Food Assistance Programs

One in seven District households is struggling against hunger. Without access to healthy food, residents are more likely to be hungry, undernourished, or experience nutrition related diseases such as obesity, heart disease or diabetes. Quality services and programs exist in DC that support food insecure residents in learning how to obtain healthy affordable or free food. Below is a list of key organizations in DC that can assist you, or someone you know, obtain the food and support that’s required to address food insecurity in DC. For further information on a variety of assistance programs from food, health, housing, and job training check out the the Food Bank Network devloped by the Captial Area Food Bank (CAFB).

Arcadia Mobile Market

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Arcadia’s Mobile Markets are farm-stands-on-wheels that distribute local, sustainably produced food to underserved communities in the Washington, DC area.

Arcadia Mobile Market

Arlington Food Assistance Center

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Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) is a community-based non-profit that provides supplemental groceries to residents of Arlington in need. AFAC remains dedicated to its simple but critical mission of obtaining and distributing groceries, directly and free of charge, to people living in Arlington who cannot afford to purchase enough food to meet their basic needs.

Arlington Food Assistance Center

Arlington Food Assistance Center - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Bethesda Cares

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Bethesda Cares Is a Community Outreach Program for the Homeless. Our mission is to respond with compassion and creativity to help the homeless and persons in need in the community and to help prevent impending homelessness in Montgomery County.

Bethesda Cares

Bethesda Cares - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Bread for the City

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The mission of Bread for the City is to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC with comprehensive services, including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services, in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.

Bread for the City

Bread for the City - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Capital Area Food Bank

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The Capital Area Food Bank is the largest organization in the Washington metro area working to solve hunger and its companion problems: chronic undernutrition, heart disease, and obesity. By partnering with 444 community organizations in DC, MD, and VA, as well as delivering food directly into hard to reach areas, the CAFB is helping 540,000 people each year get access to good, healthy food.

Capital Area Food Bank

Capital Area Food Bank - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

CaretoFeed

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The Care to Feed Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing food security in our community, while reducing waste in the restaurant industry. Care to Feed seeks to inspire local restaurants, grocers, and caterers to adopt its proactive and innovative approach to food recovery that redirects surplus meals headed to landfills to our neighbors in need.

CaretoFeed

Celestial Manna

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Celestial Manna is an Humanitarian Aid organization which provides fresh food, clothing, toys, and household goods to the needy in MD/VA/DC.

Celestial Manna

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

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The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides a monthly financial subsidy, training and technical assistance, nutrition education, and food safety information to child development centers, adult day care centers, sponsored day care homes, afterschool programs, and emergency shelters serving nutritious meals and snacks to eligible infants, children, and adults. CACFP meals must meet the Federal guidelines.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Community Foodworks

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Creating market opportunities for local farmers and food producers in the mid-Atlantic region while increasing access to good, healthy, local food. Through its markets and staff, Community Foodworks works to maintain a strong presence in the communities we serve. We’ve forged strong partnerships with local schools, health clinics, WIC centers, and community groups to project a sense of welcome across the community and introduce families to local food as well as our financial support programs.

Community Foodworks

Community Foodworks - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

DC Central Kitchen

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DC Central Kitchen is America’s leader in reducing hunger with recycled food, training unemployed adults for culinary careers, serving healthy school meals, and rebuilding urban food systems through social enterprise.

DC Central Kitchen

DC Central Kitchen - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

DC Department of Health

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The Mission of the DC Department of Health (DC DOH) is to promote and protect the health, safety and quality of life of residents, visitors and those doing business in the District of Columbia. DC DOH’s responsibilities include identifying health risks; educating the public; preventing and controlling diseases, injuries and exposure to environmental hazards; promoting effective community collaborations; and optimizing equitable access to community resources.

DC Department of Health

DC Food Recovery Working Group

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The DC Food Recovery Working Group was created in early 2016 to support overall food recovery efforts in DC and surrounding areas.

DC Food Recovery Working Group

DC Free Summer Meals Program

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When school is out, the meals served as a part of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are not available, and due to families’ limited budgets, or other circumstances, children will often miss wholesome meals. The FSMP fills this gap and parents benefit from some help in stretching their food dollars and by knowing that their children are receiving healthy meals in a supportive environment.

