FOOD ASSISTANCE

Not all food items you will receive from each program listed below are Kosher.

When the following State of Michigan programs are mentioned throughout this guide: “EBT”, “Food
Stamps/SNAP”, “MI Bridge Card” or “P-EBT”, the financial assistance you will receive will be allocated
onto a card referred to as a “MI Bridge Card”.

FORGOTTEN HARVEST

248-967-1500 – forgottenharvest.org/COVID19

Food distributions
One of our locations is at the Bussey Center – 24501 Fredrick St. in Southfield.
Eligibility is all those that need.
To get a full listing of our distribution locations, time and dates, visit:
forgottenharvest.org/COVID19

Mobile drive-thru food distributions
One of our locations is at the Oakland County Health Dept. – 27725 Greenfield Rd. in
Southfield. The distribution dates for June are 6/2 & 6/16 from 2:30-5:30pm
To get a full listing of our distribution locations, time and dates, visit:
gcfb.org/community-distribution-sites

GLORY SUPERMARKET

glory-supermarket.com

For every dollar spent on your MI-Bridge Card, get $2 worth of fruit & vegetables (up to
$20.00) in the form of a coupon towards your next purchase.
Multiple locations! (One is located at 9 mile & Coolidge – 248-554-2220)

JFS

248-592-2313 – jfsdetroit.org

JFS Case Managers can assist community members with accessing community food
resources, such as:
• MDHHS food assistance
• Local Food Pantry Offerings
• WIC
• Yad Ezra
If you need assistance in starting the process, or if you are having issues negotiating the
systems, the case manager they assign to you can assist in navigating the web of forms
and websites.

PANDEMIC EBT PROGRAM (P-EBT)

Families currently receiving Food Assistance Program (FAP) benefits will receive additional
benefits on their MI-Bridge Card.
P-EBT food assistance benefits will go to Michigan families with students ages 5-18 that
are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals.
Eligible families not currently receiving food assistance benefits should receive a preloaded Electronic Benefits Transaction (EBT) card issued under the name of the oldest
student in the household. The P-EBT card may look different from the MI-Bridge Card, but
the card and benefits can be used the same way as the MI-Bridge Card.
This is a new and very helpful benefit – if you did not receive the extra funds on your card
please be in touch with your MDHHS contact/case worker.

SOUTHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS – TRUNK TO TRUNK PROGRAM

gcfb.org/community-distribution-sites

Fresh produce for families every Friday for 6 weeks from May 15 – June 26
24675 Lahser Rd. (enter from 10 Mile Rd.)
Drive up – open your trunk – case of produce will be placed in your car
First come first serve until they run out of their 1200 boxes to give away each week.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

248-661-5700 – 5725 Walnut Lake Rd, West Bloomfield

FREE FRESH FOOD PANTRY
The first and third Tuesday of each month, Forgotten Harvest will supply our DriveThrough Fresh Food Pantry at Temple Israel.
Prepackaged boxes are loaded into your car. Need is the only requirement for eligibility
along with a valid Michigan ID.
• Drive-Through times are from 2:30 to 4:30

MDE – MICHIGAN DEPT OF EDUCATION:SCHOOL DISTRICT MEAL PROGRAMS

benefits.gov/help/faq/Coronavirus-resources

You can find government benefits related to unemployment assistance, healthcare, and food and nutrition. You can also take a Benefit Finder to find additional benefits you may be eligible for.

Benefits.gov does not administer benefits or accept applications for benefits. While they cannot answer questions about benefit applications, user accounts or pins, cases, or personal situations, they can help guide someone to the next steps in the application process.

JHELP

1-833-44J-HELP (1-833-445-4357) – jhelp.org

JHELP offers a single connection point for those seeking support. With one call or visit to the JHELP site, community members will be guided to whatever assistance is necessary, whether it be support for seniors, job-seekers, families in crisis or any other service. JHELP connects users directly to the Resource Center at Jewish Family Service (JFS), where professionals are ready to assist individuals in need. Some of their services that are included in this Resource Guide are included under Elder Care, Financial Assistance, Food Assistance and Mental Health Assistance.

JHELP usual hours of business are Monday-Friday 8:30am-5pm. Expanded COVID-19 hours are Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5pm. JHELP is funded through the generosity of The Jewish Fund and the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Family Foundation.

MICHIGAN.GOV/CORONAVIRUS

michigan.gov/coronavirus

For general overall assistance and guidance for programs like health care coverage, cash assistance, food assistance, childcare costs or emergency housing, utility payments or burial situations, the state of Michigan has a streamlined application system through MI Bridges. 

How to apply: Online at newmibridges.michigan.gov or using a paper application, which can be found online or call your local MDHHS office.

(Southfield Office –Call 248-262-6400 and they will mail the application to you.)

