Resources for Food Assistance

If you need help with food, call us and we'll help you with the application:

Dodge City 620-227-1562
Garden City 620-272-0010
Great Bend 620-792-1393

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program

There are two types of hunger: starvation and malnutrition. Starvation occurs when the body does not receive enough calories to maintain itself. Relatively few people actually die of starvation in the United States. Malnutrition is more common in the United States and it occurs when an individual gets enough calories, but his or her diet is limited to just three or four foods.

Malnutrition perpetuates a cycle of poverty because a person who is malnourished doesn't receive all of the vitamins and minerals needed for proper physical and mental development and maintenance. These nutritional deficiencies eventually lead to much larger and more expensive health issues: diabetes, heart disease, poor vision, obesity, skin diseases, and more. Nutritional deficiencies also lead to a poor ability to learn in school, and little energy or motivation to handle the responsibilities of life such as work, children, family, and more.

There is no reason for anyone to go hungry or to be malnourished in southwest Kansas. Resources are available for (1) immediate and (2) extended food assistance.

1. For Immediate Food Assistance:

Dodge City, Ford County KS

Friendship Feast, First Presbyterian Church, 803 Central, provides a cooked meal on weekdays (Monday - Friday) over the lunch hour from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Manna House, 1012 1st Avenue, (620) 227-6707, works with Kansas Food Bank to distribute food on Monday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Clients receive whatever is available at the time (canned goods, fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.)

Salvation Army, 1100 Ave E, 620-225-4871, Provides food all day on Monday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Wednesday afternoon from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

United Methodist Mexican American Ministries, 1700 Ave F, 620-225-0625, Provides food and clothing on Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Ellinwood, Barton County KS

Immanuel United Church of Christ, 701 N Fritz. Call Karen Schmidt at 620-564-3044. Open on Mondays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m., and Thursdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Garden City, Finney County KS

Emmaus House, 802 N 5th St (620-275-2008) Hands out free food on Wed and Friday from 9:30-11:00 am and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Genesis Family Health Food Pantry is open M-F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The mobile food pantry operates on the 2nd Thursday at 1 p.m. and the 4th Thursday at 3 p.m. Both are at the Community Church at 614 N. 13th..

Salvation Army, 216 N 9th Street (620-276-4027) - Hands on Commodities.

Great Bend, Barton County KS

The Community Food Bank of Barton County, 3007 10th St, (620-792-4001) is open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. to distribute food for Barton County residents of at least 4 weeks who are experiencing a temporary emergency or crisis situation, or transients moving through the community who find themselves in an emergency situation. Clients are limited to three times a year with a time span of 2 weeks in between.

The Hungry Hearts DC Kitchen, 1515 Williams (620-793-9880) provides free lunches daily, Monday through Friday from 11:45 to 12:45 pm, and free groceries as the need warrants.

Kansas Food 4 Life, 4 Nw 25 Rd, (620-793-7100) is a once a month food program located in town across from Cox Communications on N. Washington St.

Hoisington, Barton County, KS

First United Methodist Church, 3rd and Clay (620-653-2119) - Visit from 2-4 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of the month, and from 4-6 p.m. on the 4th Monday of the month. Use the East parking lot.

Larned, Pawnee County, KS

Helping Hands Food Pantry, 200 Sycamore (Call Jason Toll at 620-285-8430).

The Pawnee County Food Pantry, 501 Main Street (Call Linda Wyman at 620-285-3449) - Open Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Liberal, Seward County, KS

Genesis Family Health has a Food Pantry that is open M-F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Mobile Food Pantry operates on the fourth Tuesday of every other month including January, March, May, July and September. The Mobile Food Pantry does NOT run in November and December due to the holidays.

Macksville, Stafford County, KS

Christian Church, 234 N. Sheaffer Ave., Contact Derek Brown at 620-348-3205.

Pratt, Pratt County KS

Christian Food Bank, 111 W 4th St, (620) 672-5150. Open on Monday 7-9 pm; Wednesday 9:30-11:30 am; Thursday 7-8 pm; and Friday 10 am to noon.

First Christian Church Clothing Room, 123 N. Ninnescah St. Open Monday-Thursday from 9 am to 2 pm, and Thursday evenings from 5-7 pm.

Episcopal Church Non-Edible Items, 218 N. Main St, 620-672-2308. Provides toiletries, laundry supplies, etc.

Mid-America Foods, 1st United Methodist Church, 100 N. Jackson, 620-672-6473

Ministerial Alliance. Call any of the local churches

Pratt County Commodities, 619 N. Main. Open from 8 am to noon, and from 1-5 pm.

Pratt Family Life Center, 508 S. Main, 620-672-2224. Provides diapers, baby food, etc.

Pratt County Health Department, 712 S. Main, 620-672-7811

St John, Stafford County KS

St John United Methodist Church, 807 E 1st St (Call Sandy Smith at 620-549-3896), Provides food, toilet paper and laundry soap.

Stafford, Stafford County KS

Stafford First United Methodist Church, 218 W Stafford St (Call Larry Caley at 620-234-5107, or 620-234-5668), Provides food, toilet paper and laundry soap for residents of the St John and Hudson area.

Sublette, Haskell County KS

Genesis Family Health operates a mobile food pantry every fourth Thursday of the month

Syracuse, Hamilton County KS

Hamilton County Food Pantry, 504 Hamilton St, (620) 384-754

Ulysses, Grant County KS

Genesis Family Health has a Mobile Food Pantry that usually operates on the fourth Wednesday of every other month including January, March, May, July and September. The Mobile Food Pantry does NOT run in November and December due to the holidays.

2. For Extended Food Assistance:

The food assistance program in Kansas is about much more than just providing food.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),

Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, SNAP provides food benefits, access to a healthy and nutritious diet, and education about nutrition and how to prepare good food. In Kansas, the program is known as the Food Assistance Program. It is administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and it provides support for qualifying low-income households including those who are working or transitioning from welfare to work, as well as elderly, unemployed or disabled households. Click here to download a copy of the Kansas Food Assistance Brochure. To see if you may qualify for the Kansas Food Assistance Program, take the DCF self-assessment here. If you find that you may be eligible for food assistance, fill out an DCF application for food assistance here. You may also request an application at your local DCF office. Click here to find the closest DCF office near you.

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

WIC provides free food, nutrition counseling, and referrals to health and other social services to participants at no charge in order to keep low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, new moms, and infants and children under the age 5 healthy. WIC also offers immunization screening and referral, breastfeeding support, and nutrition and health classes on a variety of topics including meal planning, maintaining a healthy weight, picky eaters, caring for a new baby, shopping on a budget and more. To apply for WIC, contact a Health Department near you.

If you would like more information about food assistance, please call any of the three offices listed below.