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Middle Georgia Assistance Programs — Butts, Crawford, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Spalding, Twiggs, Upson, and Wilkinson Counties
Middle Georgia stretches across a wide band of counties between Macon and the Atlanta suburbs, and through the smaller, rural communities southeast toward Macon. If you live in one of the eleven counties on this page and need help with utility bills, food, emergency financial assistance, or access to government benefits, this page is your starting point. Houston County (Warner Robins) and Bibb County (Macon) each have their own separate pages on this site with county-specific resources; residents of those two counties should use those pages instead.
Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, known as MGCAA, is the most important resource on this page. It is the federally designated Community Action Agency for this region, with a neighborhood service center in nearly every county. MGCAA handles LIHEAP energy bill assistance, home weatherization, Head Start, senior services, emergency food and shelter, housing counseling, and more. The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank connects residents to a network of pantries and food programs across most of these counties. For Spalding County (Griffin), the Salvation Army operates a full corps with a shelter and emergency financial programs. And Georgia DFCS handles SNAP, Medicaid, and other government benefits through a local office in each county.
- About the counties on this page: These eleven counties form the outer ring of central Georgia, surrounding the larger cities of Macon (Bibb County) and Warner Robins (Houston County), which have separate NHPB pages. The main towns are: Jackson (Butts), Roberta (Crawford), Gray (Jones), Barnesville (Lamar), Forsyth (Monroe), Fort Valley (Peach), Zebulon (Pike), Griffin (Spalding), Jeffersonville (Twiggs), Thomaston (Upson), and Irwinton (Wilkinson). Spalding County (Griffin) is the most populous county covered here with roughly 70,000 residents; most of the others are much smaller and more rural.
Quick Reference — Start Here
- MGCAA (energy bill help, weatherization, food, senior services, Head Start — all counties): Main office (478) 922-4464 or toll-free (800) 525-4972. For LIHEAP appointments call (478) 654-0101 or (770) 628-1021. Find local office addresses below.
- Government benefits — SNAP food stamps, Medicaid, TANF (all counties): (877) 423-4746 or apply online at gateway.ga.gov
- Middle Georgia Community Food Bank (food pantry referrals, most counties): (478) 742-3958 — find a pantry near you at mgcfb.org
- Salvation Army Griffin (emergency financial aid, shelter, food — Spalding County): (770) 412-6561
- 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1 to reach a live operator who can connect you to local programs and services — free, around the clock.
More resources beyond this page:
Middle Georgia Community Action Agency (MGCAA)
Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. (MGCAA) Est. 1965
MGCAA is the federally designated Community Action Agency for this region and the single most comprehensive local resource for low-income residents across all eleven counties. All MGCAA services are free. You do not have to pay anything to apply for or receive help through MGCAA. MGCAA has a Neighborhood Service Center (NSC) in each county where staff can help you apply for programs, determine what you qualify for, and connect you with other local and state resources. Programs include:
- LIHEAP energy assistance: A federally funded one-time payment toward your electric, gas, or other primary heating or cooling bill. Appointments open on a published schedule and fill quickly. Call (478) 654-0101 or (770) 628-1021, or schedule at mgcaa.itfrontdesk.com. You must book an appointment in the county where you live. Note: as of January 2025, heating season LIHEAP coverage has changed; contact your county NSC to confirm eligibility before scheduling.
- Weatherization Assistance Program: Free home energy efficiency improvements for qualifying low-income homeowners and renters — insulation, air sealing, window and door work, heating system upgrades. These improvements can meaningfully lower your utility bills year after year at no cost to you.
- Head Start and Early Head Start: Free early childhood education, health screenings, and family support services for income-qualifying families with children from birth to age 5. MGCAA operates Head Start centers across the region; call your county office to ask about openings and enrollment.
- Senior Services: Congregate and home-delivered meals, transportation, and related services for elderly residents. See MGCAA’s Senior Centers page for meal site locations by county.
- Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EF&S): Short-term emergency help with rent, utilities, or food for households in crisis. Availability varies by county and funding cycle; call your local NSC to ask.
- Housing Counseling: Free guidance on mortgage default prevention, foreclosure, home purchase preparation, and rental issues. Funded by HUD.
