For many people with neurologic conditions, it's tough to get out to the supermarket. Sometimes it's more practical to have groceries delivered. To help make the process more affordable, we investigated these options.

Houses of Worship

Cost: Free

Includes: Volunteers who can shop or pick up groceries, says Adolfo Diaz, director of patient services at the Parkinson's Foundation in New York City.

Eligibility: You don't have to be a member of the congregation or even of the same faith, as long as you live within a certain distance.

Contact: Call local congregations and talk to the pastor. In some communities, volunteers not affiliated with a house of worship provide similar services, says Diaz. Call 211, the community resource phone number for most cities, for more details.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Cost: Free

Includes: Home delivery for people eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, who live in Alabama, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, or Washington. The pilot program launches in 2018 and allows states to partner with grocery chains and online retailers to test online ordering and payment, with a goal of offering online delivery for all SNAP recipients by 2020.

Eligibility: Find out if you're eligible for SNAP, advises Angela De Paul, vice president of communication at Feeding America, a nonprofit organization of national food banks. "More seniors are eligible than they think. In fact, only 41 percent of eligible seniors nationwide are actually enrolled."

Contact: bit.ly/SNAP-Info; 800-221-5689

Meals on Wheels

Cost: Free

Includes: Meal—not grocery—delivery; good for people who can't or don't like to cook.

Eligibility: Many programs serve only seniors, usually 60 and older, but people with disabilities or their caregivers should check local programs to see if services are available. "Every program is unique, so reach out to the programs in your area for more information," says Jenny Bertolette Young, vice president of communications for the organization. Meals on Wheels has a network of more than 5,000 independently-run local programs.

Contact: mealsonwheelsamerica.org; 888-998-6325

Food Banks

Cost: Free

Includes: Home delivery to some zip codes for seniors and people with disabilities; food selection may be limited.

Eligibility: To find a food bank in your area, visit Feeding America and type in your zip code.

Contact: feedingamerica.org; 800-771-2303

Online Shopping

Cost: $99 for a yearly Amazon Prime membership; $100 for an annual Peapod or Instacart membership, or $2.95 to $9.95 per delivery. You must have access to a computer, smartphone, or tablet to order online.

Includes: Free next-day or two-day delivery on many items. Drivers can deliver heavy items such as cartons of bottled water right to your door.

Contact: bit.ly/Prime-Groceries, 888-280-4331; peapod.com, 800-573-2763; instacart.com, 888-246-7822. You can't order groceries by phone, but if you call each time to ask about pricing or delivery, you can find out if a discount or promotion is available that week.

Money-saving tips

• Share with friends: Ask a friend, neighbor, or relative if you can use their account. All three services allow sharing. Use your own credit card number for each order, but for added security, delete the number after each time you shop and add it back in for the next order.
• Apply government benefits: For those who receive government benefits such as SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program (WIC), Amazon offers a Prime membership for $5.99 a month. You can use your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) credit card—the government's currency for the SNAP, TANF, and WIC programs—for groceries, though not for the monthly fee. Amazon is offering a 30-day free trial of the new program; you have to enter your credit card number to begin, so remember to remove it if you don't want to continue.
• Save your coupons: Peapod doubles manufacturers' coupons. Customers redeem valid manufacturer coupons with Peapod drivers. Coupons are then credited to customers' accounts and can be applied to future orders.
• Take advantage of specials: Peapod and Instacart often have specials. For example, Peapod recently offered first-time customers 60 days of free delivery and $20 off their first order of $100 or more.