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Monthly Grocery Program
Helena Food Share provides a nine meal, once a month supply of food to families and individuals. Households may access the monthly program once every calendar month. We are a need-based agency, which means there are no age or income requirements to receive food assistance.
Many federally funded programs have limited access, however Helena Food Share does not limit by age or income. We ask that each head of household bring an ID each visit to ensure that we serve the family we believe we are serving. We also ask that a social security card for each household member be available at the first visit. The social security cards are used to confirm the number of individuals in the household. We ask other basic information of each household, including wage and assistance information.
Once you have checked in, you will receive a shopping list based on the number of household members. With this list and a cart, you are off to shop for groceries! Each list identifies the number of units a household may take from each of our food categories. Lists for larger households include a greater number of items. Food items distributed through this program include meat, milk, eggs, and butter/margarine. All non-perishable food items - donated or purchased - are included as well.
Upon completion of your shopping, you will be helped through a check-out by volunteers. The shopping list is handed to the volunteer and all food is taken out of the cart, counted for accuracy, and boxed or bagged for you. As at the finest grocery stores, help is offered to get the heavy shopping bags out to your vehicle. The process is similar to a local grocery store checkout but without an exchange of money.
To receive monthly groceries:
- A household member must bring in a picture ID and, for the first visit only, a document with a social security number on it for all household members.
- A picture ID must be shown each time monthly groceries are requested.
Daily Grocery Program
Helena Food Share provides daily access to perishable food to those in need. There are no eligibility requirements. Bakery, produce, misc. refrigerated foods, animal food, and sundries are available based on daily limits established after receipt of the day’s donations.
Since our locally supported programs are “need based”, any community member may access the Daily Grocery program as often as once daily. If a household is shopping for their Monthly Groceries, they also have access to the Daily items. We are striving to be a community where everyone knows where they can get a good, healthy meal every day.
Daily Groceries include sliced bread, sweet bakery, general bakery, fresh produce, animal foods, baby foods, miscellaneous dairy items, and donated non-food items. Beginning February 1, 2009, “extra” items are available to daily shoppers; this includes items such as condiments, coffee, snack foods, and juice.
Another significant addition to the Daily Grocery program is the consistent availability of potatoes. Helena Food Share has often received generous donations of potatoes in the past – but it was never enough to last longer than a few weeks. Now, thanks to a commitment on the part of the Board of Directors and various funders, there is always an unlimited supply of fresh potatoes available.
Families and individuals may access this program once a day, Monday through Friday.
If you have questions about how to get food, please contact the Helena Food Share warehouse at 443-3663.
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