Last update: 04/15/2008

Food programs

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides food to low-income clients through food banks and congregate meal sites. Since 1981, USDA has contracted with the Department of General Administration (GA) to manage the administration and distribution of TEFAP funding and food for the State of Washington.

GA provides statewide service to low-income clients by contracting with 21 lead agencies. These lead agencies contract with over 461 food banks, meal providers, shelters and food assistance providers.

On a monthly basis, food banks provide the “packaged” commodities to over 76,808 households and 224,992 low-income clients in need while meal providers utilize commodities in the preparation of over 877,000 “hot meals”.

 

In 2005, TEFAP provided to the State of Washington over $7 million dollars worth of USDA food, which resulted in over 10.3 million pounds of food being distributed to a growing number of low-income individuals in need.

 

Clients and the level of need continue to grow while USDA food is on the decline. Since 2002, client numbers have grown by 31% while the available USDA food has declined by 30%.

Program Features:

  • Eligible clients are at or below 185% of the poverty level
  • Clients are eligible by Self-Declaration
  • Clients receive “real” food and not a “voucher”
  • Food banks and meal sites rely heavily on volunteer and local community support
  • Food Providers are not just providing food to the low-income they are also:
    • providing links to other federal food programs such as Food Stamps, WIC and the Summer Food Service Program
    • helping clients make healthy food choices within a limited budget
  • TEFAP/CSFP Advisory Group provides valuable input on how to keep the food programs responsive to the needs of the low-income and contribute to the statewide efforts of alleviating hunger.

The Food Programs assist in the commitment to feed Washington’s hungry with USDA food distributions via food banks, congregate meal providers and shelters. We help our partners leverage existing resources to create a collaborative statewide food network that provides children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program that provides nutritious food “packages” designated specifically for the nutritional needs of low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, other new mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age six (not on WIC), and elderly people at least 60 years of age.

Since 2000, USDA has contracted with the Department of General Administration (GA) to manage the administration and distribution of CSFP funding and food for the State of Washington. GA leverages the current TEFAP distribution system for the distribution of CSFP via food banks and other food assistance providers

In 2006, CSFP client caseload was reduced to 2,230. This limits the program to being only offered in four areas of the state – Aberdeen, Everett, Spokane and Walla Walla. In each of the areas there is a growing waiting list to be on the program.

On a monthly basis, food banks provide approximately 29 pounds of nutritious food to 2,230 low-income clients. The majority of our clients are elderly who are at or below the 130% poverty level.

In 2005, CSFP provided to the State of Washington over $500,000 worth of USDA food, which resulted 850,000 million pounds of food being distributed to those at nutritional risk. Our caseload in 2005 was allocated at 2,479 clients.

Program Features:

  • Clients (not elderly) are at or below 185% of the poverty level
  • Elderly clients are at or below 130% of the poverty level
  • Clients receive “real” food targeted for their nutritional needs and not a “voucher”
  • Food banks rely heavily on volunteer and local community support
  • Food Providers are not just providing food to the low-income they are also:
    • providing links to other federal food programs such as Food Stamps, WIC and the Summer Food Service Program
    • helping clients make healthy food choices within a limited budget
    • providing links to community nutrition education
  • TEFAP/CSFP Advisory Group provides valuable input on how to keep the food programs responsive to the needs of the low-income and contribute to the statewide efforts of alleviating hunger.

The Food Programs assist in the commitment to feed Washington’s hungry with USDA food distributions via food banks and food assistance providers. We help our partners leverage existing resources to create a collaborative statewide food network that provides children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education in a manner that supports American agriculture.