THE EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TEFAP)
COMMODITY PROGRAM
The purpose of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), better known as Commodities, is to help supplement the diets of low-income persons, including elderly, by providing emergency food and nutritional assistance at no cost.
Under TEFAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes commodity foods available to State Distributing Agencies, such as Southwest Arkansas Development Council, Inc. This Program is offered on a quarterly basis in our seven (7) county areas which includes Howard, Hempstead, Lafayette, Sevier, Nevada, Little River, and Miller counties. The amount of food that each State receives is based on the number of unemployed persons and the number of people with incomes below the poverty level in the State of Arkansas. The food is provided to CAP (Community Action Program) agencies, which in turn distribute the food to distribution sites in our seven county areas.
We distribute the donated commodities to eligible recipients for household consumption. Recipients of food for home use must meet income eligibility criteria set by each participating State.
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 and administration of the Program.
Nashville (Howard County) 870-845-3586
Hope (Hempstead County) 870-777-2380
Stamps (Lafayette County) 870-533-2345
DeQueen (Sevier County) 870-584-3995
Prescott (Nevada County) 870-887-5171
Ashdown (Little River County) 870-898-2570
Texarkana (Miller County 870-216-1136
APPLICATION PROCESS
A completed application and determination of eligibility is required at the SWADC office in the county where you will receive your commodities. If you receive Food Stamps, you are automatically qualified for this program, but you must complete the Application Card also.
FOOD AVAILABILITY
The types of commodity foods USDA purchases for TEFAP distribution vary for each distribution. Most commodities include some of the following items:
Canned Fruits, Canned Vegetables, Fruit Juice
Canned Meat, Dried Beans, Pasta Products, Peanut Butter, Rice,
Canned Soup and other items as purchased for our Agency to distribution
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for TEFAP Foods.
Identity – Applicants must provide picture identification such as Arkansas Drivers license or other documentation to prove who they are.
Residence – The applicant must live in the county and area served by the organization distributing USDA foods.
Income – The applicant’s declared household income is at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for the household size. Families receiving Food Stamp benefits are automatically eligible for USDA foods.
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.
Southwest Arkansas Development Council, Inc., is proud to be a part of this program to help all families in our area. Please contact your local office as listed below for information to complete the Application to receive commodities through this program.