Food Assistance

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.

West Alabama Food Pantries