Food and Financial Assistance

Southington is fortunate that there are multiple agencies to support people in need.

Southington Public Schools

For school year 2025-2026, pricing for breakfast and lunch will return to regular pricing based on the child’s eligibility. A child can qualify for free or reduced pricing based on being directly certified through the State of CT or through a household income application. All other students must pay full price for their breakfast and lunch. Free and reduced applications, found here, can be submitted anytime during the school year. Please send applications to your child’s school main office. If you have any questions regarding free and reduced applications please contact the Food Service Office at 860-628-3286 x21221.

Bread for Life

Located at 31 Vermont Avenue in Southington, Southington Bread For Life provides meals to those in need. Lunch is served at noon Monday-Saturday and dinner is served at 6:00 pm on Wednesday. You are welcome to drop by for a meal in the dining room or to-go during these times. They also run the summer lunch program for youth out of several locations.

Donations are accepted.

Southington Community Services

Located at 91 Norton Street in Plantsville, Southington Community Services can assist in providing food and other resources to residents in need. They are also in need of donations, including food, clothing and small household items, which can be dropped off at their location between the hours of 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

They offer:

  • Food Pantry
  • Energy Assistance
  • Holiday Programs
  • Summer Camp and Youth Sports
  • Rent/Mortgage Assistance
  • Assistance with State Programs
  • Free Income Tax Preparation
  • Women, Infants & Children Program (WIC) – Provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, nutrition education, and breastfeeding promotion and support for pregnant and postpartum women and children
    under age 5. More info at ct.gov/dph/wic.

In order to ensure adequate time is provided to discuss your concerns, please call the office at (860) 628-3761 to schedule an appointment. You may need to bring in proof of residency and/or proof of income.

Giving Back Food Pantry at Tabernacle Church

Foodshare Mobile Produce Truck— every other Tuesday 9:00 am – 9:30 am
Non-Perishable Food Pantry—every other Saturday 9:30 am
No residence required—no proof of income required

1445 West Street
Southington,
Phone: (860) 276-0400

Plate It Forward Southington

Plate it Forward Southington is based upon the pay it forward model of giving. When you buy a meal for yourself in a participating restaurant, you may also make a second purchase for someone else. The project has support from The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Bread for Life, and Southington Community Services.

The paid but “yet-to-be-prepared” meal’s receipt is posted on the Plate it Forward Southington board inside the restaurant where food insecure folks that live among us as neighbors can come to the restaurant and get that pre-paid meal served to them.

If you are hungry and would like a meal, simply go to one of the participating restaurants, pick a slip off the Plate it Forward sign board and bring it to the counter or table. The list of participating restaurants is:

  • Fancy Bagels on Queen Street
  • Paul Gregory’s Bistro Cafe on Center Street
  • Chik-fil-A on Queen Street
  • Fancy Bagel Xpress on Buckland Street
  • Southington Lions Den in downtown Plantsville
  • Saint’s Restaurant on Queen Street
  • Beyond Greens in downtown Southington

Patrons to these restaurants are encouraged to purchase a meal for someone in need.

Learn more about Plate It Forward via The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain at https://cfgnb.org/plate-it-forward-southington/.

https://www.facebook.com/PlateItForwardCT

 

Energy Assistance

In addition to Southington Community Services, energy assistance can be obtained from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program who will help pay your heating bill – CT.gov/heatinghelp or Operation Fuel at operationfuel.org/gethelp.

Anyone who gets SNAP benefits can receive a discount on their electric bill.

 

Unemployment and Job Search

Have you lost your job as a result of the Coronavirus crisis? Connecticut’s Department of Labor encourages all residents who lose their job due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak to file for unemployment benefits. Click HERE to access the site.

There are training scholarships and job placement support available from Capital Workforce Partners. They invest in youth development, develop sustainable career paths for adult workers, and assist employers with a variety of programs and services provided through the American Job Center (AJC) network. They serve clients virtually, by phone and in person.
All American Job Centers are open to the public. Customers can walk in and get services or call to make an appointment (preferred).
Please call 860-406-3374 press 3 to set up an appointment.
Web Site: https://capitalworkforce.org/

 

Additional resources can be found in the ECCS Resource Directory in the Food, Economic & Social Services category.