All food help in Tyler →Food across Smith County →
Large choice pantry with produce, dairy, meat and bread. Families can get food once every 30 days. Bring proof of where you live and an ID for every other adult in the home.
Indoor pantry where you pick your own groceries, including meat and fresh produce. You can come 2 times a month. You will be asked out loud for your name, address, household size, date of birth and monthly income. You do not have to live in Tyler. Closed October 27 and November 25 to 27, 2026.
Open to the public, first come, first served. It is behind the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the JJ Saleh Building. Park in the cathedral's back lot. The SVdP lot is kept for people with mobility problems. A limited selection of donated clothes is set out on tables outside during pantry hours, weather permitting. It also has a prescription help program (call to apply). It does not help with rent.
Free hot lunch every Wednesday for anyone who is hungry. St. Vincent de Paul and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception run it together.
Food pantry, Senior Food Box and a free clothing closet run by First Baptist Church Tyler, across the street from the church. The food bank also lists a 3rd Wednesday evening (5:45 to 7:00 PM, monthly groceries, first 20 people) and gives the service area as the city of Tyler.
Food pantry. The church posts schedule changes on its Facebook page. The food bank gives the service area as Smith County.
Weekly grocery pantry run by Trinity Fellowship Church. The church says it gives out about 11,000 pounds of food a week. The food bank gives the service area as Smith County.
In the white brick house behind the church. Smith County residents only. Bring a photo ID and a recent utility bill. Closed the day before Thanksgiving and the 4th week of December.
Free weekly produce pickup. No qualifications, and people from any county can come.
Drive-through pantry at First Baptist Church Swan for Smith County residents. New guests fill out a short form; ID helps but is not required. Have your food bank case barcode and an email ready. Produce day needs only your ZIP code, up to 4 households per car. Line up in the grass, not in the road.
Call first. The pantry's site gives two different times for produce day (9:30 to 11:00 AM and 1:30 to 3:00 PM). Call to confirm the produce time.
Free community meals served in the church's rear lot by several local churches and groups working together. No end time is posted for the Monday meal.
Monthly food pantry.
Call first. Each source gives different hours on the 2nd Tuesday.
Food pantry.
Food pantry of West Erwin Church of Christ.
Call first. Another list adds a Wednesday evening (6:30 to 7:30 PM) that the food bank does not list, and one directory marks the schedule as closed.
Food pantry in the Noonday community south of Tyler. A 2020 news list placed the Noonday Community Library at this address and phone.
Call first. The food bank says Wednesday. Another list says Thursday.
Pantry on the Azleway campus. Azleway lists this phone number as Papa Bill's Store on the campus. The food bank gives the service area as Smith County.
Call first. A directory says it is by appointment only through Azleway's main line, 903-566-8444.
Monthly food box for people 60 and older with low income (2026 limit $1,729 a month for one person). Bring an ID.
Call first. Only the food bank lists this. The church's own number in directories is 903-561-8138.
Monthly free produce giveaway run with the East Texas Food Bank. It fed more than 400 families in February 2026.
Call first. No confirmed phone number. Call the East Texas Food Bank at 903-597-3663 with questions.
Home-delivered weekday lunches for people 60 and older (and some disabled adults) who cannot cook for themselves. A phone assessment is required. Smith County is served from Tyler, with meal sites in Whitehouse (118 Railroad Ave) and Winona (212 Dallas St).
Call first. Its website says the office is not taking new clients right now.
All utilities help in Tyler →Utilities across Smith County →
Utility help once every 12 months for a past-due bill facing disconnection, by appointment (bring the disconnect notice). One-time rent help for people with an eviction notice after an unexpected loss, applied for online. Also a walk-in choice food pantry, $50 emergency prescription help, eye exams and glasses, monthly dental walk-in scheduling and transitional housing. Help depends on funding.
