Questions people ask
Where can I get free food in Ray County, Missouri?
We have confirmed 4 places that can help in Ray County: Lawson Food Pantry (Thursday, 1st, 3rd of each month, 9 AM, 7 PM, Every Other Thursday. Please call to confirm hours), (816) 551-7566, call first; Ray County Senior Center in Richmond (Wednesday, 3rd of each month, 2:30 to 5 PM. Please call to confirm hours), (816) 470-5808, call first; Salvation Army Richmond (Monday, 9 AM, 5 PM, By Appointment. Tuesday, 9 AM, 5 PM, By Appointment), (816) 776-8191, call first. 1 more is listed on this page. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I get help paying rent or a utility bill in Ray County, Missouri?
We have confirmed one place that can help in Ray County: Missouri Valley Community Action Agency (MVCAA), (660) 886-7476. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I get housing help in Ray County, Missouri?
We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Ray County: Ray County Housing Authority in Richmond, (816) 470-2308, call first; Richmond Housing Authority, (816) 470-2308, call first; Lawson Housing Authority, (816) 296-7150, call first. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I get help with addiction or mental health in Ray County, Missouri?
We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Ray County: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), 988; SAMHSA National Helpline (Open 24 hours a day, every day), (800) 662-4357. If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Where can I get help with veterans benefits in Ray County, Missouri?
We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Ray County: Veterans Crisis Line (Open 24 hours a day, every day), 988; VA national phone lines (Benefits line, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern), (800) 827-1000. A veteran in crisis can call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
Where can I get free legal help in Ray County, Missouri?
We have confirmed one place that can help in Ray County: Legal Aid of Western Missouri, (816) 474-6750. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
Is HelpByState free to use?
Yes. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing to pay. Every listing is free, and so is adding or correcting one.
Why do some listings say call first?
Church and community pantries often change days, move, or close for a holiday. When the sources we checked disagree, or an organization does not publish its hours, we say so instead of guessing. A quick call saves a trip.
I run a pantry or a program. How do I get listed or fix our hours?
Use the Add a listing or Suggest an update form. We confirm it against your own page or contact you, then change the listing. It is free.
Is this the same as 2-1-1?
No. 2-1-1 is a statewide phone line and database run by the state network. HelpByState is an independent, county-by-county directory that shows the date each listing was checked. If you want to talk to a person, dial 2-1-1.
Where do the hours and phone numbers come from?
From each organization's own website or page, official sources such as housing authority and WIC clinic lists, and the public Find Food map of the local food bank. We list the source on every card.