Program Overview

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income persons in Georgia, including the elderly, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost.

TEFAP is a federally funded program that provides USDA foods to low-income households. The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Family & Children Services works with emergency feeding organizations throughout Georgia to provide households in need with food assistance.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. The program has been designed to make food available to needy persons through emergency feeding organizations that distribute foods purchased by the Federal government under agricultural support programs and additional nutritious and useful commodities.

These agencies are Food Banks, Soup Kitchens, and Food Pantries.

Food Banks subcontract with other organizations throughout the state, like food pantries and soup kitchens. Some food banks distribute food through brown bag programs to the elderly. Click here for more information.

Soup Kitchens provides meals to the needy and the homeless regularly. Soup kitchens receive food from the local food bank in their area for a small handling fee.

Food Pantries are any organization that distributes food to low-income and unemployed households for home consumption. Food pantries receive commodity foods from the local food bank in their area for a small handling charge.

TEFAP provides a variety of food, such as meats, eggs, vegetables, soup, beans, nuts, peanut butter, cereal, pasta, milk, and juice. In addition to that, the state distribution agencies can also demand commodities such as beans, blueberries, catfish, cheese, cherries, chicken, ground beef, lentils, milk, mixed fruit, peaches, plums, pork chops, raspberries, strawberries, tomato sauce, and turkey.

It is the agency’s responsibility to manage and distribute the food that they receive from the USDA. The amount received by these agencies can vary. This is due to the different numbers of unemployed and low-income individuals in a state.

The services that are provided under The Emergency Food Assistance Program in Georgia include emergency food that is supplied for three to five days to needy individuals or families, prepared meals individuals are provided with on locations and food boxes. To ensure the availability of emergency food for three to five days, these boxes are distributed. They include the supply of USDA for individuals and families that can be labeled as needy. There are home meals that are for the disabled and elderly. To make sure that the food needs of the elderly and disabled are met, meals are prepared and delivered to those who are homebound. Needy children are provided with meals as well as after-school snacks. Mobile pantries and community locations are set up where food boxes are delivered.

Eligibility Requirements

Households that meet State eligibility criteria which include the income level of the household may receive food for home use. However, each state can adjust eligibility criteria to ensure that assistance is provided only to households most in need. The requirements put forward by this program help to ensure that the needy people are helped first and foremost. To be eligible to receive TEFAP foods, an individual or family must meet the specified income guidelines.

The amount of annual income level might change from time to time depending on the changes in laws and regulations.

Households which are enrolled in one of the following programs are also eligible i.e. Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), SNAP (formerly food stamps), Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Old Age Pension (OAP), Aid to Needy Disabled (AND), Aid to the Blind (AB), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid Eligible Foster Children.

How to Apply

You do not have to complete a formal application to become a candidate for this program. This eliminates the aspect of the interview as well. Instead, interested individuals have to visit the Congregate Meal Site simply. If they wish to be a consistent part of the TEFAP, they must bring the following items and sign in:

• Proof of Address. For this purpose, an individual can use documentation like a utility bill. Any documents verifying the current residential address can also be used. In the case of homelessness, it is expected for you to identify the cross streets or locations where you spend your nights.
• Distribution sites may ask for a Driver’s license, state ID
• A signed form of self-declaration. This document would include aspects that confirm that the individual meets the current income guidelines. It also states that the person will not sell or exchange the food they receive through this program. Moreover, it will also mention that the individual lives in the service area of the Food Pantry.

Meal Sites have been set up by the state of Georgia. They are operational during normal service hours. In case an individual visits this site during these hours, they can receive a prepared meal.

For Further Information

For more information on availability in your area, contact one of the food banks.  For questions or concerns about TEFAP, please contact the state office at (404) 463-8042.