Fresh, delicious, and kosher food for all children;

A Project of Agudath Israel of Illinois. COVID-19 stopped many things. Feeding your children should not be one of them. KiwiKids currently offers weekly meal boxes that contain the quantities of 7 servings of breakfast and 7 servings of lunch for each child.

KiwiKids meal packages are available free of charge for all children 1-18 who are home and not receiving meals in school or from another site. There are no income eligibility requirements or location restrictions to receive free meals.

KOSHER MEALS ON WHEELS

248-592-2313 – ncjwmi.org/mealsonwheels

Two nutritious kosher meals can be delivered to your home up to 5 days/ week.
Meals are packaged & delivered from the kitchen of Epic Kosher Catering, by volunteers of
NCJW | MI (under the supervision of Council of Orthodox Rabbis).
ELIGIBILITY – If you or someone you know is 60 or older and either…
• Temporarily unable to prepare meals following a hospital stay
• Disabled and unable to provide meals for themselves
• Homebound, does not drive and without someone in their home to help with meals
• Elderly needing assistance maintaining independence in their home
• Eligibility has been expanded to vulnerable Jewish adults who may not typically be
homebound but are currently self-isolating for their safety.

MDHHS – OAKLAND COUNTY: FOOD STAMPS/SNAP

248-262-6400 – michigan.gov/mdhhs

Facilitates the federally-funded program administered locally by the county or the state
that enables low-income and indigent households to obtain an MI-Bridge Card which can
be used in most grocery stores to purchase food.
ELIGIBILITY:
• Households with no or low income (benefits are based on household income and size.)
To check eligibility go to www.mibridges.michigan.gov/access
Application process: Apply Online.
The documents required are:
• Completed application.
• Must show government issued photo identification.
• Social Security numbers and proof of income for the last 30 days (earned and unearned)
for all permanent household members.
• Must show proof of shelter (rent receipt, mortgage payment, etc.)

MDE – MICHIGAN DEPT OF EDUCATION:SCHOOL DISTRICT MEAL PROGRAMS

Breakfast and lunch meals are being provided by many school districts.
Check your local school district for availability and pick-up procedure.
Oak Park – 248-336-7700
Southfield – 248-746-8522
Berkley – 248-837-8000
West Bloomfield – 248-865-6420
Farmington Hills – 248-489-3349
Commerce/Walled Lake – 248-956-2000

For example – This is what Oak Park School District has in place as of May, 2020:
1. Pick-up is on Wednesdays at Oak Park High School – 13701 Oak Park Blvd.
2. Pick up is on Wednesday for the whole week
3. Breakfast and lunch meals will be provided for each day of the week
4. Children do not need to be present for parents to pick up meals
5. Adults can pick up for children who are not their own
Open to anyone – not limited to just Oak Park residents

WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC)

248-424-7000

Provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to
improve and support clients’ health.
ELIGIBILITY:
• Low-income
• Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to six weeks after birth or after
pregnancy ends)
• Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s first birthday)
• Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to six months after the birth or after
pregnancy ends)
• Infants up to their first birthday
• Single fathers with children up to age 5
Call for appointment. You will need the following documents: Proof of income (Medicaid
card, pay stub or W-2), address, and ID. HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm except legal holidays

YAD EZRA

248-548-3663 – yadezra.org

Groceries are only available by delivery during this pandemic and until further notice.
To register as a client of Yad Ezra, download an application from our website or pick one
up at our pickup box at the front of our building (2850 W. 11 Mile Rd in Berkley).
Completed applications may be emailed to info@yadezra.org, returned by mail, or to our
application delivery box at the front of our building. Fill out the form in full!!
NOTE: You may not need the additional forms that they ask for if you don’t have access to
them at this time of Covid-19.
Our food services extend to families whose income falls within 250% of the Federal
Poverty Guidelines..

Persons in Household Poverty Guidelines (Annual) 250% Persons in Household Poverty Guidelines (Annual) 250%
1 $31,900 5 $76,700
2 $43,100 6 $87,900
3 $54,300 7 $99,100
4 $65,500 8 $110,300

COVID-19 DETROIT JEWISH COMMUNITY HELPLI

248-744-4357 – detroitcommunityhelpline.com

Various organizations, including Hatzalah and the Detroit Chesed Project, have banded

together to help provide for the various needs of the community during this time

ELM

877-664-2233 – elderlawofmi.org/micafe

ELDER LAW OF MICHIGAN

General benefits assistance for older adults .(Michigan’s coordinated access to food for the elderly (MiCAFE)) . MiCAFE assists older adults in applying for benefits assistance programs that help make ends meet. This includes: help with applying for food assistance, Medicaid, Medicare Savings, in-home services, utility assistance, and low cost food and dining programs. Older adults meet by appointment with trained application assistants at a site in their community.

Services provided over the phone & there are no fees. Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eligibility – Adults age 60 and older Application process: Call for appointment. The documents required are:

Proof of income and liquid assets

Social security number

Housing expenses

Verification of medical expenses and premiums