DC Free Summer Meals Program

DC Greens

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DC Greens uses the power of partnerships to support food education, food access, and food policy in the nation’s capital. It works toward a city where food education is on the menu in every classroom; where doctors write prescriptions for fresh fruits and vegetables as a matter of course; where urban agriculture is a valued element of our cityscape; and where zipcode does not determine life expectancy.

DC Greens

DC Greens - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

DC Hunger Solutions

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DC Hunger Solutions seeks to improve public policies to end hunger, reduce poverty, promote nutrition, curb obesity, and increase the availability of healthy, affordable food in low-income areas. It maximizes participation in all federal nutrition programs (SNAP/food stamps, school meals, early childhood nutrition programs, WIC, and summer meals) through a combination of vigorous outreach, removal of obstacles to participation, and close work with social service agencies.

DC Hunger Solutions

DC Office on Aging

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Through Aging and Disability Resource Centers and the senior service network, DCOA provides a wide variety of senior services from community dining and home delivered meals to seniors in the District, dietary and nutrition education guidance.

DC Office on Aging

DC Office on Aging - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

DPR Kids Cafe

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Kids’ Cafe is a national program of Feeding America that provides afterschool and summer meals to children ages 5 – 18. The DPR Kids’ Café sites are located in communities where at least 50% of the children in local schools are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. All of our Kids’ Café sites offer some sort of enrichment activities for youth (homework help, mentoring, tutoring, clubs, computer skills, and more).

DPR Kids Cafe

Emergency Food Assistance Program

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The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a Federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost. It provides food and administrative funds to States to supplement the diets of these groups.

Emergency Food Assistance Program

Feeding America

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The Feeding America network of food banks works with agencies to provide food through pantry and meal programs, which help families, students and seniors facing hunger and poverty make ends meet.

Feeding America

Fields 4 Valor Farms (F4V)

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Fields 4 Valor Farms (F4V) is a Non-Profit Organization that provides Food, Education, and Employment to veterans, veteran family members, and gold star families. F4V does this through providing members, at no cost, with; Farms Shares, Apiary Products, Fruit Shares, Value Added Food Products, Dry Goods, and Culinary Education. While members are encouraged to participate in the growing and processing of products it is not required.

Fields 4 Valor Farms (F4V)

Fields 4 Valor Farms (F4V) - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Food and Friends

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The mission of Food & Friends is to foster a community caring for men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses by preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries in conjunction with nutrition counseling.

Food and Friends

Food and Friends - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Food For All DC

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Food for All DC is a non-profit charity that strives to provide food to low income home-bound residents in real need. Our clients are generally elderly citizens, handicapped, or single mothers with young children. The operation is entirely volunteer operated, with the assistance of federal and other agency grants.

Food For All DC

Food Rescue US

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Food Rescue US is committed to ending American food insecurity by directly transferring fresh, usable food that would have otherwise been thrown away from restaurants, grocers and other food industry sources to food insecure families throughout the U.S. Food Rescue US uses an app that seamlessly connects food donors, volunteer food rescuers, and receiving agencies. Whatever role you play in the movement, getting healthy food to hungry people has never been simpler.

Food Rescue US

Food Rescue US - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Free and Reduced-priced Meals (FARM) Application

logo for Free and Reduced-priced Meals (FARM) Application

Your child’s school offers nutritious, appetizing breakfasts and lunches each school day through National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs; most schools also offer a light snack or supper to students attending afterschool programming. The DCPS Free and Reduced-meal (FARM) application supports the DCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services providing students with high-quality meals through federal meal reimbursement.

Free and Reduced-priced Meals (FARM) Application

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

logo for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

At the State level, the FFVP is administered by the State Agency (OSSE), housed under Wellness and Nutrition Services, School Programs. Selected schools in the District of Columbia receive reimbursement for fresh fruits and vegetables made available, free of cost, to students during the school day. FFVP can be an important tool in our efforts to combat childhood obesity. The Program has been successful in introducing school children to a variety of produce that they otherwise might not have the opportunity to sample.

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

FRESHFARM Markets

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FreshFarm Markets strive to build and strengthen the local-food movement in the Chesapeake Bay region, using farmers markets to create vibrant urban and community places, providing economic opportunities for farmers and artisanal food producers and showcasing our region’s agricultural bounty. FRESHFARM Markets operates 11 producer-only farmers markets with more than 110 farmers and producers from 5 states who farm more than 9,000 acres.

