Week 1 Food Aid: Tips & Resources

Essential Steps to Secure Food Aid

Ensure you have enough food supplies on hand. Whenever someone offers you food or the opportunity to store it, accept it, even if you don't think you need it right away.

If you hear about food distribution centers set up nearby, make sure to assign at least one person from your household to go there for hot meals 2 to 3 times a day.

Certain food services operate from mobile units, and you'll need to listen for their announcements or updates. These units don't follow fixed routes and don't visit the same places frequently. Connect with your online community to locate these mobile food trucks, enabling you to meet them and obtain extra meals.

Food assistance programs, also known as SNAP, are managed at the state level and are separate from the FEMA process. FEMA later reimburses the state for providing this aid to disaster survivors. This assistance can be provided within 1 to 14 days following the disaster.

Major Faith-Based Volunteer Groups that Respond with Food Aid After Disasters:

• Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is a well-known faith-based organization that provides disaster relief services, including food to those affected by disasters.
• Southern Baptist Disaster Relief: This organization, operated through Southern Baptist churches, offers disaster response services such as food preparation, distribution, and other forms of assistance.
• Catholic Charities USA: Catholic Charities provides a range of services, including food assistance, to disaster survivors in the United States through their local chapters.
• Mennonite Disaster Service: This organization, rooted in the Mennonite faith, provides disaster relief and rebuilding services, including food distribution, in the aftermath of disasters.
• Lutheran Disaster Response: Lutheran Disaster Response, operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), offers food aid, shelter, and other assistance to disaster-affected communities.
• Samaritan's Purse: Although not exclusively faith-based, Samaritan's Purse is a Christian organization that responds to disasters by providing food, shelter, and medical assistance.
• United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR): UMCOR, the humanitarian arm of the United Methodist Church, provides disaster response and relief services, including food distribution and emergency supplies.
• Islamic Relief USA: While rooted in the Islamic faith, Islamic Relief USA is a humanitarian organization that provides aid to disaster-affected communities, including food assistance.
• Adventist Community Services: This organization, associated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, responds to disasters by providing food, shelter, and other support to those in need.
• Episcopal Relief & Development: Operated by the Episcopal Church, this organization provides disaster response services, including food aid and other forms of assistance.

These faith-based organizations offer food aid and other forms of assistance to disaster survivors within the United States, guided by their religious principles and values. Keep in mind that their services may vary based on the nature and scale of the disaster.

Major Non-Faith-Based Volunteer Groups that Respond with Food Aid After Disasters:

• American Red Cross: The American Red Cross is one of the primary organizations in the United States that responds to disasters, providing emergency shelter, food, and supplies to those affected.
• Feeding America: As mentioned earlier, Feeding America is a network of food banks that plays a crucial role in distributing food to disaster-affected areas within the United States.
• Team Rubicon: Team Rubicon, which was initially founded by military veterans, responds to disasters in the U.S. by providing a range of services including food distribution and debris removal.
• Convoy of Hope: Convoy of Hope, in addition to its international efforts, also responds to disasters within the United States by providing food and other forms of assistance.
• Operation BBQ Relief: This organization focuses on providing meals to disaster survivors and first responders in the aftermath of disasters in the U.S.
• World Central Kitchen: World Central Kitchen responds to disasters by providing hot meals to affected communities, often utilizing the expertise of professional chefs.
• Direct Relief: While primarily focused on medical assistance, Direct Relief also plays a role in providing emergency food aid during disasters within the United States.

These organizations operate specifically in the United States and are dedicated to responding to disasters and emergencies in the country, including providing food aid to affected communities. Keep in mind that disaster response efforts can vary depending on the scale and location of the disaster.

This list may be updated to add additional services without notice. Every community will have local groups providing food services if possible. Many local food businesses share with those impacted by the disaster free or low cost meals. Often times you'll find vendors traveling random streets with food to distribute.