As we all take precaution to protect ourselves and others from the spread of coronavirus, we can’t forget hungry kids. Nearly 22 million low-income kids from communities across the country rely on the free and reduced-price meals they receive at school. For many, these meals may be the only nutritious food that they’ll receive on a given day. With schools either closing or weighing the option to do so in districts nationwide, children may be left without that critical lifeline to healthy meals.
For parents, educators or community leaders, here are some resources for helping ensure kids get the food they need during the coronavirus outbreak.
No Kid Hungry is working to support emergency feeding across the country and has compiled a regularly updated resource library to help program sponsors, community partners, and advocates provide meals to children during school closures related to the coronavirus.
Click here to access the latest COVID-19 emergency feeding resources.
Support with Groceries
Pandemic-EBT
The Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program was created to help families afford food during this crisis. It provides an Electronic Benefits Transfer card that can be used at grocery stores – and in some states, to purchase groceries online – that contains the value of the breakfasts and lunches missed due to school closures. If you believe your family qualifies for this benefit and have not received it, please visit the FSSA website to submit an inquiry.
SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides benefits to qualifying households to purchase nutritious food using an electronic card that functions like an ATM card that is accepted at most grocery stores and farmers’ markets. SNAP can help families weather financial hardship and ensure access to healthy food.
See below for more information and a summary of resources:
- FAQs on P-EBT and CR-SNAP
- Indiana Pandemic EBT FAQ & Resources
- FAQs on SNAP
- Feeding Indiana’s Hungry Resources
Need more information and have other questions? Visit the Indiana state website to learn more.
Finding Free Meals
- The Food Assistance Availability map is designed to help you find available food resources near you, and is simple to use!
- All you need to do is enter your address and organizations providing food assistance within a five-mile radius will automatically appear.
- For more detailed instructions on how to use the map including screenshots, click here.
- If you are affiliated with a food pantry or meal site and your information doesn’t appear or is wrong, please complete this form to help display accurate information.
- To view the food assistance availability map, click here.
- To view a mobile version, click here.
Click here to access resources to prepare for Back to School in Indiana, including our September webinar series
IDOE leadership and staff are working to support schools and families during this time and are providing resources to Hoosiers navigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To see the most recent updates and resources from IDOE, check out the COVID-19 newsletter.
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
Recently, McFarling Foods was awarded a partnership with the USDA to supply and distribute commodity food boxes to our non-profit partners (under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act ). Due to the great response and need, it is best to reach out directly to any of the following organizations to see how you can help:
- Gleaners Food Bank – 373 Waldemere Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46241 +1 (317) 925-0191
- Food Finders Food Bank – 1204 Greenbush, Lafayette, IN 47904 +1 (765) 471-0062
- Scott County Government – 750 S. Gardner Street, Scottsburg, IN 47170 & 194 W. Main Street, Austin, IN 47102 (812) 752-8455
- Nu Corinthian Baptist Church – 5935 W. 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46254 (317) 329-4076
- Get Informed: Remain vigilant and protect yourself, your family and your community by following the risk-assessment guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and travel guidelines from the U.S. State Department. You can also read our deeper dive into No Kid Hungry policy solutions and recommendations for schools and meal programs that can help communities meet the needs of low-income families and kids.
- Stay With Us: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news on how you can help hungry kids during this time.
Together, we can make sure no child has to face a decision between staying healthy or staying nourished.
