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HelpByState

Monroe County, Tennessee

Free help in Monroe County, Tennessee

Find a food pantry open this week
Free help from local charities, food banks, and state and federal programs. Free to use, no sign-up. Every listing shows the day we checked it.

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Real help, from real placesFood banks, charities, churches, and state and federal programs near you.
Checked for youEach listing shows the day we checked it, so you do not drive to a closed door.

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17confirmed listings
5towns covered
4food pantries and meal programs
October 9last checked

This week

Food this week in Monroe County

Pick a day to see which pantries are open and when. Times come from each pantry's confirmed schedule. Tap Call to reach them.

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Tap a numbered circle to zoom in. Pins are for orientation only: trust the address on each card.

CHEROKEEGRAHAMBLOUNTLOUDONMCMINNPOLK MONROE COUNTY Tellico Lake VonoreSweetwaterMadisonvilleTellico Plains
Tennessee
17 places

    Some safety programs do not share an address, so they are not on the map. They are listed under Safety below.

    FoodUtilitiesHousingHealthRecoveryVeteransLegalSafetyOffices

    Food pantries and meals4

    Madisonville

    Good Shepherd Center

    Food pantry, a Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee partner.

    Hours
    9 AM to 12:15 PM every Monday through Thursday. Also provides clothing, utility/ medical/ transportation vouchers, layettes for newborns, firewood, gas cards. Helps with non narcotic prescriptions. Serves 37354, 37385, 37874, 37885, 37329, 37846. Please bring photo ID and proof of residency.
    Address
    5150 US-411, Madisonville, TN 37354

    Call first. Hours come from the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee's own list. Please call to confirm before you go.

    Call (423) 420-8888DirectionsWebsite
    Checked October 9, 2026. Source: Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee pantry map.Suggest an update
    Englewood

    Shoal Creek Baptist Food Pantry

    Food pantry, a Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee partner.

    Hours
    10 AM to 12 PM every 3rd Saturday of the month. Serve 37354, 37385
    Address
    567 Shoal Creek Rd, Englewood, TN 37329

    Call first. Hours come from the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee's own list. Please call to confirm before you go.

    Call (423) 519-1157DirectionsWebsite
    Checked October 9, 2026. Source: Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee pantry map.Suggest an update
    Sweetwater

    Sweetwater Area Ministries

    Food pantry, a Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee partner.

    Hours
    10 AM to 3 PM every Monday through Friday (Crisis Only) 10 AM to 11:45 AM Monday & Wednesday for Monroe County Residents Only and Friday from 10 AM to 11:45 AM No Qualifications Needed. Serve 37354, 37885, 37874, 37385, 37314. Bring ID. Monday and Wednesday Distributions are with USDA products MUST qualify. Friday distribution does not require any qualifications.
    Address
    601 Sweetwater Vonore Rd, Sweetwater, TN 37874

    Call first. Hours come from the Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee's own list. Please call to confirm before you go.

    Call (423) 337-0210DirectionsWebsite
    Checked October 9, 2026. Source: Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee pantry map.Suggest an update
    Countywide

    Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee (call to find a pantry near you)

    Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee serves Monroe County through local partner pantries but does not publish a public list of them. Call and they will tell you the nearest pantry and when it is open.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    136 Harvest Lane, Maryville, TN 37801

    Call first. Call to find the nearest pantry and its hours.

    Call (865) 521-0000DirectionsWebsite

    Utility bills and rent help1

    Countywide

    Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority

    Community action agency: help paying light and gas bills (LIHEAP), and, when funds allow, emergency rent help and other family programs. Call to ask what help is open now.

    Hours
    Please call for hours

    Call first. Hours are not listed. Call first to ask what help is open now and what to bring.

    Call (423) 587-4500Website
    Checked October 9, 2026. Source: THDA LIHEAP agency contacts (2026).Suggest an update

    Housing1

    Sweetwater

    Sweetwater Housing Authority

    Public housing (low-rent apartments) for low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    3 Valley View Village Dr, Sweetwater, TN 37874

    Call first. Office hours are not published. Call to ask about openings and the waiting list.

    Call (423) 337-6224Directions

    Health and dental3

    Madisonville

    Chota Community Health Services

    Community health center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    4798 New Highway 68, Madisonville, TN 37354

    Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

    Call (423) 442-2622DirectionsWebsite
    Tellico Plains

    Chota Community Health Services

    Community health center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    145 Fifth St, Tellico Plains, TN 37385

    Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

    Call (423) 442-6545Directions
    Vonore

    Chota Community Health Services

    Community health center. It sees patients with or without insurance and, as a federally funded health center, must offer discounts based on income.

