Food 4 Kids is a “backpack program” for hungry children in Marion County. Guidance counselors at the schools provide each child’s name to them, including the number of siblings in the household. Volunteers pack durable, rolling backpacks full of food for each household. The volunteer delivers the backpacks directly to the school, tagged for each child. The child takes the backpack home on Friday afternoon and returns them to school on Monday morning. Then, the volunteers pick up the backpacks at the school and the process starts all over again.

Backpacks include:

• Canned meat
• Canned pasta
• Cereal
• Crackers
• Juice boxes
• Macaroni & cheese
• Non-candy snacks
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Pop tarts
• Pudding & fruit cups
• Shelf-stable milk
• Snack bars
• Soup

Call for more information.

After completing the intake process, food is given to those in need. The amount is appropriate for their family and situation by the food pantry located in the warehouse. Interfaith uses the National Poverty Level as a guideline for those qualifying for assistance. This will determine their eligibility. Hygiene items, which are not covered by food stamps, are also given out. Those items are given to clients in the same manner as the food services. Clothes are given to those in need as well. Call for more information.

Living Waters Worship Center provides Operation Compassion. It is a ministry reaching out to those who are in need of help with food. Call for more information.

Marion Senior Services provides Home Delivered Meals and Congregate Meals. They offer a hot, noontime meal, Monday through Friday. Meals are delivered by a volunteer and staff drivers as well as Marion Transit Service drivers. An additional feature of the program is to provide a daily check on the clients’ well being. If you drive, but need meals, there are several locations that serve them. Please call for locations, hours of operation, and other information.

Who Qualifies for Home Delivered Meals?

• Adults under the age of 60 who may need meals on a temporary basis while recovering from an illness
• Disabled adults under age 60
• Seniors 60 and over who are frail and homebound

This group offers the Critical Financial Assistance Program. The program helps military families with grants and not loans. Help is also given in the form of grocery cards. The payments are made directly to service providers. There are eligibility criteria that must be met. Please call or visit the website for more information.

Usual Types of Assistance Are:

This group offers help to households. These clients may be in danger of becoming homeless. They also might have to choose between food or shelter. The group offers home visits and food pantries. Please call or visit the website for locations and more information.

Services Offered Include:

• Food Pantry
• Home Visits
• Easter Baskets
• Soles 4 Kids
• Thanksgiving Baskets
• Jesse Tree - Toy Drive

St. Theresa Catholic Church provides social services to the community. They offer a Soup Kitchen as well as a Food Pantry. The Social Service Department is open Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 2 PM. Call for more information.

This service is designed to help families attempting to keep their homes, jobs and livelihoods. Family Services help with food, clothing, and furniture. If you qualify, help in paying a utility bill may be given when funds are available. Call for more information.

The Center of Hope provides two meals a day, breakfast and supper. It is open 265 days a year to thousands of homeless and low income people in Marion County. The meals offer balanced nutrition to those in the community who would otherwise go hungry. Call for more information.