Food assistance in Monroe County

Food assistance programs through government agencies and non-profit groups tend to come and go on short notice, depending on available funding.

There also are often strict income guidelines or special circumstances required — which can mean a lot of red tape for families who are new to this scenario. But in some cases, qualification for one program automatically includes qualification for other programs.

Here are some of the options:

Free community meals

If you live in Monroe County and are in need of a free dinner for a day, or a week, or a month, a lot of volunteers have offered to cook dinner for you:

• In the city of Monroe, a different church assisted by volunteers hosts a free dinner at 6 p.m. every night of the week. You’ll find the schedule at God Works! soup kitchen, which helps with logistics for most of the dinners. (Two dinners were hosted weekly by area churches before God Works! got organized and helped expand the list.)
• God Works! also helps coordinate Wednesday night dinners in Temperance and Dundee
• First Congregational United Church of Christ in Flat Rock has a weekly community meal at 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

All of those free community dinners are listed in the MonroeTalks events calendar and the Community Page section in the print and e-editions of The Monroe Evening News. There are no income reviews required for participating in the community dinner programs - “working poor families” are expected and welcome.

Senior lunches

Many of the senior centers offer lunch programs at discounted rates for senior citizens. The senior center calendars are listed in the Sunday edition of The Monroe Evening News.

Free and reduced-price school lunches

If your children are in school, you can apply for free or reduced-price school lunches at any time of the school year when household income drops below the designated cut-off levels. For example, if the family wage-earner suddenly is laid off or goes on medical leave, that is a time to look into the program.

Children who qualify for school lunches also sometimes get a school breakfast.

Application packets will be either at the school office or the school district office.

Summer lunches for kids

There are summer lunch programs in Monroe County intended for children who would normally receive free school lunches during the school year. Announcements are listed in The Monroe Evening News as those agencies start their seasonal programs, or contact the United Way of Monroe County at 211 for a list of who’s currently providing lunch.

Food pantries

Julie’s List has a list of Food Banks in southeast Michigan. The list is so long she’s got multiple pages on that topic, with Monroe County food pantries found here. (Her site also links back to the Monroe County Network on Homelessness’ food closet list.)

Other public assistance programs

The Monroe County Opportunity Program handles arrangements locally for the Community Supplemental Food Program and Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Michigan.gov has a page that explains the Michigan Bridge Card. Beyond the obvious use at your neighborhood grocery store, the Bridge Card also can be used to make grocery purchases at Detroit Eastern Market and from Angel Food Ministries.

For additional local information

For information on public assistance or charitable food relief efforts that are available in Monroe County, call the 211 telephone hotline run by the United Way of Monroe County. Yes, the phone number really is 211.

Also see

For other ideas, including frugal recipe links and shopping tips, go to my focus page “Grocery shopping on a budget.” You might be surprised as to how much you can do on your own efforts to reduce your grocery bill, which will free up money for other household expenses.

Last updated June 18, 2008.