The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost.

The USDA provides 100% American-grown USDA Foods and administrative funds to states to operate TEFAP. The Department of Health and Welfare provides food to local agencies selected to distribute USDA foods to soup kitchens and food pantries that directly serve the public.

Through TEFAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of nutritious, high-quality USDA Foods, and makes those foods available to the Department of Health and Welfare. Through this program, income eligible individuals and families can visit food banks, food pantries, or soup kitchens to receive supplemental food boxes and meals. 

This assistance is intended to be a supplement; typically the products distributed to each household provide between three and five days of food.

Man At Soup Kitchen Holding Food
Find a TEFAP pantry or soup kitchen near you
For more information and to find a TEFAP food pantry or soup kitchen near you, visit Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho.
Monthly income limits for TEFAP

  Effective October 1, 2023

Family Size Monthly Income Limit
1 $2,430
2 $3,286.67
3 $4,143.33
4 $5,000
5 $5,856.67
6 $6,713.33
7 $7,570
8 $8,426.67
Each Additional Member $856.67