Food across Henderson County →
Food pantry at Christian Life Center. The 3rd Wednesday hours are a Senior Box for people 60 and older.
Health across Henderson County →
Primary and preventive care for all ages, including dental, mental health and substance abuse services, whatever your ability to pay or your insurance status.
All veterans help in Gun Barrel City →Veterans across Henderson County →
An American Legion post. It says it supports veterans in need and its community, and it does not publish a service officer or an assistance process.
Call first. Office hours are not published. Please call first.
Family across Henderson County →
Food benefits, nutrition help and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers, babies and young children.
Call first. Hours were not listed. Please call first.
Pets across Henderson County →
Low cost spay and neuter, and a walk-in vaccine clinic.
Call first. Clinic days change. Please call for current hours and prices.
These serve more than one town. Check each listing for who they serve.
Emergency financial help and referrals through the HELP Line, mostly for utility bills and emergency medication. Neighbors are screened for documented need, and help is not guaranteed. You can fill out the form on the website or call.
Case management and, for some households, help with rent through the Community Services Block Grant. Help is not guaranteed and only a limited number of applications are taken. Applications are taken in set windows by email or mail, not walk-in. You will need ID, Social Security cards for everyone in the household, 30 days of income, and a termination of services notice, which the application requires.
Call first. Applications are taken only in short windows. The 2026 window was October 5, so please call to ask when the next one opens.
The state-designated local mental health authority for Henderson County. It says it offers walk-in services with no appointment needed (this is its general guidance for all clinics) and suggests arriving Monday to Thursday, 8:00 to 10:30 AM or 12:30 to 2:30 PM, or Friday, 8:00 to 10:30 AM. Bring ID, an insurance card if you have one, proof of where you live and proof of income. The first visit includes a screening and can take 2 to 3 hours. Some services are paid by insurance, some by grants and some by the state, and after the screening you learn what you qualify for. Its programs include adult and youth mental health care, substance use counseling and peer support, but it does not say which are offered at the Athens clinic, so ask when you call. For a crisis at any hour, call 877-934-2131, or call or text 988. Its Green Zone program is a peer-based space for veterans; the center does not say where or when it meets, so ask when you call.
A Christ-centered 12-step recovery ministry with weekly meetings at four places in Henderson County. It also runs The Anchor, a sober living home for men.
The East Texas area helpline, 888-NA-WORKS, for anyone who wants to stop using drugs. No Narcotics Anonymous meeting in Henderson County is on the area schedule. The nearest meetings are in Tyler and Palestine, so call the helpline or use the meeting finder.
Call first. There is no Henderson County meeting on the area schedule right now.
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.
A county office, not part of the VA. Staff help veterans and their families with VA claims for disability compensation and pension, survivor benefits, appeals, VA health care, burial benefits, Texas Veterans Land Board programs, and replacing lost records or discharge papers.
Call first. The county does not say whether you need an appointment, and the office is open Monday to Wednesday only. Please call first.
The state agency for veterans, with VA-accredited claims counselors, job help for veterans, education approvals, and grants to local veteran groups. Henderson County is in its Tyler and Longview area, but we could not read its office list, so call to ask who to see and how to book.
Call first. The agency's own website blocked our check, so the phone number comes from VA and the state veterans portal. Please call to confirm.
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.
Free rides for veterans, their dependents and surviving spouses to medical appointments, the grocery store, community meetings, voting, court and the tax office. The ride is curb to curb and wheelchair accessible. Bring proof of service or of your relationship to a veteran when you book. Trips into Tyler and Longview run on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The East Texas Council of Governments runs it.
Call first. Book at least 24 hours ahead. The council's transportation page also lists 800-590-3371 for booking.
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.
Free legal advice by phone from Texas Legal Services Center attorneys. Advice on Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care is open to all callers. Estate planning and consumer problems, such as debt collection, are for people 60 or older. Advice only: they cannot write documents, negotiate or go to court.
Emergency shelter up to 45 days, counseling, children's services and legal help for domestic violence survivors. Serves Kaufman, Henderson and Van Zandt counties. The shelter address is not shared publicly.
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.
Job center for the Workforce Solutions East Texas region. Veterans and eligible spouses get priority for jobs, training and child care help. The region's main line is 1-844-ETWORKS (844-389-6757). The Texas Veterans Commission's job staff for veterans work from the Tyler center (1421 S. Beckham Ave, 903-561-8131), not Athens.
Report abuse, neglect or exploitation of a child, an older adult or a person with a disability to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which runs Child Protective Services (CPS). Call any time, or report online at TxAbuseHotline.org. In an emergency, call 911.
The state child support line, run by the Texas Attorney General. Ask about a case, payments or how to apply for child support services. Automated payment and case information is available any time, and you can also manage a case online at childsupport.oag.texas.gov.