FRESHFARM Markets

FRESHFARM Markets - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

FVRx program (Food and Vegetable Description Program)

logo for FVRx program (Food and Vegetable Description Program)

In 2012, DC Greens launched a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription program in collaboration with Unity Health Care and Wholesome Wave. Since then, more than 200 at-risk DC residents have received prescriptions from their doctors for free farmers’ market produce. These prescriptions can be filled at participating “farmacies,” expanding access to affordable nutrition. With close tracking on both the health center and market side, the Prescription Program provides essential data on the value of nutrition-based health interventions.

FVRx program (Food and Vegetable Description Program)

Grocery Plus/Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

logo for Grocery Plus/Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

The Grocery Plus Program, also known as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), is a program that aims to improve the health of low-income seniors by supplementing their diet with nutritious foods. Grocery Plus program is delivered through The Capital Area Food Bank and provides 30-40 pounds of healthy groceries to low-income seniors aged 60 or older living in the District of Columbia. In addition to providing nutritious food, the Grocery Plus program also provides nutrition education to assist participants to improve their health through better nutrition.

Grocery Plus/Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

Healthy Corner Store Program

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DC Central Kitchen partners with corner stores to deliver fresh produce and healthy snacks to DC’s low-income communities. DCCK sells produce to corner stores at wholesale prices and in smaller quantities than a conventional distributor. The stores sell the produce at below-market prices, making it an affordable option for the consumer.

Healthy Corner Store Program

Iona’s Senior Services

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In Washington DC, Iona Senior Services has a Farm-to-Table program that partners with farmers markets. They glean leftober produce at DC farmers market. The food is sorted, weighed and then distributed at a free market that is set-up and run every week at their congregate meal site. In addition, they hold cooking demonstrations, recipe distribution, and nutrition counseling on site. In addition every Saturday morning, Iona volunteers deliver meals to homebound older adults in northwest DC who are unable to prepare their own meals.

Iona’s Senior Services

Iona’s Senior Services - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

La Cocina VA

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To create opportunities using food as an agent of social and economic change, through feeding, educating and empowering the minds of our community. We offer a program that provides unemployed individuals with job training, culinary certification, and job placement services. We have designed a sustainable food assistance program that takes the meals cooked by the students in our Training Program and donates them daily to low income families and individuals in the area

La Cocina VA

La Cocina VA - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Manna Food Center

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Manna Food Center works to end chronic hunger in Montgomery County, MD.

Manna Food Center

Manna Food Center - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Martha’s Table

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For over 35 years, Martha’s Table has worked to build a better future for children, their families, and neighbors in Washington, DC by increasing access to education, food, and opportunity. Martha’s table programs are divided into three initiatives: healthy start, healthy eating, and healthy connections.

Martha’s Table

Martha’s Table - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Maryland Food Bank

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The Maryland Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization, leading the movement to end hunger throughout Maryland. – See more at: https://mdfoodbank.org/#sthash.RiXk3XDp.dpuf

Maryland Food Bank

Maryland Food Bank - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

Miriam’s Kitchen

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Miriam’s Kitchen is a nonprofit working to end chronic homelessness in Washington, DC through a variety of programs.

Miriam’s Kitchen

Miriam’s Kitchen - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

N Street Village

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N Street Village is a community of empowerment and recovery for homeless and low-income women in Washington, D.C. With comprehensive services addressing both emergency and long-term needs, we help women achieve stability and make meaningful gains in their housing, income, employment, mental health, physical health, and addiction recovery.

N Street Village

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

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The NSLP provides cash subsidies to assist schools with meeting meal costs while providing students nutritious lunches during the school day. OSSE WNS School Programs administers the NSLP for the District of Columbia and ensures that all participating schools meet the guidelines, rules and regulations as required by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Office of Food and Nutrition Services

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DPR’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (OFNS) provides nutritious meals and snacks to children in the District of Columbia. Per an agreement with the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), OFNS administers and is financially responsible for the operation of two major United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food assistance programs: the DC Free Summer Meals Program (FSMP); and the Kid’s Cafe (After School Meals) Program.

Office of Food and Nutrition Services

Office of the State Superintendent of Education – Division of Health and Wellness

logo for Office of the State Superintendent of Education – Division of Health and Wellness

The mission of the Division of Health and Wellness is to work with schools and community based organizations to promote positive healthy behaviors and to improve the quality of life for children and youth in the District of Columbia. We offer capacity building to schools and community based organizations through the administration of the federal child nutrition programs, the distribution of federal and local funding, technical assistance and programming.

