TEFAP/USDA COMMODITIES
What is USDA/ TEFAP? The Emergency Feeding Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diet of low income persons, by providing groceries or meals at no cost to the recipient. TEFAP is administered at the federal level by the Department of Agriculture s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of USDA. State agencies (like ACFB) receive the food and supervise overall distribution.
About TEFAP State agencies (Georgia s DHS) work out details of administration and distribution. They select local organizations (Georgia Food Banks) that either directly distribute to households or serve meals, or distribute to other local organizations (ACFB Partners) that perform these functions. Each state sets criteria for determining what households are eligible to receive food for home consumption
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 at food pantries? Households whose income is 130% or less of the poverty line Clients must sign a selfdeclaration of total household income, residency, name, number of people in the household, and address Household Eligibility Form
Which clients are eligible at shelters or soup/community kitchens? Recipients of prepared meals who are considered to be low income and do not require any specific form or application
What foods are available? 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 Canned salmon The mix of foods varies from year to year. This is not a shopping list.
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 ALL volunteers in TEFAP s Civil Rights Training
What are USDA requirements for food pantries? Complete Household Record Distribution Form each day you distribute USDA Each recipient must complete and sign Household Eligibility Form every time they receive USDA Attach 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 5 th day of each month Ex: November s report is due December 5
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal and, where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities and wish to file either an EEO or program complaint please contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). Persons with disabilities who wish to file a program complaint, please see information above on how to contact us by mail directly or by email. If you require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) please contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Glossary ACFB-Atlanta Community Food Bank DHS-Department of Human Services FNS-Food and Nutrition Service TEFAP-The Emergency Food Assistance Program USDA-United States Department of Agriculture