What is the Food Distribution Program?
The Food Distribution Program provides federal, state and private agencies with donated foods from USDA to be used in child nutrition programs, nonprofit summer camps for children, charitable institutions, nutrition programs for the elderly, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the Food Distribution Programs on Indian Reservations and the assistance of needy persons.
Which programs do the State Education Office administer?
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education administers the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the commodity program for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program (NSLP).
What is the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)?
The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides food assistance to needy Americans through the distribution of USDA commodities. Under TEFAP, commodity foods are made available by the US Department of Agriculture to states for distribution to households for use in preparing meals for home consumption, or to organizations that prepare and provide meals for needy people. Foods are distributed free, but recipients of food for home use must meet program eligibility criteria set by the state.
Who is eligible to get food through TEFAP?
Each state sets criteria for determining which households are eligible to participate in TEFAP. Income standards may include participation in any other existing federal, state or local food, health or welfare program for which income is considered as a basis of eligibility. Each state can adjust the income criteria based on the level of need in order to ensure that assistance is provided only to those most in need.
What types of foods are available through TEFAP?
Available foods vary depending on market conditions. Typically canned and dried fruits, canned vegetables, canned meats, cereals, pasta and sauces.
How does food distribution operate under the National School Lunch/ Breakfast Programs (NSLP)?
Schools in the lunch program get cash subsidies and donated commodities (entitlements) from USDA for each meal they serve. They can also get “bonus” commodities, as they are available from surplus stock. In return, they must serve lunches that meet federal requirements, and they must offer free or reduced-price lunches to eligible children.
What is the commodity benefit that institutions receive?
Schools will receive $.17 per meal for the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
Institutions participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) have the option of receiving cash in lieu of commodities, and all child care facilities in the District of Columbia do so. The level of assistance for lunches and suppers served by CACFP programs is the same rate for National School Lunch Programs – $.17 for the period July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007.
What types of foods do schools get from USDA?
States select entitlement foods for their schools from a list of more than 60 different kinds of food purchased by USDA and offered through the National School Lunch Program. The list includes fresh, canned and frozen fruits, vegetables; meats; fruit juices; vegetable shortening, peanut products; vegetable oils; and flour and other grain products.
Bonus foods are offered only as they become available through agricultural surplus.
For the 2005-2006 School Year, 1.6 million pounds of USDA commodities were utilized in the National School Lunch Program.
Whom do we contact?
For information on TEFAP contact The Capital Area Food Bank, 645 Taylor Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 526-5344.
For information on the NSLP you may contact the District of Columbia, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Nutrition Services Department, 441 4th Street, NW, Suite 350-North, Washington, DC 20001; (202) 727-6436.
