Receive Food Assistance

To download the latest Emergency Provider List, click here.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

When money’s tight, and you’re worried about feeding your children, the WIC program offers help.  The WIC program provides milk, cheese, eggs, juice, cereal and peanut butter or dried beans to pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children to the age of 5 years old.  WIC also provides tuna fish and carrots to breastfeeding women. 

Some ways to make healthier choices would be to purchase low fat milk and cheese for all participants over the age of 2 years old.  Participants are also encouraged to choose the dried beans instead of the peanut butter some of the time. 

Unused cereal can be crushed up and used in place of bread crumbs in recipes, while concentrated juice can be used as a sweetener in baked goods.  The use of milk, cheese and eggs should be encouraged in some of the recipes like a veggie frittata, puddings, cream soups, etc.

Recipe Ideas: Frittata with tomatoes; Macaroni and Cheese

Click here to visit the WIC homepage or call the HEALTH Information Line at 1-800-942-7434 for more information about the WIC program.

The Food Stamp Program

The Department of Human Services (DHS) Food Stamp Program provides assistance to low-income Rhode Islanders who are struggling financially and having difficulty buying food and providing nutritional meals for themselves and their family.

Qualification is based upon a combination of income level, personal resources and size of the household.  Individuals do not need to be participating in other DHS programs to receive food stamp benefits.  Recipients come from a variety of personal situations, including being unemployed, working, preparing for work, or receiving a pension.

Individuals enrolled in the Food Stamp Program receive benefits via a special debit card through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) program. (Paper coupons are no longer issued.)  The EBT card can be used to pay for food at supermarkets and convenience stores, as well as some farmer’s markets and food co-ops. Each month, benefits are directly deposited into the household's EBT account.

Click here to download an application to the Food Stamp Program. 

Applications for food stamp benefits are available at local DHS offices. To locate the office nearest you click here.

Additionally you may phone your local DHS Food Stamp Program to request an application be mailed to you:

Providence Area Residents:  401-222-7276
Northern RI area residents:  401-235-6300
Warwick area residents:  1-800-282-7021
South County area residents:  1-800-282-7021
East Bay area residents:  401-222-7276

US Department of Agriculture (USDA): 1-800-221-5689