|
Well, there are the basics:
If you are pregnant or have a young enough child, check out WIC.
If you have school age children, complete the forms for free/reduced lunch and breakfast. The lunch program is federally funded.
Contact local food banks.
Use the county health care system. Get as much as you can out of it.
Shop thrift stores & rummage sales for clothing/linens/etc.
Contact local faith based groups (churches, etc) for specific assistance. Our tax dollars are going to them because they are supposedly better at assisting the needy. Let them prove it.
Check with your school district for need-based fee waivers. They're not spoken about, but most schools have them.
Check with your school's parent group for assistance in covering school related expenses (supplies, field trips, book fees, etc) that you can't get reduced/covered by the district.
Consider work from home opportunities. Remember to report any additional income to the agency assisting you.
Sell things you can live without on Craigslist.
Sign up with your local freecycle.
Contact local charities that help out around Thanksgiving/Christmas. Even if you don't celebrate the holidays they'll give for, the food/gifts will probably help a lot.
|