The Salvation Army in New York provides emergency financial help as well as other social services. Learn how, and where, to everything from money for paying rent or utilities bill to centers that provide free food boxes or serve meals. Many other programs are offered as well, based on location and funding. Find details below Salvation Army assistance programs in New Your State as well as links to county specific information.

The Greater New York Division focuses on the five boroughs, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley, while the Empire State Division serves all the other 48 upstate/central and western NY counties with a mix of full service centers and rural “service units.” The Salvation Army also sells items at a low cost or provides them for free. Most locations have low cost thrift stores, provide free vouchers for gas, clothes, or furniture. Free seasonal items are offered too, ranging from school supplies to Christmas toys during the winter for free coats. The support from the NYS locations is combined with long term guidance as well.

Financial help, free food, meals, and basic needs from Salvation Army in NY State

Utility, heating, and water bill help is offered when people are faced with a disconnection of their services. The non-profit wants to help families who are faced with an emergency pay their bills and maintain their utilities. There is also energy help targeted for seniors on a fixed income, the sick or disabled in New York. While funding is limited, and based on location, the goal is to help people keep their electricity on while the client seeks long term help.

Free food from the Salvation Army is offered from pantries and/or soup kitchens. Struggling families who need help with keeping food on their table can get a free box of groceries or other goods they need. Hungry people, regardless of their income or background as well as the homeless can look into the various resources that are offered by the Salvation Army’s food banks or soup kitchens. They try not to turn any struggling family or needy person away.

The Salvation Army provides assistance from their local New York food distribution centers. Many sites also have soup kitchens too. Free evening meals or a morning breakfast are available at various locations. Please contact your local Salvation Army center in New York for specific information on times and locations of these or read more about how and where to get help from food banks.

Low income NYS residents and working poor may apply for food stamp support benefits at many local Salvation Army social service offices. Most locations have on site case managers that can provide individuals with eligibility pre-screening, assistance. This includes to programs such as SNAP, WIC or government commodities. Social workers give advice in filling out their application for food stamps.

Rent and housing assistance is available across New York from the Salvation Army. Many resources focus on preventing evictions, so emergency financial help can be offered for families who are not homeless but who need a hand maintaining their current housing or paying their rent. Such assistance may come in the form of emergency money to help move or temporary housing. They can also referral people to other local non-profits or government programs such as section 8 housing vouchers. Get a section 8 application NY.

Free gasoline vouchers in New York State and transportation may be provided by the Salvation Army families too. But please not this is not as common to receive, but from time to time vouchers for free gasoline or help for car repairs may be offered to someone who needs assistance. There are also free vouchers for cars or vehicles for work. The Salvation Army services are for people to use who need support in getting to a job interview or doctor appointment.

Holiday assistance programs from the Salvation Army are seasonal in nature. The charity assists low-income families, people with no money and the homeless across New York to ensure that their hardship is not suffered by their children during Christmas and other holidays. So they created programs such as Angel Tree and others to provide free Xmas toys and meals at Christmas or Thanksgiving. Find details on programs that including free Christmas gifts or money for kids.

Holiday meals can be provided too for Thanksgiving or Christmas. This includes free turkey dinners. Also in certain cases volunteers may deliver food to seniors or disabled who are shut in or who can’t leave their home due to age or a medical condition.

The NYS Salvation Army centers may give out other free items. It will be for basic needs. The assistance may come in the form of vouchers, distribution of items from the charities thrift stores, and other means. If needed, find how free items for low income families can help in a crisis.

Senior programs from the Salvation Army are offered as well. The agency knows that people who are 55 years of age and older represent the fastest growing age category within New York State. Some of the additional services offered include the Community Care Ministries (also called the League of Mercy) in which volunteer visitation program provides comfort and companionship to those who are elderly, invalid or otherwise shut-in. Some shelters or food programs also focus on the elderly, and these resources may be able to assist seniors with meeting their basic needs.

Salvation Army case management, self-sufficiency and employment programs

Employment services from the NY Salvation Army are offered at some locations. A case worker can provide access to a computer, information on local employers, and maybe resume review as well as free similar advice. While limited, vouchers may be offered to pay for gasoline or bus tokens if you need it for a job interview.

Long term support can be arranged by Salvation Army case workers in New York as well. As most of the financial aid from the charity is short term, emergency in nature. For example, learn about TANF cash aid, SNAP food stamps, public housing from section 8 in NY, and much more. Salvation Army case workers can help with applications too. More on New York public assistance programs.

Salvation Army locations in New York

Select your county below with information on local centers from that link. In addition to that information, you can also look here for other Upstate NY centers (website: https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/empire/) or Salvation Army centers downstate (website here: https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/greater-new-york/). Note that Upstate, the Empire State Division of the Salvation Army combines standard corps centers with an unusually extensive network of Service Extension Units that ensure coverage “in every zip code” where no brick-and-mortar Salvation Army facility exists.

While each center has their own specific programs. While the Salvation Army in NY State has limited resources, the Christian Charity generally provides emergency assistance, free basic needs, holiday support as we as food and more.

Albany County

Broome County

Cayuga County

Chautauqua County

Cortland County

Dutchess County

Elmira and Chemung County

Erie County and Buffalo

Essex, Clinton, and Franklin County

Herkimer County

Jefferson and St. Lawrence County

Monroe County and Rochester.