Home-delivered meals for homebound seniors. Serves Athens, Chandler, Malakoff, Tool and the Cedar Creek Lake area.
Call first. Its website says the office is not taking new clients right now.
Free civil legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer. This office serves Henderson, Rains, Smith, Van Zandt and Wood counties. You can apply in person, online or by phone.
State-funded help with electric and gas or propane heating and cooling bills, plus weatherization. It is usually one-time help for households at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, which in 2026 is $49,500 a year for a family of four. Priority goes to people who are elderly or disabled, families with a child under 6, and working families. It does not pay rent or water bills. There is no online application: download the paper form at get-cap.org and bring or email it, or book an appointment at 936-720-7474. Bring ID and proof of all income from the last 30 days. Decisions can take 60 to 90 days, and GETCAP says to keep paying your bills while you wait.
Call first. There is no GETCAP office in Henderson County. The Tyler office is the closest, and its hours are not published. The state lists GETCAP as the provider for Henderson County, but GETCAP's own services page does not name the county, so please call to confirm.
The first step to publicly funded treatment for alcohol and drug use. You have a confidential screening and assessment, then a referral to outpatient or inpatient care. It also handles referrals for court, CPS and probation requirements. The state says the only requirement is that you live in Texas.
Call first. Office hours are not published. The center's adult treatment program lists a different number, 903-484-1176, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Recovery support with certified peer specialists and recovery coaches, recovery groups, free Narcan and overdose training, and counseling. ETCADA says its services are at no charge, and its website lists Henderson County among the 23 counties it serves. The office is in Longview and there is no Athens office. It is not a 24-hour line: in a crisis, call or text 988.
A veteran resource center that says it serves all of East Texas. It helps with VA benefits and claims, home loans, counseling and housing, and offers free rides to medical appointments. Its Direct Assistance Program, by appointment only, can help veterans with rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, internet and phone, car payments and repairs, and groceries. Bring your DD214 or military ID, the bill, and a current bank statement. Veterans with a dishonorable, bad conduct or entry-level discharge are not eligible.
Call first. Hours are not published, and Henderson County is not named in its service area, so please call first.
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We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Gun Barrel City: CLC Food Pantry (Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Also 3rd Wednesday, 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM), (903) 880-1099; Meals on Wheels East Texas (Office: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM), (903) 593-7385, call first. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
We have confirmed 4 places that can help in Gun Barrel City: Henderson County HELP Center in Athens (Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM), (903) 675-4357; Community Services, Inc., rent and case management (Corsicana) (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Toll-free: 800-831-9929), (903) 872-2401, call first; GETCAP, energy assistance (Tyler office), (903) 962-2670, 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.
We have confirmed one place that can help in Gun Barrel City: Celebrate Forever Families (24-hour crisis line. Office: 903-498-1076), (844) 525-0160. We could not confirm a year-round walk-in shelter in the county. For a place to stay tonight, call 2-1-1, or 911 in an emergency.
We have confirmed one place that can help in Gun Barrel City: East Texas Community Clinic, Gun Barrel City (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM), (903) 887-1011. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
We have confirmed 6 places that can help in Gun Barrel City: Andrews Center, Athens clinic (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 24-hour crisis line: 877-934-2131), (903) 675-8541; New Life Recovery Ministry in Athens (Monday, 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM, Gates Fellowship Church, 702 W. Tyler St, Athens), (903) 852-6711; Narcotics Anonymous, East Texas area helpline, (888) 629-6757, call first. 3 more are listed on this page. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
We have confirmed 9 places that can help in Gun Barrel City: American Legion Post 310, Gun Barrel City (Members meet the 3rd Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM), (903) 887-3532, call first; Henderson County Veterans Services in Athens (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM), (903) 675-6109, call first; Texas Veterans Commission, (800) 252-8387, call first. 6 more are listed on this page. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. A veteran in crisis can call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Gun Barrel City: Legal Hotline for Texans (Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Call 800-622-2520 and choose option 3), (800) 622-2520; Lone Star Legal Aid, Tyler office (Office, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Intake, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM), (903) 595-4781; Celebrate Forever Families (24-hour crisis line. Office: 903-498-1076), (844) 525-0160. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
We have confirmed 2 places that can help in Gun Barrel City: Texas WIC, Seven Points and Gun Barrel City clinic, (903) 887-0212, call first; Workforce Solutions East Texas, Athens center (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM), (903) 677-3521. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
We have confirmed one place that can help in Gun Barrel City: Friends of the Animals at Cedar Creek Lake, (903) 887-7387. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
If you run a pantry or program, or saw a listing that is wrong, tell us. We check every message against the organization's own page before anything changes.