Connect to Food Resources

Ways to request a food pantry referral by phone: 

• Call the ECDSS SNAP Call Center (716) 858-7239
• Call 211 
• Text your zip code to the number 898-211

The Erie County Department for the Aging invites you to join the Stay Fit Dining program. Through this program hot, nutritious, delicious noonday meals are served Monday through Friday at senior centers across Erie County. Participants must be 60 years of age or older to participate. A $3.50 contribution is suggested, but not required. Contributions are confidential. 

Call to register: 

Advance reservations are required. To register, call the site nearest you

The Frozen Congregate Meal program is a great way to ensure that you have nutritious meals available in your home when you need them. Meals are available in 3, 5, 6, 8 or 10-pack varieties. The 3, 6 and 8 pack meals will have some combination of the meals offered in the 5-pack meals.  The 10-pack will have 2 identical 5-packs.  Milk and dessert are included with each meal.  

Reheat and enjoy when you're ready. Frozen meals are especially convenient for those who have days when they're not feeling well enough to prepare a meal, or a caregiver is not available to prepare one. This way, you know you have easy access to hot nutritious meal options in your home.

Meal Contributions: 

Please remember that a contribution of $3.50 per meal ($10.50 per 3-pack, $17.50 per 5-pack) is suggested but not required.  Meal contributions are confidential.  Any amount is appreciated and goes toward the improvement of the meals.

Register in Advance: 

Meals are available for pick-up at local Senior Centers across WNY.  Call you nearest pick-up location to register for meals.  Find a location closest to you!

Through the Erie County Department of the Aging, people 60 and over who cannot shop for, or prepare their own meals,  can have nutritious meals delivered to their homes five days a week.  A doctor's note specifying the type of diet (low-salt, diabetic, etc.) must be supplied.

Once the in-home assessment is complete, a referral for home-delivered meals may be made. When service begins, volunteers will deliver two meals around mid-day Monday through Friday. The menu is planned by registered dietitians to provide two-thirds of the recommended daily adult nutritional requirements. Tailored diets (low-salt, diabetic, and others) will be delivered for those with special dietary needs.

Meal Contributions: 

A confidential contribution of $3.50 per meal ($7.00 per day) is suggested and goes toward nutritious meals for seniors in Erie County. The contributions help to maintain and expand the meal program. However, no one will be denied a meal if they cannot contribute.

Register for Meals:

If you or someone you know, is unable to take care of meal preparation, a call to (716) 858-8526 can initiate an in-home evaluation for home-delivered meals as well as any other benefits or services for which the older person may be eligible. 

The Mobile Food Pantry Program delivers fresh, nutritious food like fruits and vegetables or participating agencies who host a food bank program.  See this month's mobile food pantry schedule and contact the agencies nearest you for more details.

Click here for the Food Pantry Locator from FeedMore WNY

A note about participation from FeedMore WNY:

"Please note that when receiving assistance at a FeedMore WNY affiliated pantry partner, you will be required to attest to meeting USDA eligibility. In order to be eligible to receive household TEFAP products, the total household income for all household members must be at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Also, applicants who participate in one or more of the following programs – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Medicaid, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically eligible for the TEFAP program.

By attesting to meeting eligibility requirements, you are certifying that your yearly gross household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or that your household participates in at least one program that qualifies automatically for TEFAP eligibility.

Please note that as a participant of a federal program, this organization also adheres to TEFAP Non-Discrimination policy, which can be found by clicking here."

Click this link to find food resources through 211 WNY's database

WIC can help you buy healthy food for you and your family.  WIC can help with:

• Money to buy healthy food and infant formula
• Nutrition classes and workshops
• Support for your pregnancy and/or growing child
• Breastfeeding/chestfeeding support and breast pumps for parents who need them

Eligibility:

To receive WIC, you do need to meet their eligibility requirements.  If you currently participate in SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, Essential Plan, or Head Start/Early Head Start benefits, you may automatically qualify for WIC.

Apply for WIC:

To apply or recertify for WIC, you need to contact your local WIC office.  Learn more about how to apply.

You can also use this tool to find the WIC office nearest you. 

Use this online resources to find a variety of food resources across NYS.

Click Here!