Local residents who are looking for food assistance at Washtenaw County food pantries and kitchens will soon be offered help in applying for the government-funded Food Assistance Program.

Food Gatherers, a Washtenaw County nonprofit food rescue and distribution organization, recently received a grant to increase outreach to those who might qualify for government food assistance benefits but are not receiving them.

The organization will be training volunteers at food pantries to help those who need assistance applying for the Food Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.

The outreach is important to help meet rising demand for food in the county, said Eileen Spring, executive director of Food Gatherers. The number of people in Washtenaw County seeking emergency food assistance from a food pantry has increased 138 percent since 2006.

"We're overwhelmed," Spring said.

Many residents do not realize they are eligible for the Food Assistance Program or have had trouble applying in the past, particularly a growing number of Washtenaw County residents who have found themselves needing assistance for the first time, Spring said.

According to a food security report conducted by Food Gatherers' partner organizations, fewer than half of households considered to be "food insecure" use federal food assistance. An estimated 47 percent of Washtenaw area households regularly using local organizations to help supplement their food needs were enrolled in the Food Assistance Program with 40 percent responding in a poll saying they did not believe they were eligible and an additional 24 percent saying they'd been denied.

The Food Assistance Program, which is accessed through the Bridge Card that is used much like a debit card at stores, is a program to help low-income families supplement monthly food purchases.

"It's often a much more dignified way to get people food assistance," said Spring. It offers families freedom to choose foods they will use, she said.

The grant came from the Food Bank Council of Michigan from federal stimulus package dollars.

The goal is to raise awareness about government-funded resources available, said Justin Fast, Food Assistance outreach manager for the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The USDA estimates that every $5 spent in Food Assistance benefits generates almost twice that amount in community economic growth, he said.

"Our goal as the food bank program, what is supposed to be the last line of assistance in helping keep Michigan residents from going hungry, is to help them access the first line of assistance," Fast said.

To determine eligibility, visit the website www.mfia.state.mi.us/mars, which asks a series of questions to assess qualification. Those who need help determining whether they qualify can also call the Center for Civil Justice Food and Nutrition Helpline at 1-800-481-4989 for a free screening and receive one-on-one application assistance from a local volunteer by calling Food Gatherers at 734-761-2796.

The online application form is available at www.michigan.gov/mibridges.

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.