ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Emergency Food Assistance and Soup Kitchen-Food Bank Program

Sometimes, people don't have enough food to eat. This can happen for lots of different reasons, like when someone doesn't have a job and can't afford to buy food, or when their house gets destroyed in a natural disaster and they can't get to the grocery store.

But just because someone is hungry, it doesn't mean they have to go without food. There are places called soup kitchens and food banks that can help those in need.

A soup kitchen is a place where people can go to get a free meal. It's called a soup kitchen because sometimes they serve soup, but they can also give out other foods like sandwiches, fruits, and veggies. Everyone is welcome at a soup kitchen, no matter their age or background, and they don't need to have any kind of special permission or paperwork.

A food bank is a place where people can go to get groceries. A grocery store is a place where we can buy food when we are hungry, but sometimes people don't have enough money to buy food. That's where a food bank can help. People can go to a food bank to pick up bags of groceries filled with things like pasta, canned vegetables, and cereal.

Both soup kitchens and food banks are places where people can get help with food when they really need it. They exist to help people who are struggling to have enough to eat, so that they can have enough energy and strength to get through their day. It's important to remember that it's okay to ask for help, especially when it comes to things like having enough food to eat. No one should go hungry if they can help it, and soup kitchens and food banks are here to make sure that everyone has access to the food they need.