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. Office hours are not published. Call, or book an appointment at 936-720-7474.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) for very low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities in Tyler, Lindale, Winona, Flint, Whitehouse, Arp, Bullard and Troup. The waiting list is closed; the last online window closed June 26, 2025. The city says it does not give emergency housing help.
Call first. Office hours are not published, and the waiting list is closed. Call to ask when it reopens. Apply only through the housing agency; the city warns of fake sites that charge fees.
All shelter help in Tyler →Shelter across Smith County →
The only shelter in Smith County for men, women and families, by its own account. It offers showers and hygiene kits to the community daily, and shelter residents get three meals a day. It also runs a food pantry and a 180-day faith-based recovery program (ReConnect). It does not help with rent.
Call first. Shelter intake hours and pantry hours are not published on its own site. A 2024 news story said grocery pickup was Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Please call first.
A day resource center run by Hiway 80 Rescue Mission: showers, laundry, haircuts, a phone, a mailing address and computers, plus classes and volunteers who help with next steps. It has opened as a warming center in freezing weather.
Call first. Hours are not published on its own site, and other lists disagree. Please call first.
Warming centers in Tyler open only during freezing weather, and the places change each time. Call this county office to ask what is open. In past cold snaps the Salvation Army and Gateway to Hope served as warming sites.
Call first. No warming center is open year-round. Call 2-1-1 for other options.
All health help in Tyler →Health across Smith County →
Community health center with pediatrics, family medicine and behavioral health. Sliding fee: office visits are $15, $20, $25 or $30 for households under 200% of the federal poverty level; takes Medicaid, Medicare and most insurance, and you do not have to be a citizen. This clinic also runs the center's medication-assisted treatment (buprenorphine) for opioid use.
Community health center east of Tyler with family medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health and dental care. Same sliding fee as all Family Circle of Care clinics ($15 to $30 a visit under 200% of poverty).
Community health center with pediatrics, family medicine and behavioral health. Sliding fee of $15 to $30 a visit for households under 200% of poverty.
Obstetrics and gynecology: care before, during and after pregnancy, well-woman visits, family planning and STI treatment. Sliding fee of $15 to $30 a visit for households under 200% of poverty.
Community health center with pediatrics, gynecology, family medicine, internal medicine for adults and behavioral health. Sliding fee of $15 to $30 a visit for households under 200% of poverty.
Low-cost dental care for children from 6 months old and adults, including pregnant women: exams, cleanings, X-rays, fillings, extractions, sealants and treatment of tooth pain. Takes Medicaid plans; sliding fee of $15 to $30 a visit under 200% of poverty. If you are in pain, say so when you call.
Eye exams, glasses and contact prescriptions, plus counseling and psychiatry, in one building. Same sliding fee as the other Family Circle of Care clinics for households under 200% of poverty.
Medical and dental care for working adults with no insurance. Medical patients must be 18 to 64 (dental 18 and up), must work for pay or do significant unpaid work such as caregiving, volunteering or school, and cannot have any medical or dental insurance for that service. Apply online or walk in to Admissions during clinic hours with photo ID, proof of income and your latest tax return; no appointment needed to apply.
Children's medical care and children's dentistry from Bethesda Health Clinic. Call the pediatric line to ask how to enroll a child. The dental office has its own number, 903-593-7607.
Federally funded health center with adult primary care, mental health counseling, substance use counseling and infectious disease care. Takes Medicaid, Medicare and most insurance, with self-pay discounts based on income and household size.
Testing and treatment for HIV and hepatitis C, plus primary care, behavioral health and free pregnancy tests. Takes Medicaid, Medicare and most insurance, with self-pay discounts based on income.
Gynecology and pregnancy care from Wellness Pointe, a federally funded health center based in Longview. The phone is the main Wellness Pointe line (toll-free 888-811-6648).
Call first. The hours on its page sit under a heading that says Longview, so please call to confirm Tyler hours.
