Massachusetts SNAP food benefits
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Apply for or learn about Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the state's food benefits program (SNAP), which helps pay for groceries.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Massachusetts
16 resources in Massachusetts, plus programs open to everyone.
In Massachusetts
Start here: benefits and programs
Massachusetts WIC
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Healthy foods, nutrition education and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children under 5.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Massachusetts Medicaid
- Health care
- Free
- Online or statewide
Apply for or check your eligibility for Massachusetts's Medicaid program, which provides free health coverage to eligible residents.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Massachusetts energy assistance (LIHEAP)
- Utilities
- Free
- Online or statewide
Help paying heating and cooling bills through the state's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Who it's for: Income limits apply.
Local help and services
Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Feeding America member food bank. Use the site to find food pantries and meal programs near you.
The Greater Boston Food Bank
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Feeding America member food bank. Use the site to find food pantries and meal programs near you.
Worcester County Food Bank
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Feeding America member food bank. Use the site to find food pantries and meal programs near you.
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
- Health care
- Sliding scale
- Online or statewide
Association of Massachusetts's community health centers, which charge based on income. Find a center near you.
Who it's for: Open to everyone; fees adjust to income.
Northeast Legal Aid, Inc.
- Legal help
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free civil legal help for low-income residents, funded by the Legal Services Corporation. Check the website for the counties it serves.
Who it's for: Income-eligible residents of its service area.
South Coastal Counties Legal Services
- Legal help
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free civil legal help for low-income residents, funded by the Legal Services Corporation. Check the website for the counties it serves.
Who it's for: Income-eligible residents of its service area.
Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association
- Legal help
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free civil legal help for low-income residents, funded by the Legal Services Corporation. Check the website for the counties it serves.
Who it's for: Income-eligible residents of its service area.
Ways to give back
Massachusetts Service Alliance
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
The state office that supports volunteering and national service (AmeriCorps) in Massachusetts. Use the site to find programs and opportunities.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Habitat for Humanity in Massachusetts
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find a local Habitat for Humanity in Massachusetts to volunteer on home builds and repairs or in a ReStore.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Volunteer at Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Help sort and pack food and support hunger relief in your community. Sign up on Food Bank of Western Massachusetts's website.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Volunteer at The Greater Boston Food Bank
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Help sort and pack food and support hunger relief in your community. Sign up on The Greater Boston Food Bank's website.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Volunteer at Worcester County Food Bank
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Help sort and pack food and support hunger relief in your community. Sign up on Worcester County Food Bank's website.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Available everywhere
Start here: benefits and programs
211 Helpline
- General help
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free, confidential referral line connecting you to local help with food, housing, utilities and more. Dial 211 or search online.
Who it's for: Anyone.
SNAP (Food Stamps)
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Monthly benefits for groceries. Applications are handled by your state; the USDA page links to each state's office.
Who it's for: Income and household-size rules apply.
WIC
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Food, nutrition counseling and health referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under five.
Who it's for: Income-based; apply through your state or local WIC agency.
Medicaid and CHIP
- Health care
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free or low-cost health coverage for people with limited income, and for children through CHIP. Apply through your state.
Who it's for: Income and household rules vary by state.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Mental health
- Free
- Online or statewide
24/7 free, confidential crisis support by call, text or chat.
Who it's for: Anyone.
Benefits.gov Benefit Finder
- Benefits
- Free
- Online or statewide
Federal questionnaire that shows which government benefits you may qualify for.
Who it's for: Anyone; answers are used only to match programs.
Free Tax Help (VITA)
- Benefits
- Free
- Online or statewide
IRS-certified volunteers prepare tax returns for free and help claim credits such as the EITC.
Who it's for: Generally households earning about $67,000 or less.
HUD Find Shelter and Housing Help
- Housing
- Free
- Online or statewide
Links to emergency shelter, housing counseling and rental assistance offices near you.
