How to get help from the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).
TEFAP is a partnership of food banks, charities and state social service organizations that have an end result of feeding low-income families. There are distribution centers that give out food items, meals, and groceries in partnership with pantries and state social service agencies. Find states and application information for Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) below
TEFAP was created and is ultimately paid for by the federal government, but local non-profits administer the service and distribute the food boxes. Note it is a supplementary program and it was never intended to provide for 100% of a family’s food needs. The amount of support from TEFAP is limited. It can provide qualified individuals, including seniors and disabled, with free emergency food, commodities and nutrition assistance at no cost to participants. All rules and regulations are established by your state.
How does TEFAP help the low-income?
Surplus federal government commodity foods, groceries, and staples such as bred, cheese and more is provided to states across the nation. The government will provide the food based on the number of unemployed individuals in the state as well as the overall poverty level, so the scope of the service will change from year to year.
The individual states then work with local food banks, pantries, social service offices, and charities in their region. These local partners will directly distribute the items to the needy in their local communities, and they will also process applications to TEFAP. Most of the distribution centers are local food banks such as the Feeding America organization.
Then there is yet another level of participation in The Emergency Food Assistance Program. What happens is that those food banks as well as non-profit agencies that receive the USDA government aid will then proceed to subcontract with other organizations. Some of these subcontractors can include soup kitchens, hunger relief centers or other food centers, such as even neighborhood churches or charities. So the program is really run at the local neighborhood level.
Over 100 different types of food products are provided by the The Emergency Food Assistance Program TEFAP program. Qualified low income individuals may be able to receive meat/poultry/fish, canned fruits and vegetables, milk, peanut butter, jelly, soups, pasta, juices, and much more. Most of it will be canned and/or non-perishable. Items are offered at no cost.
While not as common, some states may provide help in the form of brown bag programs to the elderly or summer lunches to school kids who are out on break. So each local government may adjust accordingly.
Who to call to get help from The Emergency Food Assistance Program?
Anyone that is struggling to feed their family can look into this federal program. People in need should apply at the following groups emergency TEFAP.
Food pantries located at non-profit and/or charity organizations. They distributes groceries, canned goods and free food from TEFAP, with stuff given to the unemployed, seniors as well as any other low income households. So, as an example, a pantry in a town may partner with a food bank that covers multiple counties in the state. Click here to find locations of free food banks in your region.
Soup Kitchens are usually open on a fixed schedule/regular basis. They will provide free hot and nutritious meals to the low-income and even the homeless in the community. Most soup kitchens also receive their food from the TEFAP program as well as their local food bank. Many locations also have special holiday meals including Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas. So they may be able to provide a place to go to for a hot meal a caring environment. Find a meal from a soup kitchen.
Many Community Action Agencies also participate with the federal government Emergency Food Assistance Program. These local non-profits can distribute USDA surplus commodities to unemployed and low-income households at set times. Or if a community action agency doesn’t participate in the program, they can usually direct someone to a place to go to for emergency food assistance. Find help from community action in your area.
State social service and public assistance offices for TEFAP centers
Each state partners with the federal government on the TEFAP program. They decide how the food is distributed, which local pantries participate and set other criteria. Select a state below for additional contact information.
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Conclusion
There are additional benefits available for both people in need as well as distributing agencies. To get more information on The Emergency Food Assistance Program in your state and how it helps to address hunger, the USDA has details. There is also a TEFAP hotline number at (202) 720-2791 which can also provide referrals.
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