Office of the State Superintendent of Education – Division of Health and Wellness

Produce Plus

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Produce Plus is a program funded in part by the DC Department of Health and administered by DC Greens where eligible DC residents can receive $10 worth of Produce Plus checks each time they visit a distributing DC farmers’ market.

Produce Plus

SFMNP (Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program)

logo for SFMNP (Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program)

The SFMNP provides fresh fruits and vegetables to senior citizens of the District of Columbia who are eligible for and participate in the CSFP/Grocery Plus. The program expands the awareness and use of farmers’ markets, and also supports and promotes the daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables.

SFMNP (Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program)

SHARE Food Network

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SHARE Food Network provides nutritious food for everyone in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. Our food packages are available at prices 40-50% under supermarket prices, making healthy food more affordable. SHARE distributes food through a network of 320 partnering host organizations: churches, tenant associations, senior and day care centers, schools and other community agencies. SHARE depends on these relationships with collaborating organizations to carry out its mission. SHARE is accepting applications for new food sites.

SHARE Food Network

Shepherd’s Table

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We provide basic human services to men and women experiencing homelessness in our community. This includes supper 7 nights/wk + brunch on weekends!

Shepherd’s Table

SOME (So Others Might Eat)

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SOME is an interfaith, community-based organization that exists to help the poor and homeless of our nation’s capital. Each day, SOME is restoring hope and dignity one person at a time. We invite you to join us.

SOME (So Others Might Eat)

SOME (So Others Might Eat) - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits also are payable to people 65 and older without disabilities who meet the financial limits.

SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

Takoma Crossroads Community Food Network

logo for Takoma Crossroads Community Food Network

Crossroads Community Food Network is working to improve community health through local food access programs and education for at-risk populations in Maryland’s Takoma/Langley Crossroads area and beyond. Some of CCFN programs include a Farmers Market, healthy eating program, and a microenterprise training program.

Takoma Crossroads Community Food Network

Takoma Crossroads Community Food Network - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

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Temporary Cash Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides cash assistance to needy families with dependent children when available resources do not fully address the family’s needs and while preparing program participants for independence through work.

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

The School Breakfast Program (SBP)

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The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally funded meal program operating in public, public charter, and nonprofit private schools as well as residential child care institutions (RCCIs). The SBP provides cash subsidies to assist schools with meeting meal costs while providing students nutritious breakfasts to begin their school day and promote learning readiness and healthy eating behaviors. OSSE WNS School Programs administers the SBP for the District of Columbia.

The School Breakfast Program (SBP)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

logo for The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC is a program that provides the following services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age 5:
– Nutrition counseling and education
– Breastfeeding resources and support
– Nutrient-rich foods (Foods provided by the program supply calcium, protein, iron, and Vitamins A, D, and C.)
– Immunization assessment and screening
– Referrals to health and social service providers
– For women and children over 1-year-old, WIC also provides fresh fruits and vegetables (May – November) through the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP/Food Stamps

logo for The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP/Food Stamps

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program. The Districts’ SNAP program helps low-income residents and families buy the food they need for good health. You can apply for benefits by completing a State application form. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores and some farmers’ markets.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP/Food Stamps

Thrive DC

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Thrive DC works to end and prevent homelessness by providing vulnerable individuals a comprehensive range of services to help stabilize their lives.

Thrive DC

Thrive DC - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

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Information, tools and administration of all federal nutrition assistance programs including WIC, SNAP, SNAP-ED, and others. In the DC area, implementing agencies are District of Columbia Income Maintenance Administration

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

USDA Food and Nutrition Service - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program

logo for WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program

The WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) allows WIC participants to use their WIC Vegetables and Fruit Cash-Value Check (CVC) to buy fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from approved farmers’ market vendors.

WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program

Wide Net Project

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The Wide Net Project is a non-profit organization that supports restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and improved healthy food access for underserved communities. We achieve this by catching literally tons of wild blue catfish in the Bay, where it is overabundant, and then selling this delicious fish. In doing so, we reduce the blue catfish population, allowing the Bay’s native animals and plants to recover from being destroyed by this non-native fish. In the communities where orders are placed, we then provide additional fish below our cost to customers to food pantries.

Wide Net Project

Wide Net Project - Specific Information on Food Assistance Programs

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