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If you are not sure which program fits, call 211 first.

United Way of the CSRA provides free, confidential referrals. Its official pages disagree on staffed hours: the 211 page lists Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., while its contact page describes 24/7 service. The online database is available 24/7. Try the line, and use the database if you cannot reach a specialist. Do not treat a referral as confirmation that an agency has funding or an open bed. For South Carolina addresses, dial 211 for local routing rather than assuming the CSRA alternate number serves every SC ZIP code.

• Call: 211, or 706-826-1495
• Online database: 211 CSRA resource search
• Office: United Way of the CSRA, 1765 Broad Street, Augusta, GA 30904
• Source: United Way of the CSRA, checked October 25, 2026.

Call 211 when you need food today and do not know the nearest pantry, when a shutoff notice has a date on it, or when rent is due and you have no plan yet. Ask which agencies are accepting requests near a Columbia County or Aiken County address, because pantry and charity coverage changes by neighborhood.

If you are new to the area and still setting up daily life, read the newcomer starter checklist next. If you are trying to lower your regular monthly costs, the cost of living guide shows what households here actually pay.

Golden Harvest Food Bank

Golden Harvest is the regional food bank for this area. It supplies food through partner pantries and programs in Georgia and South Carolina instead of handing food out at its warehouses.

That last part matters. Golden Harvest states on its contact page that it does not provide direct access to food at its Augusta or Aiken warehouses or its Produce Rescue Center. To get food, use its online food finder to find a partner pantry near you, or go to The Master's Table for a hot meal.

• Augusta warehouse: 3310 Commerce Drive, Augusta, GA 30909, phone 706-736-1199
• Aiken warehouse: 81 Capital Drive, Aiken, SC 29803, phone 803-642-2912
• The Master's Table: 702 Fenwick Street, Augusta, GA 30901, phone 706-722-0607
• Hot meal: The Master's Table serves a hot meal daily from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., per Golden Harvest
• Find a pantry: Open Golden Harvest’s food assistance resources and follow Food Finder.
• Source: Golden Harvest contact and food-access information.

Practical notes:

• Call a pantry before you go. Hours, ID rules, and how often a household can visit vary by site.
• Ask what to bring. Some pantries ask for photo ID or a piece of mail with your address. Rules differ by pantry, so do not assume.
• If you cannot get to a pantry, call 211 and ask about delivery or ride options in your county.

If you need a meal, not groceries

The Master's Table in downtown Augusta is the clearest same day option in this directory: a hot meal, served daily in the late morning, at 702 Fenwick Street. Arrive before noon. Source: Golden Harvest Food Bank.

This section is Georgia only. It covers Richmond County and Columbia County. If you live in Aiken County, skip to the South Carolina SNAP section below. Georgia benefits do not transfer across the state line as an application. You apply in the state where you live.

SNAP is the federal food benefit that most people still call food stamps. In Georgia it is run by the Division of Family and Children Services, called DFCS. You apply through Georgia Gateway, the state benefits portal at gateway.ga.gov. The Gateway home page says you can use it to apply for Food Stamps (SNAP), along with other benefits, and to renew benefits, upload documents, report changes, and view notices once you have an account.

Eligibility basics, in plain terms: DFCS looks at who lives and eats together in your household, your income, and certain expenses. You must live in Georgia. The exact income limits depend on household size and change over time, so check the current figures in Gateway or with DFCS instead of relying on a number someone posted last year.

Step by step: applying in Georgia

1. Start the application and gather available papers. Have proof of identity, income, address and relevant expenses ready if available. Let DFCS explain which household information and Social Security numbers are required for the people applying. Do not delay filing solely because a document is missing.
2. Go to gateway.ga.gov and create an account. Choose the option to apply for benefits, then select Food Stamps (SNAP). If you already receive Georgia benefits, you can link them to your account instead.
3. Fill out the application fully. List everyone in your household, all income, and your housing and utility costs. Submit it even if a document is still missing. Your filing date matters.
4. Upload your documents. Use Gateway to upload proof of identity, income, and address when DFCS asks for it. Keep copies of everything you send.
5. Do the interview. A DFCS caseworker will contact you for an interview, usually by phone. Answer honestly and mention every regular expense, including child care and medical costs where they apply.
6. Watch for the decision notice. Gateway posts notices to your account. If you are approved, your EBT card arrives by mail. Benefits load to that card each month you stay eligible.
7. Report changes and renew on time. Use Gateway to report income or household changes and to renew before your certification period ends, so your benefits do not stop by accident.

Use the official Georgia SNAP instructions and Georgia Gateway. Other ways to apply in Georgia, per DFCS and Gateway: apply in person at your county DFCS office, or call for help. The Gateway site lists 1-877-423-4746 for help with its information and services.