- Transportation (Section 5311): Rural public transportation available to all residents regardless of income in the MGCAA service area. Also available for medical trips and job-related travel through contracted services. Call the main office for details.
- Referrals and information: Even if MGCAA cannot help directly, your local NSC can point you to other programs — Medicaid, SNAP, public housing, prescription assistance, and more.
Contact: Main office: 121 Prince Street, Warner Robins, GA 31093 — (478) 922-4464 / (800) 525-4972. LIHEAP scheduling: (478) 654-0101 or (770) 628-1021. The NSC in your county is the right first contact for most MGCAA programs. https://www.mgcaa.org/
Food Assistance
Middle Georgia Community Food Bank Est. 1981
The Middle Georgia Community Food Bank has served the region since 1981. It is the Feeding America–affiliated food bank for this part of Georgia, supplying food to a network of more than 140 partner pantries and food programs across its 24-county service area. The food bank itself does not distribute food directly to households, but its website has a free pantry locator that shows the nearest distribution sites in your county — including their addresses and available hours.
The food bank covers Crawford, Jones, Lamar, Monroe, Peach, Pike, Twiggs, Upson, and Wilkinson counties (among others). Butts and Spalding counties are served by a different food bank network (the Atlanta Community Food Bank territory). Residents of Butts or Spalding counties should contact their local MGCAA office or dial 2-1-1 for referrals to nearby food pantries.
The food bank also has a SNAP coordinator who can help eligible residents apply for food stamp benefits. Call (478) 342-3218 for SNAP application assistance. Contact: (478) 742-3958 | 4490 Ocmulgee East Boulevard, Macon, GA 31217. Find a pantry near you: https://mgcfb.org/
Emergency Financial Assistance
See also: MGCAA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program, listed in the section above, which also provides limited emergency financial help with rent, utilities, and food across all counties.
The Salvation Army — Griffin Corps
The Salvation Army operates a full corps in Griffin serving Spalding County residents. This is one of the more resource-rich nonprofits in this eleven-county area and is worth a call if you are in or near Griffin and facing a crisis. Programs available through the Griffin Corps include:
- Emergency financial assistance (Project Share): Help with rent, utility bills, and other emergency needs for households temporarily in crisis. Call before visiting to ask about current availability and what documentation to bring.
- House of Hope emergency shelter: Emergency and temporary homeless shelter for individuals and families in Spalding County. Contact the corps for current capacity and intake process.
- Food assistance: Food distribution and pantry services. The corps also connects clients to other food resources.
- Youth programs: An after-school program and summer camp serving children ages 6 to 12, focused on academic support and social development.
- Holiday assistance: Angel Tree, toy distributions, and other programs for families and children during the holiday season. Applications typically open in the fall.
- Pathway of Hope: Longer-term case management for families working toward financial stability — not just emergency help but ongoing support and planning.
- Residents of other counties on this page should contact their local MGCAA office for emergency assistance referrals, as the Salvation Army’s Griffin Corps is primarily focused on Spalding County.
Contact: (770) 412-6561 | 725 Meriwether Street, Griffin, GA 30224. https://southernusa.salvationarmy.org/griffin/
County-Specific Resources
Most counties on this page rely primarily on MGCAA for emergency assistance. Monroe County (Forsyth) has two additional verified local organizations offering food, emergency bill help, and clothing.
Community Care Council, Inc. (“Circle of Care”) Monroe County — Forsyth, GA
The Community Care Council — known locally as Circle of Care — has served Monroe County residents for more than three decades. It is a partner of the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank and one of the more active local nonprofits in the county for emergency needs. Programs include a food pantry open on a regular monthly schedule, emergency help with utility bills (including those owed to the City of Forsyth), rent assistance, gas vouchers, medicine costs, and help for households facing unexpected crises like house fires. A thrift store operates from the same building, selling donated clothing and household goods at minimal prices; revenue from the thrift store funds the financial assistance programs.
