Btw we aren't joking when we say if the choice is between food and rent pick rent. Food banks give a LOT of food. I stopped by on the way home from work, I got a full gallon of half and half, a family sized pack of Hershey's bars, 2 cartons of eggs, 2 cartons of apple sauce, a large bag of potatoes, Mac and cheese, stuffing, canned meat, frozen meat, peanut butter, dried fruit, canned fruit, 3 bags of frozen veggies, 2 chicken lasagnas, a bundle of bananas (which I will be turning into chips along with the potatoes to make them last longer), bread, buns, baked goods, granola bars, 2 things of tofu, a gallon of lemonade, baking mixes, salad dressing, gravy, oatmeal, and 4 reusable bags bc they know I walk. This is all on my single headcount card. For just me. When my uncle goes for him and his 4 kids, his truck is packed. They listen to your allergies and preferences. They give you hygiene stuff like soap, toilet paper, pads, tampons, etc. they give you narcan on request. They don't just give you nutritious food, they give you cupcakes. They give you foods that will make your day a little bit better.
This one trip will catch me back up on my spending for at least the next 3 months. I will be able to pay rent through winter from this trip.
They will give you resources for free medical care, pet care like food, litter and toys, they will sit and talk to you. They will walk you through applications for social benefits like EBT, snap, wic, Medicare and Medicaid. Please pick rent over groceries, groceries will do you no good if you freeze to death in the winter or die of heat stroke in the summer. Food bank volunteer workers are happy to help.
As always, check your local food bank for their volunteer roster sign up if you are able to help out. Spread the word in your community, these places run off donations and word of mouth. The one in sisseton south Dakota will also sign you up for the semiannual free spay and neuter clinic if you ask about it, and I'm sure others will too. I haven't asked about it at the one I use bc my cats are all fixed already, all 3 of them for free because of social nets like food banks. If you don't know where yours is, ask at local churches, they will tell you. Ask at your kids school, schools are legally obligated to give you the resources you ask for.
I know a lot of people are groomed by society to feel shame in asking for this kind of help, but I promise you nobody there will bat an eye at you. They won't judge you bc the vast majority of them have BEEN THERE.
Local community gardens also most of the time will help. Check with them. Check the greenhouses. Check the libraries. People are by and large GOOD. It's human nature to help where it's needed and anyone who thinks differently should assess why they feel that way.
