Where can I get free food?
Food pantries, churches, community fridges and mobile sites around the state offer free groceries and meals.
Feeding Texas offers a lookup tool to find food banks statewide. Enter your zip code to find the food bank nearest you and connect with its local partner programs, including produce markets and community kitchens.
Mobile distributors like Meals on Wheels bring fresh produce, protein and dry goods to rural areas and those who struggle to access food, like the elderly. Food banks also offer mobile deliveries, with the one in Central Texas making around 40 distributions per month. Here is its November calendar.
Some national businesses have stepped in to offer relief. DoorDash announced it is waiving fees for partner food banks and SNAP recipients, and another delivery provider GoPuff said it’s donating groceries to program beneficiaries.
Food pantries have seen a recent surge in demand, with some attributing the cause to delayed federal worker payments, rising food costs and the upcoming loss of SNAP payments.
In areas where a high number of military and civilian employees live, Central Texas Food Bank’s partner agencies have reported a 35% increase in demand there, spokesperson Noelle Newton told The Texas Tribune. Central Texas has set up distribution sites around Austin to serve federal workers and will update its locations on a weekly basis.
Newton said the SNAP delay will likely add pressure to the already struggling system.
“With food insecurity at an all-time high, and missing paychecks and SNAP benefits gone for November, there’s no way the food bank can do it alone,” Newton said. “We need the government to reopen. We’ll need the community’s support more than ever.”
Before going to a food pantry, call to confirm its distribution days and hours and ask what documents you might need, like an ID or other proof of residence.
Community fridges are another place to get free food donated by local residents and businesses. Each one redistributes around four tons of food each month, according to the community fridge website. Find one near you.
For more help connecting with food assistance in your area, call 2-1-1 and select option one. Or, connect with an organization on the Texas Health and Human Services website to find services near you, including food banks, community kitchens and meal programs.
Find updates on how the shutdown affects Texas services on the Your Texas Benefits website, Your Texas Benefits mobile app and the Texas Health and Human Services website.
How can I get help paying for food?
During the pause on new SNAP payments, Texas enrollees can still use SNAP funds they have not spent, and they can apply for other programs that cover the cost of food.
The payments that SNAP participants miss in the beginning of November may be made up in full after the shutdown ends, according to Amber O’Conner of Every Texan, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization that focuses on public policy.
“They will eventually get their benefits,” O’Conner said.
SNAP enrollees can continue to renew their SNAP applications and should answer any letters or messages they get from Texas HHSC, said HHSC spokesperson James Rivera.
Other state assistance programs are still operating during the shutdown, and you can apply now.
SNAP for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, provides money for food to pregnant women and recent mothers as well as qualifying children. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, gives families cash payments for broader services including food, but it has more restricted eligibility due to work requirements and time limits on access.
Children who qualify for SNAP are also eligible for free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch at most schools. See if your child qualifies here.
Dining and Cooking