SAMPLE CONTENT FOR REVIEW: the name, email, congregation and channel are placeholders. Dashed gold boxes show where pictures go. Pictures & video guide
✝ Chapter & Verse
☰ Menu
Chapter & Verse

Help Resources

National hotlines and organizations for crisis, health, cancer, stroke, memory loss, abuse, housing, food, jobs, disasters and more, with a find-near-you map for your state.

In an emergency, call 911. For thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. If you are being hurt, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

Find help near you

Choose your state, and add your city or ZIP code if you like. Every section below then gets a “Find near you” link that opens a map with real local places, their addresses and phone numbers.

The national lines below were checked against official sources. Local places come from a map search, so call first to confirm hours and eligibility. Chapter & Verse does not endorse any listed organization and is not responsible for the help you receive. Many shelters keep their street address private to protect the people there.

Suicide and crisis Medical support Cancer Stroke and heart Memory loss, Alzheimer's and dementia Parkinson's disease MS and ALS (nerve and muscle disease) Free and low-cost services for low-income families Plastic and reconstructive surgery Eye care Dental care Disaster relief and community disaster groups Job search help Public assistance Transportation Substance and alcohol abuse Mental health Older adults and elder abuse Abuse: women, men and children Battered women's shelters Homelessness and housing Financial assistance Missing persons Found persons and reuniting families Human trafficking Sexual exploitation Sex crimes and sexual assault Clothing assistance People with disabilities Free and low-cost marriage counseling Free family counseling Funeral and burial assistance Free and charity hospice care Free and low-cost health care Donated and low-cost cars Donated and low-cost homes Free home repair Free formal dresses and attire Autism

Suicide and crisis

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or is in emotional crisis. If life is in danger, call 911.

Medical support

Finding care, paying for care and getting medicine.

Cancer

Information, support and practical help for patients and families.

Stroke and heart

A stroke is an emergency. Call 911 right away: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty means time to call.

Memory loss, Alzheimer's and dementia

Help for people with memory loss and the family and friends who care for them.

Parkinson's disease

Information, support groups and research for patients and families.

MS and ALS (nerve and muscle disease)

MS may mean multiple sclerosis; ALS is Lou Gehrig's disease. Both are listed. Tell us if you meant a different condition.

Free and low-cost services for low-income families

Many programs are free or based on your income.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery

Free or reduced-cost reconstructive care for cleft conditions, injuries, burns and some survivors of abuse. Elective cosmetic surgery is generally not covered.

  • American Society of Plastic Surgeons
    www.plasticsurgery.org
    Find a board-certified plastic surgeon, and information on reconstructive surgery.
  • Face to Face (AAFPRS Foundation)
    www.aafprs.org
    Free facial surgery for survivors of domestic violence and other abuse, through volunteer surgeons.
  • Smile Train
    www.smiletrain.org
    Free cleft lip and palate surgery and care.
  • Operation Smile
    www.operationsmile.org
    Free cleft surgery and care for children.
  • Burn support (American Burn Association)
    ameriburn.org
    Find burn centers and survivor support.

Eye care

Free exams, glasses and surgery for people who cannot afford them.

Dental care

Free and low-cost dental care.

  • Dental Lifeline Network
    dentallifeline.org
    Donated dental care for people who are elderly, disabled or medically fragile.
  • Community health centers (HRSA)
    findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov
    Dental care paid by what you can afford.
  • American Dental Association: finding affordable care
    www.ada.org
    Dental school clinics, health centers and state programs. Search the site for low-cost dental care.
  • Dental school clinics
    www.ada.org
    Students treat patients under a licensed dentist at lower prices.
  • Charitable free-clinic network
    nafcclinics.org
    Many free clinics also offer dental care.

Disaster relief and community disaster groups

Help after a fire, flood, storm, earthquake or other disaster, and how to prepare. In an emergency, call 911.

Job search help

Free help finding work, training and unemployment benefits.

Public assistance

Food, health coverage, cash help and benefit programs.

Transportation

Rides to appointments, work and services.

Substance and alcohol abuse

Treatment, recovery and family support. Call 911 for an overdose.

Mental health

Support for depression, anxiety and other struggles.

Older adults and elder abuse

Services for seniors, and reporting abuse, neglect or fraud.

