North Carolina’s State Nutrition Action Coalition (SNAC) is a state-level collaborative with active representation from state agencies and nonprofits that implement the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) programs. Together, the SNAC partnering organizations reach people throughout their life span, providing food benefits, nutrition education, healthy community changes, and obesity prevention services to reduce food insecurity and improve the quality of life of North Carolinians. The information below has been compiled by NC SNAC to assist with finding resources for food.
North Carolina Food and Nutrition Resource Programs
- Contact information for NC county social services agencies
- Summer Meals: Text FOOD or COMIDA to 304-304 in the summer months to find sites with free meals for kids
- NC211: Information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina
- NCCare360: Statewide coordinated care network to connect individuals to local services and resources
- Food Access Maps: Emergency food assistance maps for NC
- SUN Bucks: Benefits for qualifying families with school-aged children to purchase healthy foods over the summer months
The NC Food and Nutrition Resource Programs Guide
The guide provides a snapshot of fourteen different USDA FNS programs available in North Carolina. These programs provide a vital source of support and act as a stimulus for local economies. This resource guide is designed to be used by anyone that directly works with people who may benefit from knowing more about these USDA programs and how to access them. NC Food and Nutrition Resource Programs guide is available in a downloadable print version below and through the USDA programs listed. To receive additional printed copies of this resource, please contact NC.SNACmail@gmail.com
NC Food and Nutrition Resource Guide: English, Spanish
NC Food and Nutrition Resources: Go to the category for the person needing food or nutrition services.
Tab/Accordion Items
Families balancing a limited income may be eligible to participate in several North Carolina food benefit programs. These programs include North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS).
- North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) - Provides benefits through a debit card to purchase food. Apply online with ePASS.
If your household receives FNS benefits, this program can help you qualify to receive financial assistance through the following programs:
- Lifeline - Helps you pay for your monthly phone bill.
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program - Helps you pay for your monthly heating bill.
- Affordable Connectivity Program - Provides a discount on your monthly internet services.
Meals On-Site
- School Meals - National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and After School Snack Program (NSLP, SBP, ASSP) - Provides children and teenagers breakfast, lunch and snacks that meets federal nutrition standards in NC public schools. Contact your local school for more information and to apply.
- Summer Nutrition Program - Provides free meals to children during summer vacation from school. During the summer, you can text FOOD (or COMIDA for Spanish) to 304-304 and provide your address, zip code or city to be directed to on-site meals near you or call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273) (Spanish) to find summer meals. You can also use the NC Site Finder Map to find free nutritious meals for children in North Carolina (updated weekly during traditional summer operating months).
Food Delivery or Pick Up Programs
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) - Provides USDA foods to income-eligible households living on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reservation and to Native American households residing in designated counties (Jackson, Swain, Cherokee and Graham) near the reservation.
Additional Food Benefits
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) - Provides food assistance benefits to access nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to healthcare and social services for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children under age 5.
- WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) - Provides eligible WIC participants with benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables at local farmers’ markets. The program runs seasonally (dates for the 2023 season to be determined) and is not available statewide.
- SUN Bucks -Provides grocery-buying benefits to qualifying families with school-aged children during the summer months when schools are on summer break. SUN Bucks benefits are issued to debit-like cards (EBT cards) that families can use to purchase nutritious food. Many families will automatically qualify, and some will need to apply.
Nutrition Education
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) - Provides a list of agencies dedicated to improving nutrition education. Nine agencies in NC provide SNAP-Education (e.g., workshops, virtual classes) for different ages and locations throughout the state.
- Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) - Teaches youth and adult participants skills and strategies to feed their families nutritious meals on a limited budget and improve their overall health.
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) - Provides nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, access to healthy foods and referrals to healthcare and social services for pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children under age 5.
Agency/Provider Resources
- WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) - Provides eligible WIC participants with benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables at local farmers’ markets. The program runs seasonally (dates for the 2023 season to be determined) and is not available statewide.
Individuals balancing a limited income may be eligible to participate in several North Carolina food benefit programs. These programs include North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS).
- North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) - Provides benefits through a debit card to purchase food. Apply online with ePASS.
If you receive FNS benefits, this program can help you qualify to receive financial assistance through the following programs:
- Lifeline - Helps you pay for your monthly phone bill.
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program - Helps you pay for your monthly heating bill.
- Affordable Connectivity Program - Provides a discount on your monthly internet services.
Food Delivery or Pick Up Programs
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) - Provides USDA foods to income-eligible households living on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reservation and to Native American households residing in designated counties (Jackson, Swain, Cherokee and Graham) near the reservation.
Nutrition Education
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) - Provides a list of agencies dedicated to improving nutrition education. Nine agencies in NC provide SNAP-Education (e.g., workshops, virtual classes) for different ages and locations throughout the state.
- Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) - Teaches youth and adult participants skills and strategies to feed their families nutritious meals on a limited budget and improve their overall health.
Agency/Provider Resources
- The Emergency Food Assistance Programs (TEFAP) - Program for approved local agencies that aids in supplementing the food needs of low-income households through the distribution of food packages.
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) - Program for approved non-residential care facilities (e.g., adult day program) that provides support to facilities serving nutritious meals and snacks to attending adults.
North Carolina FNS
Senior citizens balancing a limited income may be eligible to participate in several North Carolina food benefit programs. These programs include North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS).
- North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) - Provides benefits through a debit card to purchase food. Apply online with ePASS.
- Simplified Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) - SNAP is a simplified version of FNS for individuals age 65+ receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If you are determined eligible after applying for FNS, North Carolina will automatically mail you an application.
If you receive FNS benefits, this program can help you qualify to receive financial assistance through the following programs:
- Lifeline - Helps you pay for your monthly phone bill.
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program - Helps you pay for your monthly heating bill.
- Affordable Connectivity Program - Provides a discount on your monthly internet services.
Food Delivery or Pick Up Programs
- Senior Nutrition Program - Provides nutritious, home-delivered meals and socialization to older adults.
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) - Provides USDA foods to income-eligible households living on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reservation and to Native American households residing in designated counties (Jackson, Swain, Cherokee and Graham) near the reservation.
Meals On-Site
- Senior Nutrition Program - Provides nutritious sit-down meals and socialization to older adults in a group setting.
Additional Food Benefits
- Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) - Provides eligible senior participants with benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables at local farmers’ markets. The program runs seasonally from July through September and is not available statewide.
Nutrition Education
- Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) - Teaches youth and adult participants skills and strategies to feed their families nutritious meals on a limited budget and improve their overall health.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education (SNAP-Ed) - Provides a list of agencies dedicated to improving nutrition education. Nine agencies in NC provide SNAP-Education (e.g., workshops, virtual classes) to different ages and locations throughout the state.
Agency/Provider Senior Resources
- Senior Resources – Communications Toolkit - NCDHHS has prepared a senior resources toolkit with the goal of increasing easy access to information for seniors and organizations across the state about food assistance and other resources available to help with common expenses.
- Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) - Program for approved non-residential care facilities (e.g., adult day program) that provides support to facilities serving nutritious meals and snacks to attending adults.
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) - Program that supports approved local agencies in the distribution of a monthly package of food designed to supplement the nutritional needs of low-income senior citizens ages 60+.
Benefits to Purchase Food, and Nutrition Education
- The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) - Provides nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, access to healthy foods and referrals to healthcare and social services for pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children under age 5.
- WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) - Provides eligible WIC participants with benefits to purchase fruits and vegetables at local farmers’ markets. Program is not available statewide.