Local resources offered for SNAP recipients while funding stalls

In response to the federal government’s suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, local organizations have rallied to help people who will struggle to make ends meet this month.

Project Bread, a food insecurity advocacy group out of Boston, has a FoodSource Hotline to help Massachusetts residents find free meals and connect them to emergency food sources. It also helps residents register for SNAP and WIC benefits when those are available. The hotline is available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The hotline can be accessed by call or text at 1-800-645-8333 and provides information in more than 180 languages.

More information is available on Project Bread’s Government Shutdown Food Resources page.

SNAP recipients with at least one cent on their EBT card can still access their Massachusetts Healthy Incentives Program funds to buy fruits and vegetables from HIP vendors in the area. The program works by giving between $40 to $80 to families – the amount varies depending on the number of people in the household – to use at participating farm stands, farmers’ markets and mobile markets. Waltham Community Fields accepts HIP funds and will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Healthy Waltham will continue its food pantries out of its 5 Cherry St. location, with pantries taking place on Nov. 6 and Nov. 20 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. by appointment and 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. for walk-in service. Healthy Waltham does not collect information about a patron’s citizenship. The pantry offers a variety of shelf-stable and fresh foods as well as toiletries and other products.

The Centre Street Food Pantry at 11 Homer St., Newton, helps families in the Greater Boston area with monthly appointments to receive groceries. Once registered, families receive a membership card that lets them scan into the pantry and receive food. The Centre Street Food Pantry does not share any information disclosed by clients with law enforcement or government agencies.

Ritcey East restaurant in Watertown is offering free frozen meals for SNAP recipients. There is a limit of two meals per family per day, and each meal serves two to three people. Previous offerings have included chicken parm cutlets with pasta, roasted pork loin with mashed potatoes and spinach, grilled chicken breast with rice and beans, and eggplant cutlets with risotto.

A comprehensive list of food assistance programs in and around Waltham can be found on the Watch CDC website including mobile market locations, eat-on-site meals, additional food pantries and options for the elderly.