Below are resources to support families during SNAP benefit reduction. If you have additional resources to share, please send them to us at MeredithHomeAndSchool@gmail.com and we will continue to keep this page updated. The most recent updates will always appear at the top of the page for ease of access.
Please see information from Settlement Music School in Queen Village. (November 4, 2025.)
Right now, many of our Settlement families are struggling to put food on the table. This week, we are launching an emergency food drive to provide immediate support to our families in need.
If you are in need of food, we will begin sharing pre-packed bags of food to take home in the upper lobby vestibule of the Mary Louise Curtis Branch starting Wednesday, November 5th. These bags will be available for pickup through November.
Please find the following offers from neighborhood restaurants M2O and Golden Empress Garden. (October 30-31, 2025.)
Additional restaurants and grocery stores in Philadelphia with similar offers can be found here:
These Philly-area restaurants and grocers are giving out free food during SNAP pause | PhillyVoice
Please see below for a recent email from the School District of Philadelphia. (October 31, 2025.)
Dear School District of Philadelphia Community,
At the School District of Philadelphia, we are steadfastly committed to the well-being of our students, staff, and families. We understand that the ongoing government shutdown and the resulting SNAP benefit reduction raises a lot of anxiety and poses a significant challenge for many Philadelphia families. We take that very seriously.
There are a number of ways the District is supporting families. Most immediately, we want to assure you that the District’s school meals program remains operational and will continue to serve every student. Our mission is to ensure that no child goes hungry during the school day, and we’re committed to providing nutritious meals that fuel learning and academic success. Here’s what you need to know:
- School Meals Are Here for Students: Nutritious breakfast, lunch, and after-school meals are provided at no cost and are available to all students.
- Meals Must Be Eaten at School: While we cannot send food home, we encourage all students to take advantage of the meals served in our cafeterias. We encourage students to eat meals at school, as the nutrition supports their daily health and ability to learn.
- Breakfast: Nutritious breakfasts are available to all students. Depending on the school, we offer various serving options beyond the cafeteria, including grab-and-go and breakfast in the classroom. Call your school, or check your school’s website, to find the service times.
- After-School Meal Programs: We provide students with healthy meals to keep them energized for extracurricular activities and enrichment programs. If your child participates in these programs, they will have access to these meals.
- Share Tables for Extra Food: To support students who may need extra food, the District encourages the use of share tables in its cafeterias. At share tables, students can leave unopened, packaged items that they don’t want, for others to take as needed. It’s a simple way to foster community and reduce waste.
- What’s on the menu? Explore your school menu and find nutrition information in the Nutrislice app or on the District’s website at philasd.nutrislice.com.
In addition to our school meals program, we want to share the following resources:
- This Food Resources: Support for SNAP Recipients document lists various resources available across Philadelphia, for those who are impacted by SNAP benefit reductions.
- The City of Philadelphia Food and Meal Finder is another tool designed to support Philadelphia residents in accessing meals.
We hope these resources are helpful during this challenging time. The health and well-being of students and their families is our top priority, and we are doing what we can to provide every student access to the healthy meals that they need to support their success in school.
Sincerely,
Jermaine Dawson, Ed. D.
Deputy Superintendent of Academic Services
Oz Hill
Deputy Superintendent of Operations
Please see below for a message from Representative Ben Waxman’s office, representing District 182. (October 30, 2025.)
The federal government shutdown is putting millions of Pennsylvanians in crisis. Without immediate action from Congress, November SNAP benefits will not be distributed, leaving families across our Commonwealth struggling to put food on the table.
At the same time, the start of the LIHEAP heating assistance program has been delayed until December 3, 2025, and could be postponed even longer if federal funding is not restored. These programs are lifelines for families, seniors, and children, and as the holiday season approaches, no one in our community should have to worry about how they will eat or stay warm.
Our office has also created a map of food distribution sites in our district to help connect residents with local support. Below is a resource guide that we’ve been working on with information on where to go to for food and assistance with public benefits.
Please see below for an excerpt from Principal Brevard’s weekly message. (October 25, 2025.)
Due to the government shutdown, SNAP benefits will not be paid until it is over and the funds can be released to PA. This means that some families may not have money for groceries in November. Also, if any families include government workers who have been furloughed, please see a link for resources below as well.
Here are several food support tools and organizations families can turn to in Greater Philadelphia:
- Philabundance – the region’s major food bank serving Philadelphia, the suburbs, and South Jersey. Families can use the “Find Food” map on their website to locate local food pantries and distribution sites.
- Share Food Program – another large hunger‐relief agency. They provide a map of free food distribution sites, community fridges, senior food box delivery and more.
- City of Philadelphia “Food & Meal Finder” – via the city website, families can look up local pantries, emergency food, home delivery, etc.
- PA 211 – families can dial 211 or visit their website to search statewide for food pantries, delivery meals, formula & baby food, etc.