• Richmond County: Apply online at Georgia Gateway, or visit your local DFCS office. Find the current office and hours through the DFCS locations page at dfcs.georgia.gov.
• Columbia County DFCS office: 6358 Columbia Road, Appling, GA 30802, listed on the DFCS locations page. Yes, the county office is in Appling, not Evans. Confirm hours before you drive out.
• Source: Georgia Gateway, gateway.ga.gov, and Georgia DFCS, dfcs.georgia.gov

Need help with the EBT card itself? Georgia cardholders can manage their card through the ConnectEBT site linked from Georgia Gateway.

This section is South Carolina only. It covers Aiken County. If you live in Richmond or Columbia County in Georgia, use the Georgia section above.

In South Carolina, SNAP is run by the Department of Social Services, called DSS. The DSS SNAP page says you can apply online through the DSS Benefits Portal, in person at your local county DSS office, or by mail or fax to your county office using the state application form.

Eligibility basics: you must live in South Carolina and meet DSS income and other program rules for your household size. DSS decides each case. If you receive Supplemental Security Income, DSS notes a separate combined application project that may let you get SNAP without a separate DSS office application. Ask DSS if that fits your case.

Step by step: applying in South Carolina

1. Gather the same core papers: photo ID, Social Security numbers, proof of income, and proof of your rent or mortgage and utility costs.
2. Apply online through the DSS Benefits Portal linked at dss.sc.gov, or take a completed application to the Aiken County DSS office.
3. Complete your interview with DSS when they contact you, and send any documents they request by their deadline.
4. Watch your mail for the decision. If approved, benefits go to a South Carolina EBT card.

• SNAP and TANF client services: 800-616-1309, listed by SC DSS
• Apply and learn more: dss.sc.gov, SNAP how to apply page
• Source: South Carolina DSS benefits portal and SNAP application instructions.

This section is Georgia only: Richmond County and Columbia County.

LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, helps eligible low income households pay home heating and cooling costs. Georgia runs it through DFCS, but you do not apply at DFCS. Georgia DFCS directs applicants to their local Community Action Agency.

For Richmond and Columbia counties, that agency is the CSRA Economic Opportunity Authority, called CSRA EOA.

Eligibility basics from Georgia DFCS: household income at or below 60 percent of the state median income for Georgia, the applicant is the person responsible for paying the home energy cost, and the applicant is a U.S. citizen or legally admitted resident. Funding is limited and goes until it runs out, so apply early in a season rather than waiting for a shutoff notice.

Recent DFCS program flyers list a heating cycle and a cooling cycle each year. Dates can shift by year and by funding, so confirm the current window with CSRA EOA before you count on one.

Bring these documents, per DFCS guidance:

• Proof of income for all household members for the past 30 days
• Social Security numbers for each person in the household
• Your most recent gas and electric bill
• Proof of citizenship or legal immigrant status

• CSRA EOA: 1261 Greene Street, Augusta, GA 30901
• Energy assistance office: 706-724-0701, the dedicated EAP number on the official programs page. General administration: 706-722-0493.
• Online intake starting point: CSRA EOA request assistance. Confirm your appointment location; the administrative address is not a walk-in approval site.
• State program information: Georgia DFCS energy assistance information
• Source: Georgia DFCS LIHEAP and CSRA EOA programs.

Payment, when approved, generally goes to your energy provider on behalf of your household. Ask CSRA EOA how your specific bill and provider will be handled.

This section is South Carolina only: Aiken County.

South Carolina also has LIHEAP for heating and cooling help, run separately from Georgia. Your local door is a different agency. Do not call the Georgia agency for a South Carolina address.

For Aiken County, the community action agency is the Aiken Barnwell Counties Community Action Agency, called ABCCAA. Its official LIHEAP page describes energy assistance and crisis support. Weatherization is a separate program. Confirm how to apply and the current document list with the office.

• ABCCAA: 291 Beaufort Street NE, Aiken, SC 29801
• Phone: 803-648-6836
• Online: abccaa.org
• How to start: Call the Aiken office and ask how to book a LIHEAP appointment. Confirm the current application process and appointment availability before visiting.
• Source: Aiken Barnwell Counties Community Action Agency, abccaa.org, and its LIHEAP program listing

Bring photo ID, proof of income, Social Security information for your household, and your current utility bill to any appointment, and confirm the full document list when you book.

LIHEAP only covers energy. If the problem is rent, a deposit, or a water bill, start with these two doors.

