A food pantry staff member helps a client with his selections.

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Visit our Food Pantry links for daily pantries & meal sites in Tompkins County.

An older adult man purchasing groceries with SNAP Benefits.
(High resolution image available on the link below)

Image by USDA

Use your SNAP benefits EBT card to pay at grocery stores and farmers' markets.

A group of children have lunch in the school cafeteria.

Image by USDA

Use your SNAP benefits EBT card to pay at grocery stores and farmers' markets.

Your EBT/Food Stamp/SNAP card is welcome at a farmers' market near you!

Food Assistance Programs

Making ends meet during difficult times can be easier with help from the right programs and other community resources. Cornell Cooperative Extension works with many local food assistance programs to help families, individuals and seniors find and access food resources that best meet their needs.

Local Programs

Daily Food Pantries & Community Meals - Find a list of temporary pop-up food pantries here.

State & National Programs

MyBenefits.Gov - New York State residents can visit this web site to find out if you are eligible for help through SNAP (formerly Food Stamps), Nutrition Education, Temporary Assistance, HEAP, WIC, School Meals and Summer Meal Programs.

SNAP / (formerly Food Stamp) benefits help low-income working people, seniors, the disabled and others feed their families. The USDA’s SNAP-Ed connection web site provides great tips and resources. Choose from: Healthy Eating on a Budget, 10 Steps to Help fill your grocery bag, Ways to Manage Your Food Dollars and MORE at SNAP's Eat Right when Money's Tight website.

The SNAP-to-Market website helps you find NY Farmers' Markets where you can use your SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) and explains how to make Farmers' Market purchases with them. You'll also find information on when fruits and vegetables are in-season at your market, and recipes to use with produce you buy.

WIC - the Women, Infants & Children’s Supplemental Food Program provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to community services for low-income pregnant and post-partum women and their children under five years of age. Breastfeeding support is available. Find out if you are eligible for WIC.

Our educational program series and lessons help families and households to stretch their food dollars to make healthier choices and eat better for less! Our SNAP-Ed New York Program helps individuals and families who have limited resources to gain the knowledge and skills to make healthier food and activity choices.