Skip to main content
Securitas

Navigating Food Costs: Help and Resources You Can Use

Below are resources that may be able to assist you in difficult circumstances. To visit the websites, please click on the links.

2-1-1 Helpline

Call 2-1-1 for referrals to food, housing, and utility assistance.

Securitas Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

  • All Securitas employees can receive five (5) counseling sessions for any concern or condition at no cost. Family members can also receive five (5) sessions at no cost.

  • If longer-term support is needed, the EAP will help transition ongoing counseling to your insurance, whether through Securitas or another insurer.

  • Call 855-543-6877 to get support now.

Information about Food Pantries, Delivery Services, and Other Apps

Foodbanks and Food Pantries

Helpful Apps

Additional Mental Health Support and Other Programs

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Other Programs

  • Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): If you are a pregnant woman, new parent, or have young children, the WIC program can provide food, nutrition education, and healthcare referrals.
  • Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP): Provides lower-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs.
  • Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): Improves the health of low-income individuals aged 60+ by supplementing their diet with USDA foods.
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI): If you have a disability or are over 65, you may be eligible for SSI, which includes a financial benefit that can help with food costs.
  • School-based programs: Inquire with your local school district about food assistance programs, like weekend backpack programs that provide food for students in need to take home.
  • Online community groups: Consider joining local "buy nothing" groups on social media, where people sometimes ask for or offer help with groceries.

Additional Securitas Resources – Banking, Discounts, and 401(k)

Bank of America – Securitas Employee Banking

  • All Securitas employees can open an account with extra benefits like no-fee checking and a savings rate booster.
  • Benefits are available even if you already have a Bank of America account.
  • You must direct deposit at least part of your paycheck and enroll in Preferred Rewards when invited.
  • Learn more

Working Advantage – Securitas Saves

  • https://securitas.savings.workingadvantage.com/
  • Sam's Club/Costco - The discounts and bulk deals can help employees out, along with their "Instant Savings Program". They have discounted gas at the fuel center as well as savings for prescriptions and optical treatments.
  • Meal planning services - there are many services like HelloFresh, EveryPlate, Home Chef Family, and Good Chop that could help alleviate costs of feeding a family.
  • Local deals – Working Advantage partners with some grocery store locations. Look at the local deals tab in the Shopping Category to see deals available for chain restaurants and local grocery stores.

For Those Enrolled in the Securitas 401(k) Plan

Emergency Expense Withdrawals

  • Withdraw up to $1,000 per year from your vested account for emergencies without additional federal tax penalties.
  • No repayment required.
  • https://www.benefits.ml.com/

401(k) Loans

  • Borrow up to 50% of your vested balance (max $50,000) for any reason.
  • You will be required to pay it back in a maximum of 5 (five) years, unless it is a loan to purchase your primary residence, in which case you can spread payments over 10 (ten) years.
  • The interest rate you will pay yourself back will be based on the prime interest rate at the time of the loan, plus 1%.
  • Repayments deducted from paycheck; use the calculator at benefits.ml.com to see the impact.

401(k) Hardship Withdrawals

  • If you need funds to prevent eviction or foreclosure, to purchase a primary residence, for post-secondary education for yourself/spouse/dependent, to cover medical expenses, for an immediate family member’s funeral, or for home major home repairs, you can take a hardship withdrawal against your contributions.
  • This option is a one-time withdrawal from your 401(k) account and is subject to usual income taxes, plus a 10% penalty (if you are under age 59.5).

Opportunities to Assist

If you’re able to donate your time or money, the following organizations offer ways to support local food resources and volunteer opportunities:

    2-1-1 Helpline

    2-1-1 Helpline

    Call 2-1-1 for referrals to food, housing, and utility assistance.

    Food Banks

    • All Securitas employees can receive five (5) counseling sessions for any concern or condition at no cost. Family members can also receive five (5) sessions at no cost.

    • If longer-term support is needed, the EAP will help transition ongoing counseling to your insurance, whether through Securitas or another insurer.

    • Call 855-543-6877 to get support now.

    Shelter

    Foodbanks and Food Pantries

     

    Food Delivery Services

    • DoorDash – Delivery fees will be waived for SNAP recipients. A promo code is needed to redeem the offer, but users who have uploaded their SNAP/EBT card as a payment method will see the code in the app while it's available from November 1st to November 30th.

    • Gopuff – Offering a $50 credit for SNAP-eligible items with free delivery.

     

    Helpful Apps

    Securitas employees helping a shelter in Birmingham