The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
Commodity food is made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to States. States provide the food to local agencies that they have selected, usually food banks, which in turn, distribute the food to soup kitchens and food pantries that directly serve the public. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) buys the food, including processing and packaging, and ships it to the States. The amount received by each State depends on its low-income and unemployed population. State agencies are allowed some flexibility in determining the details of administration and distribution.
States select local organizations that either directly distribute to households or serve meals or distribute to other local organizations that perform these functions. To receive services in the program, an applicant must reside within the designated service area of the food outlet, have a gross household income of no more than 185% of current federal poverty income guidelines, and provide name, address, household size and attestation of income. For more information, contact WIC Commodities Programs at 800-522-0874 or the designated Eligible Recipient Agency (ERA), from the TEFAP Map below, directly.