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1. |
What is The Emergency Food Assistance Program? |
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2. |
Who is eligible to get food? |
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3.
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How do TEFAP foods reach recipients? |
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4.
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What foods are available through TEFAP? |
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5. |
What other food and nutrition assistance can TEFAP
recipients get? |
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6. |
Are homeless people eligible for TEFAP food? |
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7. |
When and why did TEFAP start? |
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8. |
How much does the program cost? |
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9. |
Who should I contact for more information
about TEFAP?
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ANSWERS |
1. What is The Emergency Food Assistance Program?
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a Federal program
that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including
elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition
assistance at no cost.
Under TEFAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture makes commodity
foods available to State Distributing Agencies. The amount of food
that each State receives out of the total amount of food that is
provided is based on the number of unemployed persons and the number
of people with incomes below the poverty level in the State. States
provide the food to local agencies that they have selected, usually
food banks, which in turn, distribute the food to local
organizations such as soup kitchens and food pantries that directly
serve the public. States also provide the food to other types of
local organizations, such as community action agencies, which
distribute the foods directly to needy households.
These local organizations distribute the donated commodities to
eligible recipients for household consumption, or use them to
prepare and serve meals in a congregate setting. Recipients of food
for home use must meet income eligibility criteria set by the
States.
Under TEFAP, the States also receive administrative funds to support
the storage and distribution of the donated commodities. These funds
must, in part, be passed down to local agencies.
TEFAP is administered at the Federal level by the Department of
Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. State agencies receive the
food and supervise overall distribution.
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2. Who is eligible to get
food?
(a) Public or private nonprofit organizations that
provide food and nutrition assistance to the needy through the
distribution of food for home use or the preparation of meals to be
served in a congregate setting. See below:
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Organizations that distribute
food for home use must determine the household's eligibility by
applying the income standards that are set by the State.
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Organizations that provide
prepared meals are eligible to receive commodities if they can
demonstrate that they serve predominately needy persons.
(b) Households that meet State
eligibility criteria. Each State sets criteria for determining what
households are eligible to receive food for home consumption.
Income standards may, at the State’s discretion, be met through
participation in other existing Federal, State, or local food,
health, or welfare programs for which eligibility is based on
income.
States can adjust the income criteria in order to
ensure that assistance is provided only to those households most in
need. However, recipients of prepared meals are considered to be
needy and are not subject to a means test.
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3. How do TEFAP foods reach
recipients?
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 work out the details of administration and
distribution. They select local organizations that either directly
distribute to households or serve meals, or distribute to other
local organizations that perform these functions.
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4. What
foods are available through TEFAP?
The types of commodity foods USDA purchases for TEFAP distribution
vary depending on the preferences of States and agricultural market
conditions. More than 60 products were made available for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2007, including:
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canned & dried fruits
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canned vegetables
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fruit juice
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dried egg mix
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meat/poultry/fish
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dried beans
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pasta products
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peanut butter
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rice/grits/cereal
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soups
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For a complete list of foods available for TEFAP for
FY 2008, visit the Food Distribution web site at:
www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/foods.
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5. What other food and nutrition assistance can TEFAP recipients get?
Many TEFAP households, including low-income senior citizens, may be
eligible to get SNAP benefits through USDA's Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program.
Low-income individuals may also be eligible for food and nutrition
assistance through other USDA programs, including the following:
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National School Lunch Program;
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Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
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Nutrition Service Incentive Program (NSIP)
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Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
(FDPIR)
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Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
All together, USDA provides nearly $60 billion
annually for food and nutrition assistance to low-income households.
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6. Are homeless people eligible for TEFAP food?
Yes. Homeless people, including low-income senior citizens, can
benefit from the program through organizations like soup kitchens
that provide prepared meals, or food pantries that distribute
commodities to individuals.
Homeless people can receive prepared meals served in a congregate
setting without making an application. Homeless people must meet
State income eligibility requirements in order to receive TEFAP food
that is not served in prepared meals.
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7. When and why did TEFAP start?
TEFAP was first authorized as the Temporary Emergency Food
Assistance Program in 1981 to distribute surplus commodities to
households. The name was changed to the Emergency Food Assistance
Program under the 1990 farm bill. The program was designed to help
reduce Federal food inventories and storage costs while assisting
the needy.
Stocks of some foods held in surplus had been depleted by 1988.
Therefore, the Hunger Prevention Act of 1988 authorized funds to be
appropriated for the purchase of commodities specifically for TEFAP.
Foods acquired with appropriated funds are in addition to any
surplus commodities donated to TEFAP by USDA.
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8. How much does the program cost?
Congress appropriated $189.5 million for TEFAP for FY
2007--$140 million to purchase food, and another $49.5 million for
administrative support for state and local agencies.
This is approximately the same level of funding as was provided in
FY 2006, excluding emergency supplemental appropriations. In addition to the $189.5 million that was
appropriated for TEFAP in FY 2006, about $67 million worth
of surplus commodities were delivered to States for distribution
through TEFAP.
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9. Who should I contact for more information about TEFAP?
Since this program is administered at the State level, we suggest
that you contact your State distributing agency for more
information about TEFAP. A list of State Contacts may be found on
the Food Distribution web site at:
www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/sdacontacts.htm. |