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HelpByState

Shelby County, Texas

Free help in Center, Texas

9 places in Center, plus 9 that serve more than one town. Each listing shows the day we checked it, and anything we could not confirm says call first.

Food pantries and meals in Center5

Center

Huxley Helping Hands/Hillcrest Baptist Church

Food pantry, Senior Box (60 and older, income limits apply), a East Texas Food Bank partner. Serves Shelby County.

Hours
Senior Box (60 and older, income limits apply): 2nd Tuesday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Address
901 South View Circle, Center, TX 75935

Call first. Hours come from the East Texas Food Bank map. Please call to confirm before you go.

Center

Shelby County Outreach

Food pantry, a East Texas Food Bank partner. Serves Shelby.

Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Address
930 Shelbyville St, Center, TX 75935

Call first. Hours come from the East Texas Food Bank map. Please call to confirm before you go.

Center

Free produce at First Baptist Church Center

Free fresh produce given out by the East Texas Food Bank at this site. Open to everyone.

Hours
Friday, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Address
117 Cora St., Center, TX 75935

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the East Texas Food Bank at 903-597-3663.

Center

Senior Box at Senior Box Center

Monthly Senior Box of food for people 60 and older who meet the income limit. Bring an ID.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
901 South View Circle, Center, TX 75935

Call first. No phone is listed for this site. For questions, call the East Texas Food Bank at 903-597-3663.

Housing in Center1

Center

Housing Authority of Center

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

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
1600 Sweetgum Trl, Center, TX 75935

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

Health and dental in Center1

Center

HOPE Community Medicine- Center Location

Community health center run by Health Opportunities for the People of East Texas, INC.. 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
620 Tenaha St, Center, TX 75935

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

Family, kids and jobs in Center1

Center

Texas WIC, U T M B- Center

Food benefits, nutrition help and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers, babies and children under 5.

Hours
Monday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Tuesday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Address
105 Foster St, Center, TX 75935

Government offices in Center1

Center

Texas HHS Benefits Office, Center

State office for SNAP food benefits (food stamps), Medicaid and TANF cash help for families. Apply, turn in papers or ask about your case here, or apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com.

Hours
Please call for hours
Address
912 Nacogdoches, Center, TX 75935

Call first. Office hours are not listed on the state office finder. Call first, or apply online any time.

Also helps people in Center9

These serve more than one town. Check each listing for who they serve.

Joaquin

Joaquin Community Christian Services

Food pantry, Senior Box (60 and older, income limits apply), Free produce, a East Texas Food Bank partner. Serves Shelby County.

Hours
Food pantry: Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Senior Box (60 and older, income limits apply): 3rd Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Free produce: Wednesday, 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Address
270 CR 3590, Joaquin, TX 75954

Call first. Hours come from the East Texas Food Bank map. Please call to confirm before you go.

Statewide

Texas Abuse Hotline (report child abuse or neglect)

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.

Hours
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Statewide

Texas Child Support (Attorney General)

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.

Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Checked October 9, 2026. Source: Texas Attorney General child support FAQ.Suggest an update
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
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
Statewide

Texas Veterans Commission

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.

Hours
Please call for hours

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.

Checked October 9, 2026. Source: VA accreditation list and the Texas Veterans Network.Suggest an update
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
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

Questions people ask in Center

Where can I get free food in Center, Texas?

We have confirmed 6 places that can help in Center: Huxley Helping Hands/Hillcrest Baptist Church (Senior Box 60 and older, income limits apply: 2nd Tuesday, 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM), (936) 572-3463, call first; Shelby County Outreach (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM), (936) 598-4990, call first; Free produce at Tri County Harvest for Homes (Wednesday, 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM), (936) 598-6315, call first. 3 more are 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 housing help in Center, Texas?

We have confirmed one place that can help in Center: Housing Authority of Center, (936) 598-2332. 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 Center, Texas?

We have confirmed one place that can help in Center: HOPE Community Medicine- Center Location, (936) 590-8381. Please call first to confirm. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Where can I get help with addiction or mental health in Center, Texas?

We have confirmed one place that can help in Center: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), 988. 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 Center, Texas?

We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Center: Texas Veterans Commission, (800) 252-8387, call first; 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. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. A veteran in crisis can call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.

Where can I get free legal help in Center, Texas?

We have confirmed one place that can help in Center: 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. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Where can I get help with WIC, jobs or parenting in Center, Texas?

We have confirmed one place that can help in Center: Texas WIC, U T M B- Center (Monday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Tuesday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM), (936) 598-5021. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.

Something missing, or out of date?

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.