Below is a list of agencies and programs that help families with the cost of food. Use the contact information provided for each program for more information or to apply for benefits.
Federal and State Government Programs
Alabama Department of Human Resources Food Assistance Division
50 North Ripley Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36130; Phone: (833) 822-2202;
Email: fs@dhr.alabama.gov; Website: www.mydhr.alabama.gov
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program formerly known as the “Food Stamps” program provides monthly benefits to eligible low income households. The website listed below includes information on SNAP eligibility requirements and application forms which can be printed or completed online. Forms are available in English and Spanish. You can also apply for emergency SNAP benefits by calling the number listed below, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone: 334-242-1700; Emergency SNAP Benefits Phone: 1-800-221-5689
Website: www.dhr.alabama.gov/food-assistance
The Feeding American Backpack Program provides groceries to students of all ages no matter their family’s income. The goal is to ensure that children and their families have something to eat when they are not at school.
Phone: 800-771-2303
Website: www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/hunger-relief-programs/backpack-program
The National Hunger Hotline is a resource for people seeking information on how to obtain food. They connect callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance programs, and other needed social services.
Phone (English): 1-866-3-HUNGRY; Phone (Español): 1-877-8-HAMBRE
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) offers food to infants, children under than age of 6, mothers up to one year postpartum, and seniors over 60 years of age living in poverty. Food and groceries consist of staple items that are given on a monthly basis. Items are meant to supplement but not fulfill complete dietary needs.
Contact Person: Angelice Lowe, Food Distribution Administrator
Email: alowe@alsde.edu; Phone: 334-694-4683
Website: www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/commodity-supplemental-food-program
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant women, postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are at nutritional risk.
Hotline: 1-888-WIC-HOPE
Website for general information: www.fns.usda.gov/wic
Website to apply for WIC benefits: www.alabamapublichealth.gov/wic
Contact Information for the WIC Clinics in the West Alabama by county:
Bibb County: 205-926-9702
Fayette County: 205-932-5260
Greene County: 205-372-9361
Hale County: 334-624-3018
Lamar County: 205-695-9195
Pickens County: 205-367-8157
Tuscaloosa County: 205-562-6900 or 205-614-6139
The Farmer’s Market Voucher/Coupon Program provides WIC recipients with coupons for farmers markets in their area. In West Alabama, this is only available to those living in Tuscaloosa County.
Phone: 1-888-942-4673; Website: www.fma.alabama.gov/VoucherPrograms
Local and Nonprofit Assistance Programs
The Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc. (CPS) partners with several local charities, agencies, and churches to offer food vouchers to families in need.
Phone: 205-752-5429; Website: www.cspwal.com
Temporary Emergency Services (TES) partners with several local charities, agencies, and churches to offer food vouchers to families in need. They also operate a food pantry.
Phone: 205-758-5535; Location: 1705 15th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Food Pantry Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM); Saturdays (8:30 AM to 3:00 PM)
Website: www.temporaryemergencyservices.org
The West Alabama Food Bank provides various services for people in need such as supplemental groceries delivered to elderly people living in poverty monthly at no cost, food for children to eat over the weekends when they are not at school, and mobile food pantries that deliver food to residents in impoverished areas.
Phone: 205-333-5353; Email: wafb@bellsouth.net; Website: www.westalabamafoodbank.org
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday (8:00 to 4:00) and Fridays (8:00 to 3:00)
The Tuscaloosa Community Soup Bowl operates a free soup kitchen that is open to all those in need.
Phone: 205-752-2421; Location: 1711 23rd Ave Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
Hours of Operation: 7 days a week from 11:00 AM to 12:50 PM; Office Hours: M-F from 8:30 to 1:30 PM
Website: www.tuscaloosasoupbowl.com
Cahaba Community Care in Centerville, AL operates a food bank (see below for details) as well as other food assistance such as “Backpack Buddies” to ensure children have food when they are out of school and the “Brown Bag Program” to supply food to elderly people in need.
Phone: (205) 926-2992; Location: 195 Hospital Drive, Centreville, AL 35042
Website: www.cahabamedicalcare.com/community-center
Hope in Bibb County is a program that coordinates food assistance for those in need living in Bibb County including soup kitchens, food pantries, and provision of hot meals at certain times throughout the month. A calendar with scheduled food assistance options available can be found online at www.cahabamedicalcare.com/hope-in-bibb-county.
Below is a list of food pantries operating in the West Alabama area:
|
UPC Food Pantry |
Phone: 205-758-5422 Website: www.foodpantries.org/li/upc-food-pantry Location: 1127 8th St., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Hours of Operation: 1:30 – 3:00 PM on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays each month from September through May Please call the food pantry to confirm that hours have not changed before going. |
|
Salvation Army Center of Hope |
Phone: 205-553-1600
Website: www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn Location: 1035 29th St. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Individuals can receive help from this food pantry once every 90 days. |
|
Catholic Family Services (English and Español) |
This food pantry serves individuals by appointment only. For an appointment, call between Monday and Thursday after 2:00 PM. Appointments are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Phone: 205-759-1268 Website: www.csstuscaloosa.org Location: 608 James I Harrison Jr Pkwy East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 |
| Capstone Church | Phone: 205-462-3958
Website: www.capstonechurch.org Location: 2206 17th Street E Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Fridays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
| Hope City Church | Phone: 205-391-9103
Website: www.hopecitytuscaloosa.com Location: 3800 University Blvd East Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 Hours of Operation: 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month from 9:00 to 10:00 AM |
| Cahaba Community Center | Phone: (205) 926-2992
Website: www.cahabamedicalcare.com/community-center Location: 195 Hospital Drive, Centreville, AL 35042 Hours of Operation: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM Social Work Office Hours: 8 AM – 5 PM Monday-Friday Closed daily from 12:30-1:30 PM for lunch Please call the Social Work Office for assistance with food or clothing. |