Community Resource Guides and Financial/Food/Clothing/Goods/Travel Assistance

This is not an official DoD endorsement of any of these organizations. This is purely information for our Paratroopers looking for financial, food, clothing/goods, and/or travel assistance. Every image is clickable and will direct you to the respective resource.

Financial Assistance

Army Emergency Relief (AER)

Assists service members and their families with expenses associated with travel, food, natural disaster preparations, home repairs, appliances and more through zero-interest loans (that do not affect credit score) and grants. Requests are considered on an individual basis. Apply online at https://aerprod.powerappsportals.us/

Operation Homefront

Active-duty service members of rank E-1 to E-6 with DEERS eligible/legal dependents can receive financial help for their military families. Active duty are eligible for financial assistance for food and vision care (for dependents only). Their next application window will open on February 1 for 10 days.

Food Assistance

Armed Services YMCA Food Pantry

This resource provides no-cost food assistance to E5 and below and veteran families in need of food assistance. Usage of the Food Pantry is limited to one time per month, and registration is required. Pick-up is at their main office at 2411 Rodney Trail #2 on Wednesdays & Fridays from 10:00am – 2:00pm. Registrants choose their preferred date for pick-up on the monthly online registration form. A valid military ID is required at pick-up.

Located at 2843 Normandy Dr #4, Fort Bragg, NC 28310, First Floor, Wing L

Open Monday-Friday

9am-4pm

United Service Organizations Lounge

USO offers pastries and refreshments in their lounge every Tuesday and Thursday morning until supplies last. They offer a light lunch (grilled cheese and soup, nacho bar, etc.) every Tuesday from 11:30am to 1pm. Their location has free printing access, CAC readers, computers & laptops, work stations, a children's play area, and information on event or sport tickets.

Operation Helping Hands

The Religious Support Office (RSO) Operation Helping Hands aids financial burdens by providing $50 commissary gift cards for military families. You can visit your unit chaplains to utilize this resource.

Contact: Bldg. 2-1114 Jackson Street, Fort Bragg

Fayetteville Urban Ministries (FUM)

FUM's Emergency Assistance Program provides a food pantry, clothing closet, and financial assistance for families and individuals in crisis among other programs.

Contact: 910-483-5944, 701 Whitfield Street in Fayetteville

Military Meals

Military families can visit militarymeals.org to sign up for a free grocery box and Commissary gift card, shipped directly to their home. Each box is packed with care to feed a family of four for a week. Submit only one request per household. It is not rank or needs based.

They have temporarily paused new applications. Find the latest updates on their Facebook page (click picture above).

Manna Dream Center

You can schedule a pantry appointment via phone or can visit the center directly at 336 Ray Ave in Fayetteville.

Contact: 910-568-3897

You can use the link below to find additional food bank resources in the area

Food Bank Partners

Clothing and Goods Assistance

There are many resources available through the ASYMCA.

ASYMCA Thrift Shop provides ID card holders with an opportunity to purchase low cost, gently used clothing and merchandise for the home. They also offer 20 free infant or maternity clothing items a month for expecting / new parents

ASYMCA Baby Bundles: Open to parents in their third trimester or families who have had a baby in the past 3 months and are rank E5 and below – free bundle with diapers, blanket, clothing, baby wipes, books, education toys, and more.

ASYMCA Operation Deploy your Dress provides one free dress per calendar year to any military I.D. cardholder.

Airborne Attic

The Airborne Attic provides furniture, household goods, baby items, etc. free of charge for soldiers and family members E-4 and below and E-5 and above with prior approval from the Relocation Readiness Manager.

Contact: (910) 907-2842, Bldg. 7006-A Corner of Letterman and Ord, Fort Bragg.

Lending Closet

The Lending Closet has household items that are available for families PCSing to or from our installation. Items are loaned for a designated period of time while waiting shipment or travel. Items available include small electrical appliances, pots, pans, dishes, ironing boards, sleep mats, pack-n-plays, microwave ovens and more.

Click flyer above to be redirected to the form where you can schedule an appointment to use this resource or donate.

Travel Assistance

Boots for Troops Travel Assistance Program

Provides financial relief for E1-E5 so they will be able to travel home for the holidays to be with their loved ones or to get home in an emergency situation. Boots For Troops books the flights in full and does not need repayment. It is STRONGLY encouraged to submit your request months in advance for holiday travel in order to be considered while budget is still available for this program. Click image to request travel assistance.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Emergency Travel:

E-5 and below
Active duty only
Death to immediate family member (mother, father, sibling, grandparents)
Terminal illness or life-threatening situation
Must submit current LES.

Holiday & Special Travel

E-5 and below
Active duty only
Must not have been home within 2 years
They do not provide fund reimbursement. They will book the flight, or provide gas gift cards if traveling by vehicle.

ASYMCA Operation Ride Home (Opportunity reopens September 1st, 2026)

Operation Ride Home is open to E1-E5, both single and married, and their dependent children ages 0-18, who might not otherwise have the full financial means to travel home for the holidays. The dates of allowable travel are November 1st– February 28th. They must have an approved absence request as part of the application process.

For air travel, the maximum amount is $500 or 50,000 American AAdvantage miles for one round-trip ticket. Airline tickets must be booked by an ASYMCA branch or ASYMCA-approved travel agent.

For vehicle travel (location must be at least 350 miles from Fort Bragg), approved applicants receive one $125 pre-paid gift card for the service member, spouse and dependent children ages 0-18 traveling in the vehicle. This amount is meant to help offset the costs of gas, food and/or hotel accommodations.

Miles for Military

Service members, rank E1-E4, can fly anywhere within the contiguous 48 states for holidays, family celebrations, or emergencies if they have completed 25+ hours of volunteer service with a 501(c)(3) in the current calendar year (to be verified by Miles for Military team)

Eligible service members complete an application for an airline ticket with Miles for Military at least a month prior to their requested travel.

Click image and scroll to bottom of page to create an account and apply.

Space-Available Travel Program

The Space-Available travel program is a travel benefit that allows military members and dependents to occupy Department of Defense aircraft seats that are left vacant after all space-required passengers and cargo have been accommodated. The majority of Space-A flights are offered by the Air Force's Air Mobility Command (AMC) or the Navy . Space-A seats are typically free of cost (there is a tax charged for AMC's Patriot Express flights).

All passengers "should" signup at every location where they might need to compete for seats which means Active Duty "should" signup at potential departure and return locations as soon as their leave status begins.

At most USAF locations, there are four ways to sign up for Space A travel: A completed paper AMC Form 140, on-line sign up (including e-mail), FAX, or in person. Visit here to find out more information about sign up.

Visit https://www.spacea.net/usa-locations to find out what US locations offer this privilege. Some information varies depending on your desired travel location. Space-A also offers flights to locations in Europe and the Pacific.

Community Resource Guides

Each of these guides are specific to those living within each of these counties that surround Fort Bragg.

Cumberland

Harnett

Hoke

Lee

Moore

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