The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Last updated 03/27/19

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) program that helps to supplement the diets of low-income individuals or households, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost. USDA TEFAP grants are based on formula and provide USDA-donated food and administrative funds to States. States work with Eligible Recipient Agencies (ERAs), including Emergency Feeding Organizations (EFOs), to distribute USDA-donated foods to (1) qualified households and (2) nonprofit organizations that prepare meals for low-income persons.

In Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2018, Hawaii received $176,308.00 in administrative funds and $894,346.00 in USDA-donated TEFAP food. Food and funds are allocated to our EFO partners based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for Hawaii: 61.34% is allocated to the City and County of Honolulu, 22.60% to Hawaii County, 11.75% to Maui County, and 4.31% to Kauai County. TEFAP provides a wide range of foods, from chicken and beans to pears, cranberry juice and rice.

For FFY 2019, USDA estimates that Hawaii will be provided at least $946,067.00 in USDA-donated TEFAP food and $177,632.00 in administrative funding.  Below is the distribution of the administrative funding for FFY 2019:

County	% for Food Distribution	Administrative Funding
City & County of Honolulu	61.34%	$81,719.00
Kauai County	4.31%	$5,742.00
Maui County	11.75%	$15,654.00
Hawaii County	22.60%	$30,109.00
Interisland Shipping		$14,000.00
OCS Administration		$30,408.00
TOTAL	100%	$177,632.00

In order to manage this program, the Office of Community Services (OCS) submits a TEFAP Distribution Plan for USDA approval (10/2017 Distribution Plan). This Distribution Plan specifies program details,including the following:

• For an individual or household to be eligible for TEFAP commodities in the State of Hawaii, they must have a total gross income no greater than 185% of the amount specified in the Federal Poverty Eligibility Guidelines.  The Federal Poverty Eligibility Guidelines are updated annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and can be found at https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty.
• Applicants must document their eligibility by filling out and signing a certification of self-declaration of income.

For more information about how to access TEFAP foods, contact our four (4) EFOs participating in TEFAP in Hawaii:

• City and County of Honolulu: Hawaii Foodbank, Inc.
  2611 Kilihau Street | Honolulu, Hawaii  96819-2021 | Telephone: (808) 836-3600
• Maui County: Maui Food Bank, Inc.
  Contact:  Lynn Curtis | [email protected]  | Telephone: (808) 243-9500 | 760 Kolu Street | Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
• Kauai County: Hawaii Foodbank-Kauai Branch
  4241 A Hanahao Place | Lihue, Hawaii  96766 | Telephone: (808) 246-3809
• Hawaii County: The Food Basket, Inc.
  Contact:  Kristin Frost Albrecht | [email protected] | Telephone: (808) 933-6030| 140-B Holomua Street | Hilo, Hawaii, 96720

Service Provider Partners (EFOs and ERAs) – Click here for forms and documents related to the program.

Resources for Further Information

• TEFAP State of Hawaii Distribution Plan as of 10/2017
• eCFR – 7 CFR 250
• eCFR – 7 251
• TEFAP Policy Memos
• PFS – TEFAP Fact Sheet
• TEFAP Foods Available 2018

 

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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected]. This institution is an equal opportunity provider