Food & Health Assistance Resources

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 - The Well Fed Essex County Collaborative has a map of all the Essex County food pantries. Procedures at each pantry are changing rapidly, so if you are able please call ahead.

SNAP/WIC Retailers - The Well Fed Essex County Collaborative has a map of all the retailers that accept SNAP and WIC benefits in Essex County. 

Nutritional Program for the Elderly - provides home-delivered meals-on-wheels, community center meals, nutrition assessments, nutrition counseling, and help applying for SNAP benefits (formerly Food Stamps) for older adults and other persons in Essex County. Adirondack Community Action Program,  7572 Court St #2, Elizabethtown, NY 12932   518-873-3207

Office for the Aging - Adults in Essex County aged 60 and over may be eligible for assistance from Office for the Aging. Contact their office at 518-873-3695

Local Farm Stores - The Adirondack North Country Association has created a map showing local farm stores and farm stands that are open during the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

Farm Fresh Packages & Fair Food Pricing (FFP) - ADK Action and The Hub on the Hill are partnering to bring Farm Fresh Packages to individuals and families at reduced prices with their Fair Food Pricing. Visit their website to see if you qualify for their Fair Food Pricing structure to receive reduced priced local food packages. If you want to help your community members in need by donating to help support Farm Fresh Packages and Fair Food Pricing you can do so at this link. 

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: http://snap.nal.usda.gov/resource-library/eat-right-when-moneys-tight .

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.

SNAP Outreach for Schools website has a toolkit for school administrators to use to help families within their district get access to SNAP benefits. Thank you to Hunger Solutions NY for putting this together!

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, see a schedule of monthly WIC clinics in locations around Essex County, and other WIC resources on this website. Essex County Health Department, 132 Water St. Elizabethtown, NY 12932

Miscellaneous Resources:

NY State of Health - In response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the New York State of Health has made a Special Enrollment Period available to New Yorkers during which eligible individuals will be able to enroll in insurance coverage through NY State of Health, New York’s official health plan Marketplace, and directly through insurers. The Special Enrollment Period is open from March 16 to April 15, 2020. Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus – can enroll year-round. The Fidelis Care team is ready to assist you by phone. Call 1-866-435-9521 (TTY: 711) or you can contact your local Fidelis Care Representative, Katelyn Smart 518-593-5341 or Matthew Davis 518-429-8224.

Good & Cheap/Bueno Y Barato - Author Leanne Brown has a free cookbook available with recipes to help those who receive SNAP benefits, or anyone looking to cook on a budget. Available in English and Spanish.

Last updated March 31, 2021