3-69 Food Assistance Sheet

Family Programs Office - 912-767-2350 Food Assistance Information Sheet Information Updated as of APRIL 1, 2014 If you find yourself in a tight spot and do not have enough food to feed your Family, please do not hesitate to reach out for assistance. Due to agency operating hours, it is not possible to get food assistance to Families in the evening or over the weekend. If you need assistance with food or other financial matters, please contact the appropriate agency ASAP to inquire about their operating hours to that you can receive assistance in a timely manner.

SHORT-TERM ASSISTANCE MILITARY AFFLIATED DIVISION CHAPLAINS’ HELPING HANDS PROGRAM This is a one-time only assistance that will provide $50 worth of vouchers to the commissary. The Soldier or Family Member should contact the Battalion Chaplain or Army Community Service for a referral. The BN Chaplains’ Office can be reached at 912-767-3303 and is located in the Battalion Headquarters Building 648. The BN Chaplain will then work with the Family to get the assistance through the Installation Chaplain’s Office.

UNITED MILITARY CARE, INC. 400 North Main Street, Hinesville, GA 31313 912-877-1340 Business Hours: 9:30 am to 2:30 pm Monday through Friday, Closed Saturday & Sunday A full-service non-profit organization committed to making better tomorrows for Troops, Family Members, and Veterans.

They support all Military Service Members and their Families who are serving or have served in any of the Military branches.

Emergency food assistance is offered as well as assistance with infant goods, clothing, job readiness training, financial literacy, coupon classes, furniture lending. No Command referral is necessary, although they do ask those seeking assistance to sit down and be open and honest about the circumstances leading them to needing assistance so that they can offer educational assistance as well. It is highly recommended to give them a call prior to going by the office to make sure someone is available to assist you.

UNITED WAY OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE - ASSISTANCE BY COUNTY The mission of United Way 2-1-1 is to provide citizens with a streamlined process of getting health and human services information and the opportunity to donate goods and to volunteer services by using one easy to remember phone number: 2-1-1. You can speak with a live, knowledgeable, trained operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and even on holidays who can refer you to community services that are available to meet your needs. Translation service is available for over 50 languages. All calls are confidential, and give you the opportunity to ask questions and get answers. United Way 2-1-1 serves Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh counties.

Families can receive assistance through the United Way off-post depending on the County they reside: LIBERTY COUNTY, LONG COUNTY & PARTS OF TATTNAL COUNTY (REIDSVILLE, GLENNVILLE) BRYAN COUNTY (RICHMOND HILL)

912-368-4282 912-656-6888

CHATHUAM COUNTY (SAVANNAH, PEMBROKE, POOLER) EFFINGHAM COUNTY (RINCON, GUYTON, SPRINGFIELD)

912-651-7700 912-826-5300

FOR ONGOING AND COUNCILING ASSISTANCE PLEASE SEE NEXT PAGE...

LONG TERM OR ONGOING ASSISTANCE Please be advised that the services listed below require some sort of appointment or pre-registration process in order to be deemed eligible or to receive assistance. Please contact the agency for more information or to determine what items you will need to bring with you to receive assistance.

ARMY COMMUNITY SERVICE Financial Readiness Program, Bldg. 86 Lindquist Road, Fort Stewart, GA 31314 912-767-5058 ARMY EMERGENCY RELIEF AER is the Army's own emergency financial assistance organization and is dedicated to "Helping the Army Take Care of Its Own." AER is available to Active Duty Soldiers and Retirees. They can provide assistance in the form of a loan for food as well as other financial needs. AER does not provide assistance for non-essential items, for leave or vacation, fines or legal fees, to consolidate debt, to purchase a home, nor to cover bad checks or pay credit card bills.. Unit Commanders can authorize up to $1500 for Soldiers E-4 and below. Soldiers E-5 are not required to submit an application through their Commander or First Sergeant. All Soldiers may contact ACS to determine if they are eligible for an AER Loan for their specific circumstance.

AER can be reached by calling 912-767-5058.

FAMILY SUBSISTENCE SUPPLEMENTAL ALLOWANCE PROGRAM (FSSA) A voluntary financial benefits program for Military Families, intended to increase a Service Member's income in order to remove their household from eligibility for SNAP benefits (formerly the food stamp program). Eligibility is based on the income for all members of the household and the number of people living in the household. Soldiers must apply and be found eligible to receive this allowance. FSSA payments may affect a household’s eligibility/participation in certain programs where eligibility is based on household income such as the Women, Infant & Children program, subsidized day care programs and the earned income tax credit. Only the Soldier may apply to determine eligibility by visiting: https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/fssa/ Once a Soldier has been deemed eligible they must print the DD2857 and make an appointment to see a Financial Counselor at ACS who will sign off on the form. The form is then submitted to the BN S1 for processing.

FEDERAL FOOD STAMP PROGRAM (SNAP) ACS Financial Readiness Counselors are available to meet with Families to look at their financial situation and determine if they are eligible to participate in a Federally funded assistance program such as SNAP. To meet with a financial counselor please schedule an appointment by calling 912-767-5058 and asking for Financial Readiness.

WOMEN, INFANT & CHILDREN (WIC) Fort Stewart WIC Office, 1-855-262-7670 1183 Bultman Avenue, Fort Stewart, GA 31314 The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for: Infants and Children age 1 to 5 years (including foster children), Pregnant Women, Breastfeeding Mothers (up to 1 year), and Postpartum Women (up to 6 months). WIC provides special checks to buy healthy foods from WIC-authorized vendors, information and education about nutrition and health to help your family eat well, support and information about breastfeeding, and help in finding health care and other community services. You can take the WIC Eligibility Assessment to see if you qualify or contact you’re the Fort Stewart WIC office to make an appointment and find out which documents you will need to bring with you..

STATE OF GEORGIA FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM If you live in Liberty or Bryan County and your children attend public school your Family may qualify for the Free or Reduced Lunch program. If you qualify, your child(ren) will receive either free breakfast and lunch, or it will be offered at a discounted price. Contact your school for more information or see the application links below.

Liberty County Free or Reduced Lunch Application Bryan County Free or Reduced Lunch Application Those attending DoDEA Schools on Fort Stewart and those at Long County Schools: all children receive free breakfast and those who qualify can receive a reduced cost lunch. Contact your school for more information.

Additionally, Liberty & Bryan County schools participate in the Backpack Buddies program which sends qualifying Families home with food items to sustain them for the weekend each Friday. For more information on these programs or to see if you qualify, please contact your individual school for more information.

IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE ASSISTANCE THAT YOU NEED THROUGH THESE RESOURCES PLEASE CONTACT THE BATTALION FAMILY PROGRAMS OFFICE AT 912-767-2350 FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU.