Food / Nutrition
We all need food to survive.
Twenty percent of family households supported by Feeding America include a Veteran or someone who has served in the military. In fact, 27 percent of Veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have struggled to provide food for their families. Data from the USDA shows that working-age Veterans are at greater risk (7.4%) of experiencing food insecurity, compared to non-veterans. For disabled Veterans, this number rises nearly 3 times - to 22.5% (Move for Hunger).
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Furthermore, food insecurity is when families are unable to consistently afford or access adequate meals. Nearly a fifth (16.6%) of military and Veteran families face this challenge - skipping meals, choosing between buying food or paying rent, and leaning on food pantries for support. In 2019, one in eight military and Veteran families were experiencing food insecurity; in 2022, it grew to one in six (Military Family Advisory Network).
Feeding America is a nationwide network of food banks and programs helping millions of people find food and grocery support throughout their communities every year. Click here to find local food banks in your area, while also learning more about applying for national food programs such as SNAP and WIC.
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food essential to health and well-being. SNAP can also be used at your local farmer's market!
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First, find out if you are eligible to receive these benefits, then apply! For benefits or to get more information about SNAP, you must contact your local SNAP office. Each state has its own application form.
WIC is a supplemental nutrition program available throughout the United States as well as DoD's Program for WIC Overseas for:
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Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or pregnancy ends
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Breastfeeding women (up to the infants 1st birthday)
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Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or pregnancy ends)
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Infants (up to their 1st birthday)
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Children (up to their 5th birthday)​​​
WIC also provides several other benefits and services as well.
Sun Meals are available during the summer for any child aged 18 and younger, at no cost. Kids can eat meals and snacks at schools, parks and other neighborhood locations. No application or other information is needed! You simply have to go to the Site Finder webpage to find where they may be offered in your area.
If you live in a rural area where Sun Meals might be harder to access, you may be able to get Sun Meals To-Go. This means you can get summer meals for your kids picked up or delivered to your home, at no cost and without questions. If you are in need of Sun Meals To-Go, you must contact your state agency or, if using the Site Finder, click on "Meals-To-Go."
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One thing to keep in mind is the information is updated with new information every Friday throughout the summer so be sure to check back if you do not have any locations listed in your area yet.
Sun Bucks is a grocery benefit available across most of the U.S. where eligible school-aged children can get $120 per child to buy groceries during the summer. To qualify for this benefit, you have to apply/enroll. To apply/enroll, simply visit the website and scroll down to click on the state you reside in. This will provide you with contact information to further assist.
Hunger Free America operates the National Hunger Hotline on behalf of the USDA. The hotline is available Monday through Friday from 0700 to 2200 ET and is a resource for individuals and families seeking information on how to obtain food/food assistance anywhere. The National Hunger Hotline can be contacted by phone at # 866.348.6479
Not having nutrition/food and housing poses a huge risk to a family's safety. Finding resources that are available to help with food or housing concerns after transition is exponentially beneficial to help ensure you get connected to individuals/organizations that can help when you need it. ​​​
The USDA's mission is to increase food security and reduce hunger alongside other organizations by providing children and low-income people of all ages, access to food, a healthy diet and nutrition education. One of the great things about this program is that it also provides a list of what specific programs are available in each state.
