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This is the first installment of a new series on how to navigate life in New Bedford. Ask us your questions here and our reporters will look into it for you.
Nearly half of Bristol County households struggle to get enough food, according to a recent Greater Boston Food Bank report.
If you live in one of those households, resources in New Bedford can help. The Light has compiled a guide on how and where to get food assistance.
SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, provides monthly funds to spend on groceries using a debit-like card. A family of three can receive up to $766 to spend on groceries each month.
SNAP benefits are based on income and household size. A family of three qualifies for SNAP if the family makes $4,303 or less per month, before taxes.
In the Greater Boston Food Bank’s report, half of the surveyed SNAP-eligible households who were not receiving SNAP said they worried that they would be taking benefits from someone who needed them more. But there is no cap to the number of households that can receive benefits.
“It’s not taking away from others if you apply for SNAP benefits,” said Lorraine Ward, director of food access and nutrition at the state’s Department of Transitional Assistance.
You can apply for SNAP online at DTAconnect and through the free DTA Connect app.
Or, you can apply in person, or by phone at 877-382-2363 (ext. 7).
When you apply, you’ll need documents to verify your identity, like a social security number, driver’s license, or birth certificate. You’ll need to show proof of Massachusetts residency and household income.
You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen to use SNAP — some legal permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may qualify. Applying for yourself or an eligible family member won’t affect your immigration status. If you aren’t a U.S. citizen and you are applying to receive benefits for yourself, you will need a document showing your immigration status.
If you verify your household costs with the state, you might increase the amount of benefits you receive. For instance, you can report how much you spend for housing, utilities, child and adult care, medical expenses, and child support payments. These verifications are optional. Some can be self-declared, meaning you can tell the state how much you spend without having to provide documentation.
Many grocery, convenience, and drug stores in New Bedford accept EBT cards, the payment method for SNAP benefits. (EBT stands for electronic benefit transfer.) You can find participating stores using the USDA SNAP retailer locator.
Farmers markets
SNAP households can get up to $80 in free fruits and vegetables from certain farm vendors each month. The Healthy Incentives Program puts money back on your EBT card when you use it to buy produce from participating farmers markets, farm stands, mobile markets, and farm share programs.
“It’s a win for clients, it’s a win for farmers, it’s a win for us as a state agency trying to increase food access for clients,” Ward said.
The state’s map of participating vendors shows several in greater New Bedford, including the Coastal Foodshed booth at the Buttonwood Park Farmers Market, the Flying Carrot Farm booth at the Dartmouth Farmers Market, and the Oakdale Farms/Lane Gardens booth at the Fairhaven Farmers Market. Check The Light’s Civic Life calendar for market schedules and locations.
Food pantries and meal sites
New Bedford has several food pantries, each with its own schedule and rules. Look for the daily food pantry schedule and other food programs on The Light’s Civic Life calendar.
Before you go to a food pantry, call ahead to make sure you can meet their requirements. Some pantries require photo ID, proof of residency, proof of income, or other documentation. Some limit the number of trips you can make per month.
You can find a list of food pantries and sites serving hot meals on the New Bedford Homeless Service Providers Network Street Sheet.
Meals for children and teens
Breakfast and lunch are free for all students in New Bedford Public Schools through the National School Breakfast and School Lunch Programs. You don’t need to apply or meet any requirements.
Many programs help families feed their children during the summer when school isn’t in session.
Free meals for kids are offered at dozens of sites across the city this summer. There are no eligibility requirements.
The New Bedford Summer Food Program provides breakfasts and lunches at schools and other sites. The Play in the Park Summer Food Series offers free lunch and dinner, as well as activities, at parks across the city. Check The Light’s Civic Life calendar for locations and schedules, or check Project Bread’s meal site map.
A new state program that launched in 2024, Summer EBT, provides a one-time payment for eligible families with students to buy groceries in the summer.
Students in New Bedford are eligible for the program if, during the last school year, they received SNAP, DTA cash benefits, SSI with a relative caregiver, or certain types of MassHealth coverage, or were in foster care.
Most families that are eligible for Summer EBT don’t need to apply and will automatically receive the benefits. If you’re not automatically enrolled and meet certain income limits, you can apply on DTAconnect.
Each eligible student receives a one-time payment of $120 on an EBT card that can be spent on groceries anywhere SNAP is accepted. The benefits started going out on July 25. Families that already have an EBT card receive the benefits on that card. Eligible families without an EBT card are sent one in the mail. The benefits expire after 122 days.
Find more information about Summer EBT here.
Meals for seniors
Coastline Elderly Services serves lunch for seniors at several sites on the South Coast and runs a Meals on Wheels program serving home-delivered lunch on weekdays.
Meal sites and phone numbers are listed on the Coastline website. In New Bedford, they include the Buttonwood Senior Center, Tripp Towers, and the Boa Vista Apartments. A $2 donation is encouraged, but not required. There are no eligibility requirements. To attend, call the site the day before to make a reservation.
Some seniors are eligible for home-delivered meals. To check your eligibility and sign up, call Coastline at 508-999-6400.
