Food Assistance

SNAP

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps, ensures that Americans receive the food they need, especially if they are newly unemployed. Congress has invested in SNAP in the last three legislative packages, including $15.51 billion in the CARES Act to address the coronavirus to help Americans put food on the table during this crisis.

Arizonans currently receiving food assistance through SNAP will be able to use benefits for online food purchases with currently-authorized SNAP online retailers, Walmart and Amazon. This change will help limit social interaction for Arizona’s most vulnerable while ensuring SNAP recipients receive needed food assistance. More information, HERE.

Arizona P-EBT Pandemic School Meal Replacement Benefits:

Eligible families will receive a pre-loaded Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase groceries. Households currently receiving Nutrition Assistance and/or Cash Assistance benefits will have this additional benefit added to their existing EBT cards. This benefit is available for every child in the household that is enrolled in the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act program in Arizona.

Benefit Amount for Each Child

  • $69 for March
  • $126 for April
  • $120 for May

For more information and an FAQ about P-EBT, visit the DES P-EBT webpage, HERE.

To apply for SNAP, contact Arizona's SNAP office at 800-352-8401 or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food & Nutrition Services Southwest Regional office.

A guide from the House Agriculture Committee on new provisions available to Arizona families can be found, HERE. 

WIC

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) provides access to nutritious foods to low-income pregnant women or mothers. To see if you are eligible for WIC benefits click here. To learn more about how to apply for WIC click here. To learn about WIC in Arizona, click here.

LOCAL ARIZONA RESOURCES

Find a food bank near you in Arizona, HERE. 

SCHOOL MEALS

For a list of schools serving school meals, by county, click HERE. For an interactive google map of schools serving meals, click HERE. 

school meals map.png

There is also an Arizona Hunger Hotline for school children with no school meals available in their area. Call the hotline at 602-528-3434 or 1-800-445-1914.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending flexibilities to allow free meals to continue to be available to all children throughout the entire 2020-2021 school year, through June 30, 2021. More information on this announcement is available HERE. To find a site near you, click HERE. For information on Arizona child nutrition programs and the flexibilities and waivers available to you, click HERE.

TEFAP

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that provides emergency food assistance to low-income Americans. Information on eligibility and the process for applying can be found HERE.

For an overview of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and what changes were made to the program in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act, click HERE.

SENIORS

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a federal program that provides low-income seniors age 60+ with food assistance. More information on the program in Arizona can be found HERE. 

Older adults can find additional meal assistance resources, like Meals on Wheels Delivery, by visiting their county Area Agency on Again. More information, HERE. 

To find meals for seniors in your county, click HERE.

Senior Nutrition Services by County:

Graham and Greenlee Counties: 

Pinal and Gila Counties:

Yavapai, Coconino, Navajo, Apache Counties:

Pima County:

Maricopa County:

Movaje County: