Households in Winter Haven that need help buying groceries have a few public programs to look at. This guide covers two of them, SNAP and WIC, using information from the Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Health in Polk County. It does not list individual food pantries, because no pantry details were verified for this guide. For local resources and contacts, the site's residents page is a good place to continue.
Applying for SNAP
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often called food assistance. Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) says the quickest way to apply for food assistance is online using the MyACCESS portal. Applying online is the route DCF puts first, so it is the natural starting point for most households.
DCF describes the program and the application options on its SNAP page. Reading that page before starting can help applicants know what to expect.
If you need help with the online application
An online form is not easy for everyone. Applicants who need help with an online application may call the DCF Customer Contact Center at 850-300-4323. This is the number DCF gives for that purpose.
Applying on paper
For those who would rather use a paper application, DCF lists a fax number for sending it in: 1-866-886-4342. Someone who chooses this route should keep a copy of what they send and use the number exactly as DCF writes it.
Quick summary of SNAP options
- Apply online through the MyACCESS portal, which DCF calls the quickest way.
- Call the Customer Contact Center at 850-300-4323 if you need help with an online application.
- Fax a paper application to 1-866-886-4342.
WIC in Polk County
WIC is a separate program from SNAP. In Polk County, it is handled through the Florida Department of Health in Polk County. The department's WIC page explains that families are screened for nutritional risk and income eligibility. In plain terms, the program looks at both a family's nutritional needs and its income when deciding who qualifies.
The department's WIC page is the place to read about the program directly and to see how the county presents it.
Checking an EBT card balance
Families already taking part in WIC receive benefits on an EBT card. The Polk County health department's advice is simple: before shopping, check your balance online or call 866-629-1095. Knowing the balance ahead of time makes it easier to plan a grocery trip around what is available on the card.
- Check the balance online before shopping.
- Or call 866-629-1095.
How SNAP and WIC differ
The two programs are run by different state agencies, and the facts above show that they work through different channels. SNAP applications go through DCF, with the MyACCESS portal as the quickest option, a phone line for help and a fax number for paper forms. WIC runs through the Florida Department of Health in Polk County, which screens families for nutritional risk and income eligibility.
Because the programs are separate, a household may want to look at each one on its own. Reading both agencies' pages is the most reliable way to learn what each program covers.
What this guide does not cover
This guide does not name specific food pantries, give their hours or say where they are. It also does not state income limits, benefit amounts or processing times, since none of those were part of the verified information. Anyone who needs that detail should check the DCF and Polk County health department pages linked above, or call the numbers listed here.
A simple plan for getting started
- Decide whether SNAP, WIC or both are worth looking into for your household.
- For SNAP, start with the MyACCESS portal, which DCF calls the quickest way to apply.
- If the online form is a barrier, call 850-300-4323 for help.
- If you prefer paper, fax the application to 1-866-886-4342.
- For WIC, review the Polk County health department's page, and check your EBT balance before shopping.
Who to contact
- Florida Department of Children and Families Customer Contact Center: 850-300-4323, for help with an online SNAP application.
- Florida Department of Children and Families SNAP paper applications: fax 1-866-886-4342.
- WIC EBT card balance: check online or call 866-629-1095.
- Florida Department of Health in Polk County: screens WIC families for nutritional risk and income eligibility.
Sources
Compiled from the official sources below.