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Food Resources & Assistance
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Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline
Your #1 Resource for Food Assistance
If you live in Massachusetts and need food assistance, start by calling us today at 1-800-645-8333.
No matter what you’re going through, we understand that food is a must. We want to help you. We can connect you to programs that will help you afford groceries and put food on the table.
Calling us is always free, and confidential. Our counselors can assist you with:
- Finding out if you are eligible for SNAP (financial assistance for groceries) and help you apply.
- Finding free meals for your kids in your community
- Learning about how to use your HIP benefits
- Finding meal programs and food pantries
- and more...
PROJECT BREAD'S FOODSOURCE HOTLINE
1.800.645.8333
Food assistance in 180 languages
Hotline Hours
Mon-Fri
8am-7pm
Sat
10am-2pm
Holiday Meal
Where you can find a free meal during the holiday season
Here is a list of places around Massachusetts where you can get a free meal this holiday season.
Could you be eligible for SNAP?
Use the chat feature below to Live Chat with a FoodSource Hotline Counselor.
Free Meals for Kids & Teens
Project Bread partners with the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) through the Child Nutrition Outreach Program to provide free meals to kids across Massachusetts through School Meals and Summer Eats.
School Meals
This school year (2021-2022), all school meals are free for every student in Masachusetts. Many schools offer breakfast as well as lunch. All parents are encouraged to take advantage of free school meals, because it:
- Saves you time & money
- Boosts revenue for your child's school
- Breaks down barriers and stigma for other children
- Will help pave the way for School Meals for All to become permanent in Mass.
Summer Meals
Free meals are available for all kids & teens at hundreds of locations throughout Massachusetts. In the summer months, these meals are provided through the program known as Summer Eats.
Summer Eats is intended for every single kid in Massachusetts, ages 0-18. There is no sign-up needed, and no identification is required to pick-up meals.
This program will start-up again in Massachusetts, June 2022 and the "Meal Finder Map" will be made active on this page to find a location near you providing free meals for kids in the summer.
COVID-19 Food Resources
For anyone struggling to afford food for themselves or their families during this difficult time, there are many local and national programs that can help you.
Federal Nutrition Programs
SNAP, WIC, and P-EBT are federal nutrition programs that provide eligible residents with monthly financial assistance for groceries. Could you be eligible? Find out today!
SNAP
SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. A federal nutrition program (formerly known as food stamps) that provides monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries to Massachusetts residents who qualify. You will need to apply to receive SNAP. Our FoodSource Hotline counselors can help you find out if you are eligible and help you apply at 1.800.645.8333, or you can apply on your own online through DTA Connect below.
Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline: 1-800-645-8333
WIC
WIC is a nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services, free of charge, to Massachusetts families who qualify. WIC’s goal is to help children under 5 and those that are pregnant, just had a baby or are breastfeeding stay healthy. ALL WIC Programs are providing all services by phone during the pandemic. The WIC website contains updated information and individuals may contact the local WIC programs with any questions about breastfeeding, nutrition, and shopping. WIC is available to all families regardless of immigration or citizenship status. Check out WIC's eligibility page to see how families can apply online for WIC services. Individuals receiving SNAP and many types of MassHealth are automatically income-eligible for WIC. Parents, grandparents and foster parents may apply for children under the age of five years who are in their care. Families can also call WIC at 1-800-942-1007 or 617-721-6601 weekdays Monday through Friday 9am – 5pm. If you hear a recording, please leave a message with your name and telephone number or email a Local WIC Program directly with any questions.
1-800-942-1007 or 617-721-6601
P-EBT
There is no application to receive P-EBT. P-EBT stands for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer and is a federal nutrition program. It was created in response to COVID-19 school closures and helps families with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals and are enrolled in either a hybrid or remote model for school - pay for food to replace the meals they are missing at home. Children ages 0-5 who live in a household that receives SNAP also began receiving P-EBT in March. If you are a family that is eligible for P-EBT benefits, you will be notified by mail and automatically receive these benefits. Based on federal rules, families receive varying P-EBT amounts. Summer P-EBT benefits were issued on July 1st and August 1st. No further benefits are scheduled to be issued at this time. Find the most recent information on P-EBT at the link below.
DTA Assistance Line: (877) 382-2363