    Hours
    Please call for hours
    Address
    1206 Highway 411, Vonore, TN 37885

    Call first. Hours are not published on an official page we could check. Call first.

    Call (423) 884-7271DirectionsWebsite

    Recovery and mental health help2

    Statewide

    988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

    Call or text 988 to reach a trained crisis counselor any time, for a mental health crisis, thoughts of suicide or a substance use crisis. It is free and confidential. Veterans can press 1.

    Hours
    24 hours a day, 7 days a week
    Call 988Website

    Veterans services2

    Statewide

    Veterans Crisis Line

    Dial 988, then press 1. Or text 838255, or chat at veteranscrisisline.net. Free and confidential. You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care.

    Hours
    Open 24 hours a day, every day
    Call 988Website
    Statewide

    VA national phone lines

    VA benefits: 800-827-1000. VA health benefits: 877-222-8387. Homeless veterans, open 24 hours: 877-424-3838. MyVA411, the main VA line, open 24 hours: 800-698-2411.

    Hours
    Benefits line, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern
    Call (800) 827-1000Website

    Safety and crisis help1

    Statewide

    National Domestic Violence Hotline

    Free, confidential help for anyone hurt or threatened by a partner or family member: safety planning, shelter referrals and someone to talk to. Call 1-800-799-7233, text START to 88788, or chat at TheHotline.org. In an emergency, call 911.

    Hours
    24 hours a day, 7 days a week
    Call (800) 799-7233Website

    Government offices2

    Browse

    Help by town

    Madisonville2 placesSweetwater2 placesTellico Plains1 placeVonore1 placeEnglewood1 place

    Help by type

    Food pantries and meals4 placesHealth and dental3 placesRecovery and mental health help2 placesVeterans services2 placesSafety and crisis help2 placesGovernment offices2 places

    Help in nearby counties

    Loudon County18 placesMcMinn County20 placesPolk County12 placesBlount County31 places

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    How HelpByState works

    Checked, dated and corrected by neighbors

    1. 1

      Matched to the source

      A listing goes up only after its phone and its address or hours match the organization's own page, or an official list.

    2. 2

      Dated on every card

      Each card shows the day we checked it. If sources disagree, we say call first instead of guessing.

    3. 3

      Fixed by the community

      See something wrong, or know a place we missed? Send it in. Nothing changes until we have checked it.

    Neighbors helping neighbors

    Help is closer than you think in Monroe County

    A volunteer hands a bag of fresh groceries to a mother holding her daughter's hand
    Free groceriesFood banks and pantries give food to anyone who needs it.
    A helper smiles as she helps an older man fill out a form
    Someone to help you applyState offices and local programs help with food stamps, bills and more.
    Kids laughing together over a free meal with a grandmother at a community center
    Meals and care for kidsFree meals, clinics and family programs, close to home.

    Questions people ask

    Where can I get free food in Monroe County, Tennessee?

    We have confirmed 4 places that can help in Monroe County: Good Shepherd Center in Madisonville (9 AM to 12:15 PM every Monday through Thursday. Also provides clothing, utility/ medical/ transportation vouchers...), (423) 420-8888, call first; Shoal Creek Baptist Food Pantry in Englewood (10 AM to 12 PM every 3rd Saturday of the month. Serve 37354, 37385), (423) 519-1157, call first; Sweetwater Area Ministries (10 AM to 3 PM every Monday through Friday Crisis Only 10 AM to 11:45 AM Monday & Wednesday for Monroe County...), (423) 337-0210, 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 Monroe County, Tennessee?

    We have confirmed one place that can help in Monroe County: Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority, (423) 587-4500. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

    Where can I get housing help in Monroe County, Tennessee?

    We have confirmed one place that can help in Monroe County: Sweetwater Housing Authority, (423) 337-6224. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

    Where can I find a free or low-cost clinic in Monroe County, Tennessee?

    We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Monroe County: Chota Community Health Services in Madisonville, (423) 442-2622, call first; Chota Community Health Services in Tellico Plains, (423) 442-6545, call first; Chota Community Health Services in Vonore, (423) 884-7271, 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 Monroe County, Tennessee?

    We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Monroe 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 Monroe County, Tennessee?

    We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Monroe 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 Monroe County, Tennessee?

    We have confirmed one place that can help in Monroe County: Legal Aid of East Tennessee, (865) 637-0484. 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 Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee pantry map. We list the source on every card.

    Something missing, or out of date?

    If you run a pantry or program, or you saw a listing that is wrong, tell us. We check every message against the organization's own page before anything changes.

    Add a listingSuggest an update