CSRA EOA housing referrals (Georgia side)

Call the general office at 706-722-0493 or use the official request-assistance page. Explain whether you need rent assistance, housing counseling or homelessness services. Ask which program serves your exact address; the agency’s programs page specifically describes the Marion Barnes centralized intake service for Augusta–Richmond County. Do not assume every service covers Columbia County or has money available today.

Aiken County rent referrals

Call 211 for current rental-assistance referrals serving your Aiken County address. ABCCAA’s verified contact, 803-648-6836, is a starting point for energy assistance; ask the agency whether another relevant program is available, rather than assuming a rental-assistance appointment is open.

If you received eviction papers

Contact legal aid promptly and state the date on the notice or court papers. Asking for financial assistance does not itself change a court deadline or stop an eviction.

• Georgia: Georgia Legal Services Program, 833-457-7529, provides civil legal help to eligible applicants. Its housing resources explain housing issues.
• South Carolina: South Carolina Legal Services intake, 888-346-5592. Intake staff assess eligibility and the legal problem.

Intake does not guarantee representation. Keep the papers and ask the court or a qualified legal provider about your specific deadline. The renting guide covers the wider rental search and budgeting; it is not a substitute for legal help with an active case.

Call 211 for the rest of the map

Churches, charities, and city programs open and close with funding. No printed list stays current for long. If CSRA EOA or ABCCAA cannot help, call 211 or 706-826-1495 and ask specifically for rent help, utility help beyond LIHEAP, or deposit help near your ZIP code. Source: United Way of the CSRA, uwcsra.org.

Public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (often called Section 8) are not emergency help for this week. They are waitlist programs. Joining a list early matters, and list status changes often. Always confirm the current status on the authority's own site or by phone before you apply or travel.

Richmond County: Housing Authority of the City of Augusta

• Office: 1435 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30901
• Phone: 706-724-5466
• Online: Augusta Housing Authority
• What it runs: Public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program for Augusta and Richmond County
• How to apply: Watch the public notices on augustapha.org for waitlist openings, and follow the application instructions in the notice for that list. Different lists open at different times.
• Source: Housing Authority of the City of Augusta, augustapha.org

Aiken County: Housing Authority of the City of Aiken

• Office: 100 Rogers Terrace, Aiken, SC 29801
• Phone: 803-649-6673
• Online: Aiken Housing Authority application process
• What it runs: Public housing and voucher programs for the City of Aiken area
• How to apply: Contact the authority for the current application days and process, and ask which bedroom sizes are on the open list before you go.
• Source: Housing Authority of the City of Aiken, aikenhousing.org

Columbia County note

For Columbia County, start with Georgia DCA’s voucher applicant information, confirm program jurisdiction and check current notices. Call 211 for other affordable-housing referrals. Do not assume the Augusta authority covers a Columbia County address. This page does not declare any waitlist open.

Use the county-and-need resource finder near the top of this page for click-to-call numbers, official links and service-area notes. Choose Food for pantry and meal resources; Food benefits for SNAP; Housing for longer-term programs; and Legal if you need civil legal intake.

Before you call or visit

Prepare the deadline, county and ZIP code first. Ask which documents are required; programs may request ID, proof of income, household details, a bill or lease, or a notice. Do not postpone a first call solely because you have not gathered every document. Ask about language assistance and disability accommodations when booking.

If your utility bill has a shutoff date, contact the utility directly as well as the assistance agency. Ask about available arrangements and whether anything must be done before the deadline. An assistance application does not automatically pause disconnection.

Contact and program references reviewed October 25, 2026: Golden Harvest Food Bank (goldenharvest.org), Georgia DFCS and Georgia Gateway (dfcs.georgia.gov and gateway.ga.gov), South Carolina DSS (dss.sc.gov), CSRA EOA (csraeoa.org), Aiken Barnwell Counties Community Action Agency (abccaa.org), the Housing Authority of the City of Augusta (augustapha.org), the Housing Authority of the City of Aiken (aikenhousing.org), and United Way of the CSRA (uwcsra.org).

Programs change their hours, phone trees, waitlists, and funding. If a number here is wrong or a program has moved, tell us so we can fix it. And if you are still deciding where to live or how to set up life here, keep reading: start with the newcomer starter checklist, then compare your monthly costs in the cost of living guide.

Official verification links: United Way 211, Golden Harvest, Georgia SNAP, SC DSS portal, EOA programs, ABCCAA LIHEAP, Augusta Housing Authority, Aiken Housing Authority, Georgia legal aid and SC legal aid.

The directory is a dated referral guide, not an application, live availability feed or eligibility calculator. No personal case details are needed to use the filters or checklist. For the broader move, compare Augusta, Grovetown, Aiken and North Augusta. Our military spouse jobs guide and school calendars can help with longer-term household planning after the immediate need is addressed.