Food Assistance

Volunteer handing a bag of groceries to a young smiling couple

Providing Supplemental Food Assistance

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Our Lady of Guadalupe Helotes Conference, provides food assistance to individuals and families in need at our food pantry, which offers a variety of non-perishable food. Fresh produce and meats are provided when available.

Food Pantry Hours of Operation:

  • Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Wednesdays and Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    Please check our holiday hours for changes to this schedule.

If You Need Food Assistance

Visit us during our regular business hours – no appointment necessary – with the following completed forms. Volunteers will be available to help fill out these forms, or you can bring completed copies with you.

RELEASE OF INFORMATION
HOUSEHOLD APPLICATION FOR USDA FOOD

Food Assistance FAQs

If you don’t see an answer to a question you have about food assistance,
please get in touch with us.

No. Just visit us during our normal business hours: Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Make sure you check our website for weather-related and holiday closures.

All you need to do is fill out our food assistance forms. We will need to see your ID if you are also requesting emergency utility assistance.

We have reusable cloth bags donated by H-E-B and paper and plastic bags. We encourage you to return the reusable cloth H-E-B bags the next time you pick up food from us.

You may pick up food every two weeks.

To protect the privacy of our neighbors, you’ll be asked to either wait comfortably in your car or on our patio.

On your first visit to the food pantry, we will collect information about you and your family/household. We collect this information to create your client assistance file and assist you in identifying other resources.

  • You will be asked to complete four forms: two for food assistance and two for utility assistance.  
  • We will make a copy of your photo ID, which will be kept in your confidential file.
  • You will meet with one of our SVDP Helotes volunteers. During this visit, you will receive information about the programs and services at our food pantry. Feel free to ask questions.

For future visits, you will need to show your photo ID.

The food pantry is run by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers.

Some items are donated, and others are purchased from the San Antonio Food Bank. We rely heavily on the people, businesses, and churches in our community for donated food.

Our basic inventory includes canned vegetables, fruit, pasta sauce, and packaged food such as cereal, pasta, bread, rice, and beans. We also offer frozen food (meat and chicken) and fresh produce – when available. We try to restock our shelves weekly. However, when you visit, some items might be out of stock due to shortages and costs.

Food bags are prepared in advance. We are occasionally able to make food substitutions, but they are subject to availability. We largely depend on donations and can’t predict what food items will be donated.

If you cannot pick up food, please write a letter of consent indicating who you’re allowing to pick up on your behalf. The note should include your name, the name of your proxy (friend, relative, neighbor), a statement that you are appointing this person to pick up food on your behalf, your signature, and the date. This letter must be renewed every year. The person picking up on your behalf must show their photo ID when picking up your food.

Emergency Utility Assistance
Community Resources Guide