The Emergency Food Assistance Program

EFAP is a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans by providing them with healthful foods at no cost. Under EFAP, commodity foods are made available to local agencies for distribution to needy households for use in preparing meals for home consumption, or to organizations that prepare and provide meals for the needy. Recipients of food for home use must meet program eligibility criteria set by the State.


Eligibility

  • Organizations that provide prepared meals to needy persons.
  • Households that meet state eligibility criteria which is based on the total household monthly income and is compared to a federally established income eligibility scale. This is the same scale used to determine eligibility for food stamps. Recipients of prepared meals are considered to be needy and are not subject to a means test