Cleanings, exams, X-rays and sealants by dental hygiene students supervised by a dentist, for $20 a semester. No fillings or extractions. Call to be put on the patient list; students call patients to schedule, and not everyone on the list is reached. Visits take longer than at a dentist.
Call first. You must call to get on the patient list, and appointments depend on student schedules.
County program that pays for some medical care for very low-income Smith County residents. It covers single adults and couples without dependent children, and income must be under about 21% of the federal poverty level. Call to request an application; eligibility interviews are by appointment in the county office.
All recovery help in Tyler →Recovery across Smith County →
The state-designated local mental health authority for Smith County, with adult and youth mental health care. Toll-free: 800-374-6058. For a crisis at any hour, call 877-934-2131, or call or text 988.
A long-term, Christ-centered recovery and transitional living program for men in Tyler. Call to ask about openings and requirements.
Call first. Hours and intake rules are not published.
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.
All veterans help in Tyler →Veterans across Smith County →
Free county office, not part of the VA, with staff accredited through the Texas Veterans Commission. They help veterans and survivors file VA disability claims and appeals and answer questions about VA health care, education and home loans. Walk-ins are welcome, but an appointment gets the best help: 903-590-2951 or 903-590-2952.
Call first. The county page gives two sets of hours. Call to book an appointment.
A VA clinic with primary care, mental health, vision, audiology, women's health and telehealth. Care is for veterans enrolled in VA health care. VA Health Connect: 833-284-7212.
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, so please call first.
All legal help in Tyler →Legal across Smith County →
Low-fee immigration legal help from a staff attorney: citizenship, green cards, DACA, immigrant domestic violence petitions and power of attorney for minors (no asylum or refugee cases). Fees may be reduced or waived by income; call for an appointment (immigration line ext. 107). It also gives free portable cribs and infant car seats to qualifying families (ext. 104).
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.
Help for survivors of family violence, dating violence and sexual assault: crisis counseling, safety planning, emergency shelter, advocacy and protective orders. Its main location is in Tyler; the address is not shared for safety. If you are in danger, call 911.
All family help in Tyler →Family across Smith County →
Food benefits, nutrition help and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers, babies and children under 5.
Food benefits, nutrition help and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers, babies and children under 5.
State office for SNAP food benefits, TANF cash help and Medicaid for families and children. You can also apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com or by calling 2-1-1.
Call first. Office hours are not published in the state locator.
State office for SNAP, TANF and Medicaid for families and children, plus Medicare Savings Programs and Medicaid for older adults and people with disabilities. You can also apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com.
Call first. Office hours are not published in the state locator.
Free Head Start preschool with meals, health screenings and family support at nine Tyler ISD elementary schools (Austin, Bell, Douglas, Griffin, Jones, Orr, Peete, Ramey bilingual, Rice). Children must be 4 by September 1 and meet federal income rules; 3-year-olds with a district-diagnosed disability may qualify. Registration is online starting January 15, with parent meetings from February 1.
Call first. The district lists the Head Start office phone but not an office address or hours.
Job center with job search help, training and child care help for working families (child care line 800-676-8283). Veterans and eligible spouses get priority. The region's main line is 1-844-ETWORKS.
All clothing help in Tyler →Clothing across Smith County →
Free winter coats for children. Families must register in advance and bring proof of each child's identity, such as an ID, birth certificate or report card.
All pets help in Tyler →Pets across Smith County →
Low-cost spay and neuter (for example, $90 to $100 for dogs and $60 to $75 for cats, plus a $15 exam fee and a deposit) and a wellness clinic with low-cost vaccines and preventatives. Dogs must be under 80 pounds and under 9 years old. The adoption office is at the same address, by appointment: 903-596-7722.
City animal shelter for pets found inside Tyler city limits. Adoption is $120 for dogs and $80 for cats, cash only. Surrender costs $40. Free microchipping for anyone, city resident or not. After hours, call Tyler police non-emergency, 903-531-1000.