Contact: Call ahead to confirm the current pantry schedule and what documentation to bring before visiting. (478) 994-4939 | 52 West Adams Street, Forsyth, GA 31029
Saint Luke AME Church Monroe County — Forsyth, GA
Saint Luke AME Church in Forsyth offers a utility bill assistance program for Monroe County residents. This is a congregation-based program with limited funding; call ahead to ask about current availability, what utility types are covered, and what documentation is required. Call to confirm the program is currently active before making the trip.
Contact: (478) 994-9626 | 143 James Street, Forsyth, GA 31029
Government Benefits — SNAP, Medicaid, TANF
Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS)
Georgia DFCS administers the main government benefit programs that low-income residents in these counties can apply for. If you need food assistance, health insurance, or cash help and think you might qualify, DFCS is where you apply. Programs include:
- SNAP (food stamps): Monthly food benefits loaded onto an EBT card, based on household size and income.
- Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids: Free or low-cost health insurance for eligible adults, children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families): Short-term cash assistance for families with children in certain crisis situations.
- Energy Assistance: DFCS can also refer qualifying households to energy assistance programs.
- The easiest way to apply is through the statewide portal at gateway.ga.gov, which handles applications, renewals, and document uploads online. Applications can also be submitted by phone or in person at your local county DFCS office. Each of the eleven counties on this page has a DFCS office; find yours at dfcs.georgia.gov under “Office Locations.”
Contact: Customer contact center: (877) 423-4746 — SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and general questions. Apply online: https://gateway.ga.gov/access/. DFCS office locator: https://dfcs.georgia.gov/locations
Nearby Region — Heart of Georgia Community Action Council (HOGCAC)
Heart of Georgia Community Action Council (HOGCAC)
HOGCAC is a related Community Action Agency that operates in a neighboring region of eastern and southeastern Georgia, covering Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Montgomery, Pulaski, Telfair, Treutlen, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties. HOGCAC and MGCAA share leadership and a website, but serve separate territories. The old version of this page incorrectly listed HOGCAC service centers (in Montgomery and Telfair counties) as if they were MGCAA offices; those have been removed.
If you live in one of the HOGCAC counties and reached this page by mistake, contact HOGCAC directly at the number below. HOGCAC offers the same types of programs as MGCAA — LIHEAP energy assistance, weatherization, emergency food and shelter, and community services. Contact: (478) 374-4301 | 324 Pine Street, Eastman, GA 31023. https://www.mgcaa.org/hogcac/
Senior Services — Area Agencies on Aging
Residents 60 and older in these counties have access to free or low-cost services through Georgia’s Area Agency on Aging system. The eleven counties on this page are split between two different Area Agencies on Aging depending on where you live. These agencies coordinate home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation, caregiver support, Medicare counseling (SHIP), and referrals to other senior programs. MGCAA also operates Senior Services in most counties; the AAA programs and MGCAA services can overlap and complement each other.
Three Rivers Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging
Three Rivers AAA is the designated Area Agency on Aging for the western group of counties on this page: Butts, Lamar, Pike, Spalding, and Upson. Programs available through or coordinated by Three Rivers AAA include home-delivered and congregate meals, transportation assistance, caregiver support services, adult protective services, Medicare insurance counseling through the SHIP program, and referrals to in-home support services. The agency also operates from a second eastern office in Griffin for Spalding County residents. Call the toll-free number to reach the right service coordinator for your county.
Contact: (678) 552-2838 | Toll-free: (866) 854-5652. 13273 Georgia Highway 34, Franklin, GA 30217. https://www.threeriversrc.com/aging.php
Middle Georgia Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging
The Middle Georgia Regional Commission AAA is the designated Area Agency on Aging for the eastern group of counties on this page: Crawford, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Twiggs, and Wilkinson. Its Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) provides screenings and intake for senior services programs, and its counselors can connect older residents and people with disabilities to home and community-based services that help them remain independent. Programs include meals, transportation, caregiver respite, and referrals to other support services.
Call before the daily 9 a.m. cutoff for same-day processing; after 9 a.m., referrals are processed the following day. Contact: (478) 751-6466 | Toll-free: (866) 552-4464. 3661 Eisenhower Pkwy, Suite MB102, Macon, GA 31206. https://www.middlegeorgiarc.org/aging/
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