TEFAP/USDA COMMODITIES

What is USDA/TEFAP?

• The Emergency Food Assistance Program

• 1950’s farmer subsidy/cheese program

• Provides states with a variety of food commodities for use by programs that serve low-income families

What agencies are eligible?

• First priority is given to partners with emergency feeding programs.– Food pantries– Soup/community kitchens– Emergency shelters

• Second priority is given to agencies who do not have emergency feeding programs but serve the needy.– Domestic violence shelters– Group homes

• USDA can only be distributed to second priority agencies if the first priority agencies needs have been met.

Which clients are eligible?

• Families whose income is 130% or less of the poverty line

• Agencies cannot require clients to provide SSNs, ID, utility bills, and/or other forms of verification

• Clients must sign a self-declaration of total household income, residency, name, number of people in the household, and address– Household Eligibility Form

What foods are available?

The mix of foods varies from year to year. This is not a shopping list.

• Frozen hams• Frozen chicken• Canned chicken• Canned beef• Corn flakes• Orange juice• Apple juice• Dry pinto beans• Creamed corn

• Corn kernels• Figs• Spaghetti noodles• Dry milk• Peanuts• Pears• Pineapple• Dry potatoes• Caned salmon

What are the USDA TEFAP requirements for all agencies?

• Post Justice For All poster• Separate/label USDA/TEFAP • Keep thermometers for freezers and refrigerators with

USDA• Maintain temperature logs for all freezers and

refrigerators with USDA• Keep all Food Bank invoices and USDA records for 3

years• Train volunteers responsible for USDA/TEFAP record

keeping and distribution in TEFAP Civil Rights Training

What are USDA requirements for food pantries?

• Distribute USDA to a given household no more than once per month

• Complete Household Record Distribution Form each day you distribute USDA

• Each recipient must complete and sign Household Eligibility Form

• Staple the Household Distribution Form to the front of the Household Eligibility Criteria Forms completed that day

What are USDA requirements for on-premise use?

• Be able to provide verifiable data regarding the number of meals using USDA food as ingredients

• See sample menu in packet

What about record keeping?

• Separate report for USDA food usage– Indicate number of

households, persons, and/or meals served

• Due by the 5th day of each month– Ex: November’s report

is due December 5