County shelter and animal control for Smith County outside city limits: lost dogs, adoptions, surrenders by request form, and reports of strays or bites. For livestock, call 903-590-2840. If an animal is a danger, call 911.
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Nearby
We have confirmed 20 places that can help in Tyler: PATH Choice Food Pantry (Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM walk-in), (903) 597-7284; East Texas Food Bank Tyler Resource Center (Monday through Thursday, 12:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Friday, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM), (903) 597-3663; St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM arrive before 11:30. 1st Monday, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM arrive before 6:45...), (903) 592-0027. 17 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.
We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Tyler: PATH (People Attempting To Help) (Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM), (903) 597-7284; GETCAP, energy assistance (Tyler office), (903) 962-2670, call first; CampV, veteran resource center and emergency bill help (Tyler), (903) 566-1010, 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 2 places that can help in Tyler: Tyler Housing Agency (City of Tyler Section 8 vouchers), (903) 531-1303, call first; PATH (People Attempting To Help) (Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM), (903) 597-7284. 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 5 places that can help in Tyler: The Salvation Army of Tyler, (903) 592-4361, call first; Gateway to Hope (day center for people without homes), (903) 363-9265, call first; Smith County Emergency Management (warming and cooling centers) (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM), (903) 590-2649, call first. 2 more are listed on this page. Please call first to confirm the ones marked call first. The Salvation Army of Tyler is the county's only shelter for men, women and families. Call ahead to ask about a bed. You can also call 2-1-1, or 911 in an emergency.
We have confirmed 15 places that can help in Tyler: Family Circle of Care, Broadway Clinic (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM), (903) 535-9041; Family Circle of Care, Chapel Hill Clinic (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM), (903) 535-9041; Family Circle of Care, Houston St. Clinic (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM), (903) 535-9041. 12 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.
We have confirmed 7 places that can help in Tyler: Andrews Center, Tyler clinic (mental health) (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. 24-hour crisis line: 877-934-2131), (903) 597-1351; Hiway 80 Rescue Mission, Triumph Village (men's recovery), (903) 630-5366, call first; Andrews OSAR, substance use screening and referral (Tyler), (903) 595-4208, call first. 4 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 4 places that can help in Tyler: Smith County Veteran Services Office (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM), (903) 590-2950, call first; Tyler Centennial VA Clinic (Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Hours vary by service), (903) 266-5900; CampV, veteran resource center and emergency bill help (Tyler), (903) 566-1010, call first. 1 more is 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 Tyler: Catholic Charities, Diocese of Tyler (immigration legal help) (Monday to Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM), (903) 258-9492; 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; East Texas Crisis Center (Tyler main location) (24-hour crisis hotline), (800) 333-0358. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
We have confirmed 10 places that can help in Tyler: Texas WIC, Tyler clinic (N. Broadway) (Monday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM), (903) 592-7635; Texas WIC, Family Care Center clinic (Amherst Dr) (Monday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Tuesday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM), (903) 533-1319; Texas HHSC benefits office (Robertson Rd), (903) 534-9794, call first. 7 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.
We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Tyler: PATH Coats for Kids (Sign up at PATH October 1 to 21, 2026 Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Coats are given out Saturday...), (903) 597-7284; St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry (Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM arrive before 11:30. 1st Monday, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM arrive before 6:45...), (903) 592-0027; Tyler Family Assistance Center (Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. 2nd Saturday, 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM), (903) 526-6757. You can also dial 2-1-1 to talk to a person.
We have confirmed 3 places that can help in Tyler: SPCA of East Texas and SNIPPET low-cost spay and neuter clinic (By appointment only), (903) 592-7705; Tyler Animal Services (city shelter) (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM), (903) 535-0045; Smith County Animal Shelter and Animal Control (Open to the public Monday to Friday, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Mornings by appointment), (903) 266-4303. 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.