Abuse: women, men and children

Help for anyone being hurt by a partner, a parent or someone else. If you are in danger, call 911.

Battered women's shelters

Safe places to go. Many shelters do not publish their addresses to protect residents; the hotline can connect you.

Homelessness and housing

Shelter, food, and help keeping your home.

Financial assistance

Help with bills, debt, utilities and taxes.

Missing persons

Report a missing person to local police first, then use these.

  • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
    1-800-843-5678
    www.missingkids.org
    24-hour help for missing children. 333 John Carlyle Street, Suite 125, Alexandria, VA 22314.
  • NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System)
    namus.nij.ojp.gov
    Free national database for missing adults and children.
  • FBI tips
    1-800-225-5324
    tips.fbi.gov
    Submit a tip about a missing person or a crime.

Found persons and reuniting families

Looking for someone who was found, or trying to identify a person.

Human trafficking

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Sexual exploitation

Help for those exploited, including online, and for parents.

Sex crimes and sexual assault

If you were assaulted, you are not at fault. Call 911 if you are in danger.

  • RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
    1-800-656-4673 · Chat at hotline.rainn.org
    www.rainn.org
    Free, confidential, 24 hours a day. Connects you to a local center.
  • Office for Victims of Crime
    ovc.ojp.gov
    Victim rights and compensation programs.
  • National Sexual Violence Resource Center
    www.nsvrc.org
    State coalitions and resources.

Clothing assistance

Free or low-cost clothing, including for work and school.

People with disabilities

Services, rights and independent living.

Free and low-cost marriage counseling

Help for couples, from free national services to church-based care. Ask any counselor about a sliding fee scale based on income.

  • Military OneSource
    1-800-342-9647
    www.militaryonesource.mil
    Free confidential relationship and marriage counseling for service members, veterans' families and their spouses.
  • Focus on the Family Counseling Consultation
    1-855-771-4357
    www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help
    A free phone consultation with a Christian counselor, and referrals to counselors near you.
  • National Healthy Marriage Resource Center
    www.healthymarriageandfamilies.org
    Free articles, classes and programs for couples, supported by the federal government.
  • Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
    openpathcollective.org
    Low-cost sessions with licensed counselors for people without insurance (a small one-time membership fee applies).
  • Stephen Ministries
    www.stephenministries.org
    Trained caregivers in many congregations who offer free one-to-one Christian care. Ask your own church if it has them.

Free family counseling

Help for parents, children and families going through hard times.

Funeral and burial assistance

Help paying for a funeral, burial or cremation. Costs vary widely, so ask for the price list, which the law requires every funeral home to give you.

Free and charity hospice care

Comfort care for someone near the end of life, with support for the family. Most hospices accept Medicare and Medicaid, and many give charity care to those who cannot pay: ask.

Free and low-cost health care

Clinics, dental care and medicine for people who cannot pay.

Donated and low-cost cars

Programs that give or sell low-cost cars to families who need a way to work. Each has rules, and waiting lists are common.

Donated and low-cost homes

Programs that build, give or help families buy a home. Each has income rules.

Free home repair

Help with roofs, ramps, heat, plumbing and safety repairs for people who cannot afford them, especially older adults, veterans and people with disabilities.

Free formal dresses and attire

Prom dresses, wedding gowns and dress clothes for people who cannot afford them. Many are seasonal, so check early.

  • Becca’s Closet
    www.beccascloset.org
    Free prom dresses and accessories for students, through local chapters.
  • Brides Across America
    www.bridesacrossamerica.com
    Free wedding gowns for military and first-responder brides, given at local events.
  • Dress for Success
    dressforsuccess.org
    Professional clothing and career support for women, through local affiliates.
  • Goodwill
    www.goodwill.org/locator
    Low-cost formal wear in local stores. Ask whether your store has a prom or event program.

Autism

Information, support and practical help for autistic people, parents and caregivers, from the first signs through adult life. Early help makes a real difference, so ask your child's doctor early if you have a concern.

Your state’s official offices

These directories list the offices for your state, with addresses and phone numbers.

A word from the Scriptures

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27 (KJV)

If your congregation helps people in need, keep a copy of this page handy, and ask your elders about your own benevolence ministry.