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.