Something that I have noticed is I know almost nobody my age that goes to a food pantry. I know people who regularly run out of money for food and in general have to eat an unsuitable diet because that’s what they can afford and they still don’t go to a food bank, im not sure if it’s because they’re embarrassed or maybe if you didn’t grow up going you don’t know much about it but if you’re financially struggling I really recommend it. And look into other options for food assistance too like community fridges and gardens and other programs that can assist you, where I live Salvation Army pays for an allotted amount of grocery delivery for low income people every month, in the summer farmers take excess produce to the library to be taken by anyone who needs it, etc. There are a LOT of resources for free food that you can look into especially if you are literally not eating because of your financial situation
Btw if you have dietary restrictions you can often let them know and in many cases they’ll prioritize certain items for you
- Global map of community fridges
- Urban Harvest - global foraging maps
- Food Not Bombs Global Chapter Locations (mostly vegan!)
- USA - Find your local food bank
- USA - Meals on Wheels free or reduced cost food delivery (age usually 60+, check your specific area's eligibility
Good thing to have on hand in the midst of food stamps issues