In a serious personal financial crisis? Assistance pointers.

A big part of saving money is knowing how to access resources that may help you. At some point, once you’ve pinched every penny, discontinued every non-essential service, sold the second car, spent the savings and even moved into cheaper house, if you still can’t make ends meet, it’s time to ask for help. This is probably the most uncomfortable money saving topic you can address. But if you are one of the many thinking about looking for financial assistance to save money, it helps to know where to go, who to ask and what to expect. 

There are many government assistance programs and most of them are only available to those who make less than $800-$1,000 per week. Income guidelines vary by program. Food stamp programs, run by the US Government but administered by the states, will only help if you make less than two-times the national poverty level. These thresholds are shown at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09poverty.shtml. This means that a family of four must make less than $44,000 per year to qualify. To find out if you qualify for food stamps in your state, go to www.foodstamps-step1.usda.gov. 

Programs offering fuel assistance, school lunches, baby cereal, formula and other basic needs usually fall into the lowest income category. There are thousands who earn more but still can’t make ends meet. Sadly, these individuals can suffer from mounting debt until they eventually lose their homes, finally qualifying because they have become homeless. The only help for those who are still struggling to pay basic living expenses comes from private charities as food assistance. Generally, those who do not meet income requirements for government programs can still get help through volunteer-food exchanges and food banks.

Food Banks

Don’t let your embarrassment keep you from getting the food your family needs at the local food bank. It may help first-timers to know what to expect. When you arrive, you will be asked to complete a confidential form that helps the food bank keep track of resources. You will need to give a name and date of birth for each household member who will benefit from the food. After that, you will be given instructions or information by the clerk. Every food bank program has different guidelines.

Many food banks are located at churches, but that does not mean you are expected to be a member. No matter what your faith, you can get help from a food bank. Most visitors will receive help with cereal, soup, juice, vegetables, fruit, pasta, sauce, prepared meals in a can. You might also find milk, eggs, meat, fresh produce, and bread available when there is enough supply. The amount you receive may be limited by the size of your household. 

Some food banks run dollar-a-bag programs where you only pay $1 for each bag of groceries. This is an excellent compromise for those who want help, but do not feel comfortable with a handout.

Will Work for Food

Another way to get help without feeling as if you are taking charity is to take part volunteer-food exchanges. These charitable organizations exchange discounts on food for your volunteer time. In the northeast, a program called SERVE New England offers wholesale discounts on food in exchange for only two hours of community volunteerism in a month. Members get food at 33% off retail store prices. Prairieland Foods of Kansas runs a similar program as well. In Peoria, Illinois, members of the SHARE non-profit organization buy food at cost in exchange for volunteering at the organization. 

Most volunteer-food exchanges are run through local chapters. You can find the main sites through an online search for the phrase “food at cost in exchange for volunteering,” or “volunteer in exchange for food at cost,” and add your state to the search string. The site will direct you to the local chapter. You can call to find out about volunteering in exchange for discounts on food. Typically, you simply tell the program where and when you volunteered. You will qualify for a specific amount of food for each two-hour block of volunteering. This is an excellent way to get food on the table for very little money while helping others at the same time.

Don’t be afraid to take the help offered by food banks. This is a time of financial crisis and the help you receive there may be just what you need to hold on until the economy recovers.