Lifeline Phone and Internet Discount
- Utilities
- Low cost
- Online or statewide
Monthly discount on phone or internet service for qualifying households.
Who it's for: Income-based, or enrollment in SNAP, Medicaid and other programs.
LIHEAP Energy Assistance
- Utilities
- Free
- Online or statewide
Federal program that helps with heating and cooling bills. Apply through your state or local agency.
Who it's for: Income-based.
Local help and services
Feeding America Food Bank Locator
- Food
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find the food bank that serves your ZIP code.
HRSA Find a Health Center
- Health care
- Sliding scale
- Online or statewide
Locator for federally funded community health centers that charge based on income and never turn people away for inability to pay.
Who it's for: Open to everyone.
SAMHSA National Helpline
- Mental health
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free, confidential treatment referrals for mental health and substance use, in English and Spanish, 24/7.
Who it's for: Anyone, including people without insurance.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
- Safety
- Free
- Online or statewide
24/7 confidential support, safety planning and referrals for people experiencing domestic violence.
Who it's for: Anyone.
Legal Services Corporation: Find Legal Aid
- Legal help
- Free
- Online or statewide
Directory of LSC-funded legal aid organizations offering free civil legal help.
Who it's for: Income-eligible individuals.
National Diaper Bank Network
- Family
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find a local diaper bank for free diapers and baby supplies.
Head Start
- Education
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free early learning and family services for children from birth to age five in low-income families.
Who it's for: Income-based.
Libraries, parks and things to do
Every Kid Outdoors
- Things to do
- Free
- Online or statewide
A free pass for fourth graders and their families to visit national parks, lands and waters for a year.
Who it's for: Fourth graders and their families.
Museums for All
- Things to do
- Low cost
- Online or statewide
Free or reduced admission to participating museums across the country for people receiving SNAP benefits. Bring your EBT card and a photo ID.
Who it's for: People receiving SNAP benefits.
National Park Service Entrance Passes and Free Days
- Things to do
- Free
- Online or statewide
Free entrance days at national parks, plus discounted or free passes for eligible groups.
Who it's for: Open to everyone on free days; passes have their own rules.
Ways to give back
American Red Cross: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Volunteer with disaster relief, blood drives and services for military families.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
AmeriCorps
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Service programs across the country where members tackle local needs full or part time, some with a living allowance and help paying for school.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Volunteer opportunities for adults 55 and older through RSVP, one of the country's largest senior volunteer networks. You choose how, where and when to serve.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Become a Big
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Mentor a young person. It takes about an hour a week, and your local agency will guide you through the process.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Boys & Girls Clubs: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Volunteer at a local club as a mentor, tutor or activity leader for kids and teens.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
CASA and GAL Volunteers
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Become a trained volunteer who speaks up for a child in the foster care system.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Catchafire
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Use your professional skills, such as design, marketing or tech, to help a nonprofit for a few hours.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Feeding America: Volunteer at a Food Bank
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find a food bank near you and sign up to sort, pack and hand out food.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Habitat for Humanity: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Help build or repair affordable homes, or work in a local Habitat ReStore. No experience needed.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Idealist and VolunteerMatch
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Search thousands of in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities by cause and location. VolunteerMatch is now part of Idealist.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
IRS Tax Volunteers (VITA and TCE)
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Get free training to help people in your community prepare their taxes at no cost.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Meals on Wheels: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Deliver meals and a friendly visit to older neighbors, on a schedule that fits yours.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Medical Reserve Corps
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Community volunteers, medical and non-medical, who help their neighborhoods prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Points of Light Engage
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Search volunteer projects and events near you, or start a project of your own.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
United Way: Volunteer
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Find your local United Way to volunteer on community projects and food drives, or to help families get on solid financial footing.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.
Volunteer.gov
- Volunteer
- Free
- Online or statewide
Volunteer on public lands, such as national parks, forests and wildlife refuges.
Who it's for: Open to everyone. Sign-up steps and age limits vary.