Food Resource Series: Child & Adult Food Care Program

What is it?

The Child and Adult Care Food Program provides free or low cost meals and snacks outside of school– in child care centers, Head Start programs, emergency shelters, as well as day care centers for adults over the age of 60.

Do I qualify?

These programs are for children under the age of 12, or with special needs up to age 18, who are already enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Head Start, Even Start or living in an emergency shelter. It is also for adults over the age of 60 who are cared for in adult day care centers and receive Medicaid, Social Security Income, or SNAP.

If you do not fit into either category, you may qualify for free meals if you earn up to 130% of the poverty level; and you may qualify for reduced price meals if you earn up to 185% of the poverty level.

How do I apply?

Through the care center in which your child or adult relative is enrolled– call and ask!

Food Resource Series: National School Breakfast & Lunch Programs

What is it?

The National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs provide free or low-cost nutritious lunches to school children in an effort to encourage learning in school. Children can receive these meals in school, as well as snacks during after-school programs, until age 18.

Do I qualify?

If your family receives SNAP benefits or TANF already, you automatically qualify. Otherwise, if your income is below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, your family qualifies for free meals. If your income is between 130% and 185% of the poverty level, your children qualify for reduced price meals. (For the period July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, 130 % of the poverty level is $28,665 for a family of four; 185 % is $40,793.) After school snacks are provided to children on the same income eligibility basis as school meals.

How do I apply?

You can apply on COMPASS or ask your child’s school for an application and information.

Food Resource Series: WIC

What is it?

The Women, Infant and Children Program, or WIC, provides food and nutrition information to pregnant women or mothers with young children to support healthy children and families, including foster mothers.

Do I qualify?

Income eligibility standards are effective for all pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five, and for recertifying current participants at the time of their next certification on or after July 1, 2010. Participants must reside in Pennsylvania. The expected number of babies is counted in the family size for WIC and Medical Assistance (MA). WIC does not require proof of citizenship.

How do I apply?

Find your local WIC office on the WIC website.

Food Resource Series: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

What is it?

SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) is a federal benefit program that puts food on the tables of low-income households. SNAP users use an ACCESS card that works like a debit card and can be used at grocery stores, supermarkets and some farmers markets. SNAP benefits buy food items or seeds and plants to grow your own food.

Do I qualify?

Eligibility is based on monthly income and expenses. Even if you earn more than the eligibility range, you may still qualify! The SNAP program will look at all kinds of factors to determine your eligibility, like whether you have an elderly or disabled person living in your household, your savings account, medical bills, etc.

How do I apply?

You can apply on COMPASS or in-person at your local County Assistance Office.

Child Care Resources Series: Head Start

2. Head Start

What is it?

• provides medical care, dental care, and healthy meals to children between the ages of 3 and 5*
• provides comprehensive supportive services to their families
• prepares young children for school both socially and academically

Do I qualify?

• Children of households already receiving TANF or SSI, or those in foster care, are eligible automatically
• Otherwise, families are deemed eligible based on income:

• Does your child have special needs? 10% of Head Start spots are reserved for children with special needs.
  

How do I apply?

• Call your local Head Start program; Use this map to locate your county Head Start program, or find it in the county Help Chart
• Or call the Head Start Toll Free information number: 1-866-763-6481

*Early Head Start provides these services for children between the ages of 0 and 2, as well as pregnant women. Early Head Start programs can be reached through regular Head Start locations.

Food Resources Series: Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens

6. Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens

What is it?

• provide emergency food to those in need. A food pantry provides 3 or 4 days-worth of food to families and individuals. A soup kitchen provides hot meals to anyone in need.

Do I qualify?

• Many food pantries require a referral from another agency or have income limits, but it depends on the organization.
• Soup kitchens usually have no requirements; they'll give a meal to anyone who asks.

How do I apply?

Call these numbers to find a food pantry or soup kitchen near you.

• Southeastern PA:

Philabundance: Food Help Line- 800-319-FOOD

• Northeastern PA:

Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania: 610-434- 0875

• Central PA:

Central PA Food Bank: 717-564-1700

• Southwestern PA:

Hunger Services of the Urban League of Pittsburgh: 412-325-0746

• Northwestern PA:

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwestern Pennsylvania: 800-604-9186

Food Resources Series: Child and Adult Care Food Program

5. Child and Adult Care Food Program


What is it?

• provides free or low cost meals and snacks outside of school- in child care centers, Head Start programs, emergency shelters, as well as day care centers for adults over the age of 60

Do I qualify?

• for children under the age of 12, or with special needs up to age 18, who are already enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Head Start, Even Start of living in an emergency shelter
  
• for adults over the age of 60 who are cared for in adult day care centers and receive Medicaid, Social Security Income, or SNAP
• if neither, you may qualify for free meals if you earn up to 130% of the poverty level; for reduced price meals if you earn up to 185% of the poverty level*

*see NSLP chart


How do I apply?

• through the care center in which your child or adult relative is enrolled- call and ask!
  

Food Resources Series: School Breakfast Program

4. School Breakfast Program

What is it?

• provides free or low-cost breakfasts to school children
• served before classes each morning
  
• meets federal nutrition guidelines for healthy meals to support learning
  

Do I qualify?*
How do I apply?*

*same guidelines and application process as NSLP

Food Resources Series: National School Lunch Program

3. National School Lunch Program

What is it?

• provides free or low-cost nutritious lunches to school children in an effort to encourage learning in school
• children can receive these lunches in school, as well as snacks during after-school programs, until age 18
  

Do I qualify?

• If your family receives SNAP benefits or TANF already, you automatically qualify for NSLP!
  
• If your income is at or below 130% of the poverty level, your children qualify for free school lunches
• If your income is between 130% and 185% of the poverty level, your children qualify for reduced-price school lunches:
  

Effective through June 30, 2011 

How do I apply?

• Apply on COMPASS
  
• Ask your child's school for an application and information
  

Food Resources Series: WIC

2. WIC: the supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children

What is it?

• provides food and nutrition information to pregnant women or mothers with young children to support healthy children and families, including foster mothers

Do I qualify?

• you must reside in Pennsylvania
• you must be pregnant or have a child less than 5 years old
  
• eligibility is also based on income:

Effective July 1, 2010

How do I apply?

• Find your local WIC office by county here or use the County Help Chart!

Food Resources Series: SNAP

1. SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly know as the federal food Stamp Program)

What is it?

• a federal benefit program that puts food on the tables of low-income households
  
• uses an ACCESS card that works like a debit card
• can be used at grocery stores, supermarkets and some farmers markets
• buys food items, seeds and plants to grow your own food, meals prepared by certain shelters or services

Do I qualify?

• eligibility is based on monthly income vs. expenses:

Through Sept. 30th, 2011

• Even if you earn more than this, you may still qualify! The SNAP program will look at all kinds of factors to determine your eligibility, like whether you have an elderly or disabled person living in your household, your savings account, medical bills, etc.

• To see if you qualify, look for a pre-screening tool online:

PathWays PA Online Training & Benefits Eligibility Tool
COMPASS Site

• Or call a local organization that does Food Stamp pre-screening, find it in our County Help Chart!

How do I apply?

• Use the COMPASS Site- they'll keep the information you entered for pre-screening and alert you to other benefits you might be eligible for!

• Apply in person at your local county assistance office- find their phone number in the County Help Chart

*If your income is less than $150 per month, you have less than $100 in your bank account, you are a migrant or seasonal farm worker or your monthly expenses are greater than your gross monthly income, you may be eligibile to receive your SNAP benefits within 5 days!