Protecting the funding and structure of federal food assistance programs that form our nation’s response to hunger is paramount to ensuring your neighbors in need have food. We urge the community, and Congress, to support programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).

Without these federal programs in place, many more people would experience food insecurity.

SNAP provides a monthly benefit with which qualified, low-income individuals and families can purchase food. Benefits are provided monthly via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which families can use for food at authorized food retailers such as grocery stores, convenience stores, and farmers’ markets.

A federal program that supplements the diets of low-income Americans, TEFAP provides emergency food assistance at no cost. Through TEFAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of high-quality USDA Foods making the food available to states, who in turn make it available to food banks. Food banks distribute the food to local organizations, such as meal programs and food pantries that directly serve our neighbors.

To learn more view our TEFAP fact sheet.