About Food Assistance for Women
Food assistance for women and families centers on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), the National School Lunch Program, Feeding America food banks, and Meals on Wheels. WIC serves pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children up to age 5, providing food packages, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding peer support — household income limit is 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. SNAP eligibility is generally 130% FPL. Food banks operate in every state and typically require no application for an initial visit. This directory includes each state's SNAP office, WIC clinics, and regional food bank networks.
16 Resources
Louisiana SNAP provides monthly food assistance benefits to qualifying low-income women and families. Apply online, by phone at 888-524-3578, or at your local DCFS office. Bring ID, proof of income, Social Security cards, and proof of residency. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card usable at grocery stores and farmers markets. Eligibility based on household size and income. SNAP also covers hot foods during disasters. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm for in-person applications.
888-524-3578 · 627 N 4th St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 · Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Second Harvest Food Bank serves as the largest hunger-relief organization in Louisiana, distributing food through a network of over 700 partner agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters across 23 parishes in southern Louisiana. Call 504-734-1322 or visit no-hunger.org to find your nearest food distribution site and pantry hours. No paperwork required at most partner sites. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm for agency coordination; partner pantry hours vary by location.
504-734-1322 · 700 Edwards Ave, New Orleans, LA 70123 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank distributes food to women and families in need across 11 parishes through a network of partner food pantries, soup kitchens, and community programs. Call 225-359-9940 or visit brfoodbank.org to find your nearest food distribution site and hours. Located at 10600 S Choctaw Dr. No SNAP required at most sites. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm for coordination; partner pantry hours vary. Mobile food distributions also serve rural and underserved communities throughout the service area.
225-359-9940 · 10600 S Choctaw Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70815 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana distributes food to families in need across the Shreveport-Bossier area and surrounding northwest Louisiana parishes through a network of food pantries and community programs. Call 318-675-2400 or visit foodbanknla.org to find the nearest food distribution site and schedule. Located at 2307 Texas Ave, Shreveport. No SNAP required at most partner pantries. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm for food bank operations; partner pantry hours vary by location.
318-675-2400 · 2307 Texas Ave, Shreveport, LA 71103 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
Food Bank of Acadiana distributes food to women and families in need throughout the Lafayette region and surrounding Acadiana parishes through a network of food pantries, shelters, and community meal programs. Call 337-235-4560 or visit the office at 215 E Pinhook Rd, Lafayette to find your nearest distribution site. No documentation required at most partner locations. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. Mobile distributions also serve outlying communities in the nine-parish service area.
337-235-4560 · 215 E Pinhook Rd Suite 100, Lafayette, LA 70501 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana distributes food to families in need across Monroe and surrounding northeast Louisiana parishes through a network of food pantries, community kitchens, and mobile distributions. Call 318-322-3567 or visit fbnela.org to find your nearest food distribution site and hours. Located at 1500 Jackson St, Monroe. No SNAP required at most partner sites. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. Mobile distributions also serve rural communities in the 12-parish service area.
318-322-3567 · 1500 Jackson St, Monroe, LA 71202 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm · Visit Website
Second Harvest CENLA Community Food Bank distributes food to families in need throughout central Louisiana, including the Alexandria area, through a network of partner food pantries, soup kitchens, and community programs. Call 318-445-2773 or visit the office at 3611 Jackson St, Alexandria to find your nearest distribution site and hours. No documentation required at most partner locations. Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm. Mobile distributions also available in rural parishes throughout the service area.
318-445-2773 · 3611 Jackson St, Alexandria, LA 71303 · Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
SNAP is the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program providing monthly food benefits to qualifying low-income women and families. Apply through your state SNAP agency — find contact information at fns.usda.gov/snap. Benefits are loaded onto an EBT card accepted at grocery stores and most farmers markets. Eligibility is based on household size and gross income. SNAP also includes job training and nutrition education programs. Average benefit is around 30/month per person for qualifying individuals.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
WIC provides free nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition counseling, and health referrals for pregnant women, new mothers, and children under 5. Income limits are up to 185% of federal poverty level. Find your local WIC clinic at fns.usda.gov/wic or by calling your state WIC office. Bring ID, proof of income, proof of pregnancy or child's birth certificate, and proof of residency. Benefits include a monthly food package and formula support. Available to non-citizens who meet income requirements.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Feeding America operates the largest hunger-relief network in the US with 200+ member food banks serving every county. Use the free food bank finder at feedingamerica.org to locate the nearest food bank and local food pantries accepting visitors. Most pantries serve clients regardless of income documentation. Call your local food bank for pantry hours, distribution schedules, and any ID requirements. Feeding America also connects families with SNAP enrollment assistance and summer meals programs for children.
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USDA Summer Meals provides free nutritious meals to children and teens 18 and under at thousands of sites nationwide during summer break. Text FOOD to 304-304 or visit fns.usda.gov to find a site near you. No registration or income verification required at most sites — any child can walk in. Sites include schools, parks, community centers, and libraries. Helps families reduce food costs during the summer months. Contact your local school district or food bank for site information in your area.
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Meals on Wheels America delivers nutritious home meals to seniors and homebound adults unable to prepare food for themselves, through a nationwide network of local programs. Visit mealsonwheelsamerica.org to find your local program and apply for service. Most programs use a sliding-scale fee or are free for qualifying seniors. A regular delivery also provides a daily safety check. Women caregivers can request services for elderly relatives. Call your local Area Agency on Aging to connect with home meal delivery.
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No Kid Hungry is a national campaign connecting children to nutrition programs including free school breakfast and lunch, summer meals, and after-school meals. Visit nokidhungry.org for resources on applying for school meal benefits, finding summer meal sites, and advocating for expanded access. Organizations can also apply for grants to start new meal programs. Free to access — a helpful resource for mothers trying to ensure their children receive consistent, nutritious meals throughout the year.
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AmpleHarvest.org connects home and community gardeners with nearby food pantries that accept fresh produce donations, reducing waste and improving nutrition for pantry clients. Women with garden surplus can donate directly to local pantries without going through a food bank. Search at ampleharvest.org by ZIP code to find accepting pantries near you. Also helps food pantries promote their produce acceptance. Free to use for both donors and pantries — a community-level food access solution.
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The USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) provides free referrals to local food pantries, SNAP enrollment assistance, WIC sites, and community meal programs nationwide. Available Mon-Fri 7am-10pm ET in English and Spanish. Call if you need help finding food resources, applying for SNAP, or locating WIC offices in your area. A quick, practical way to get connected with food assistance programs without needing internet access or navigating government websites.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Bread for the World is a Christian advocacy organization mobilizing citizens to end hunger in the United States and globally through policy advocacy and community engagement. Their website at bread.org provides action alerts, policy research, and congregation engagement tools. While primarily an advocacy organization rather than a direct service provider, Bread for the World helps women understand hunger policy, advocate for SNAP and WIC funding, and connect their faith communities with anti-hunger efforts.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website