/virginiaWest Virginia food banks: https://food-banks.org/west_virginia-programs.htmlMeals on Wheels of America: if you don’t know where your local agency is located, go to this webpage and enter your location to find nearest Meals on Wheels assistance. This largely volunteer service is critically important when so many elderly isolated due to the Covid-19 pandemic.In Central Appalachian communities, find your Meals on Wheels contact by going to this page and entering your zipcode: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/find-mealsDouglas-Cherokee Meals on Wheels program received extra helpers as hundreds of meals were loaded and delivered. The Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority reaches into six East Tennessee counties In upper east TN, For more information, visit mealsonwheelsamerica.org or call FTHRA at (423) 461-8217 or Douglas-Cherokee at (423) 318-6935.Look for Back Pack programs in your area: Back Pack Programs are sponsored by agencies like Mountaineer Food Bank. Snacks and meals for kids who do not have enough food to eat on the weekends. In Braxton County, West Virginia, the food bank has such a program as well as mobile food units. https://www.mountaineerfoodbank.org/copy-of-csfpEBT Tennessee for disabled and non-English speakersAssistance with this site because you have a disability or don’t speak English. Free assistance is available. Contact the Family Assistance Service Center Number 866-311-4287 and/or the TTY number at 711. After the recorded message, you will reach an operator who can provide you with an interpreter.Spanish (español): Se ruega que nos informe si necesita ayuda con este sitio ya que tiene una discapacidad o no habla inglés. Tenemos asistencia gratuita disponible. Comuníquese con el Centro de Servicio de Asistencia Familiar al número 866-311-4287 y/o al número de TTY al 711. Después del mensaje grabado, le atenderá un operador que le podrá proporcionar un intérprete.
Feeding America, Second Harvest and other programs have assisted schools with efforts to make sure children are getting nutrition even if in virtual classes or in quarantine.BackPack programs provide children who don’t have enough to eat with healthy, easy-to-prepare food at times when other resources are not available, including weekend take home. Contact your local school board or school directly and find out if there is a back program. If you are fortunate enough not to need the program, it needs you to donate.http://srsh.org/home/backpack_snack_programhttp://feedbcwvkids.org/get-involved/http://www.drugfreemingo.org/backpack-blessings.htmlhttps://mountainstatesman.com/article/caring-for-the-children-in-the-community-through-donations-to-backpack-programshttp://www.chattfoodbank.org/programs/kids (sack packs)https://laurelbackpackprogram.com/https://foodbankonline.org/backpack-program/
Contact walter@appalachiancommunityfund.org with corrections or updates.
