Emergency Food Emergency Food Assistance ProgramAssistance Program

EFAP 101EFAP 101

What is the EFAP program?What is the EFAP program?

The Emergency Food Assistance Program is The Emergency Food Assistance Program is federally and state funded food program federally and state funded food program which distributes USDA commodities to which distributes USDA commodities to nonprofit and government agencies. These nonprofit and government agencies. These agencies in turn distribute commodities to agencies in turn distribute commodities to qualified individuals/families free of charge. qualified individuals/families free of charge. All agencies must comply with federal, state, All agencies must comply with federal, state, local and EFAP regulations in order to local and EFAP regulations in order to maintain their EFAP participation.maintain their EFAP participation.

EFAP AgreementEFAP Agreement

Participating EFAP agencies must Participating EFAP agencies must have a current EFAP agreement on have a current EFAP agreement on file with the Los Angeles Regional file with the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. The agreement states the Foodbank. The agreement states the EFAP policies that must be kept in EFAP policies that must be kept in order to remain a participating agency. order to remain a participating agency. Failure to comply with the agreement Failure to comply with the agreement will place your agency account on hold will place your agency account on hold or possibly suspension or termination.or possibly suspension or termination.

EFAP PoliciesEFAP Policies

DistributionDistribution Clients are never asked to donate money or time in Clients are never asked to donate money or time in

exchange for EFAP commodities.exchange for EFAP commodities. The only requirement to receive EFAP commodities is The only requirement to receive EFAP commodities is

to self certify using the income guidelines.to self certify using the income guidelines. Clients sign the EFAP sign-in sheet.Clients sign the EFAP sign-in sheet. Agencies that ask clients to complete an application or Agencies that ask clients to complete an application or

intake interview in order to receive food must advise intake interview in order to receive food must advise clients it is not a requirement in order to receive EFAP clients it is not a requirement in order to receive EFAP commodities only.commodities only.

Agencies cannot conduct political or religious activitiy in Agencies cannot conduct political or religious activitiy in conjunction with food distribution.conjunction with food distribution.

Income Guidelines & Income Guidelines & Sign-In SheetSign-In Sheet

Signs that need to be Signs that need to be posted during EFAP posted during EFAP

distributionsdistributions

Storage Area RequirementsStorage Area Requirements

CleanClean Free from infestationFree from infestation Commodities stored at suggested holding Commodities stored at suggested holding

temperaturestemperatures Commodities stored three inches off the Commodities stored three inches off the

floor and away from the wallfloor and away from the wall Stored against theft, spoilage, misuse Stored against theft, spoilage, misuse

and lossand loss

EFAP Reporting EFAP Reporting RequirementsRequirements

Agencies must submit a Household Agencies must submit a Household Participation report to the Foodbank by the 5Participation report to the Foodbank by the 5 thth business day of the month for the previous business day of the month for the previous month.month.

Agencies must submit a Perpetual Inventory Agencies must submit a Perpetual Inventory report to the Foodbank by the 5report to the Foodbank by the 5 thth business day business day of the month for the previous month.of the month for the previous month.

Failure to submit reports on time will place your Failure to submit reports on time will place your account on hold until received.account on hold until received.

EFAP Monthly ReportsEFAP Monthly Reports

EFAP FilesEFAP Files

EFAP monthly reports, Foodbank EFAP monthly reports, Foodbank invoices and EFAP sign-in sheets must invoices and EFAP sign-in sheets must be kept at the EFAP distribution site.be kept at the EFAP distribution site.

Files must be kept for fours years.Files must be kept for fours years.

EFAP TrainingEFAP Training

EFAP training is available at the EFAP training is available at the Foodbank on a regular basis.Foodbank on a regular basis.

Two people from each EFAP Two people from each EFAP participation agency must be trained in participation agency must be trained in EFAP policies.EFAP policies.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/TEFAP_General_InfraGrant.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/TEFAP_General_InfraGrant.htm

Only Emergency Feeding Organizations Only Emergency Feeding Organizations (EFO) that currently participate in TEFAP (EFO) that currently participate in TEFAP and have been participating in TEFAP since and have been participating in TEFAP since at least September 30, 2009 are eligible to at least September 30, 2009 are eligible to apply. EFOs that began participating in apply. EFOs that began participating in TEFAP on October 1, 2009 or later are not TEFAP on October 1, 2009 or later are not eligible to apply. The applicant must include eligible to apply. The applicant must include with its application a letter certifying the with its application a letter certifying the applicant's participation in TEFAPapplicant's participation in TEFAP

Who can Apply?

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/TEFAP_General_InfraGrant.htmhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/TEFAP_General_InfraGrant.htm

Allowable Uses of Funding Allowable Uses of Funding Funding may be used to carry out activities of Funding may be used to carry out activities of

the EFO as long as funds are used for a the EFO as long as funds are used for a federally allowable TEFAP administrative federally allowable TEFAP administrative expense per 7 CFR Part 251. If an applicant is expense per 7 CFR Part 251. If an applicant is from a State that further restricts allowable from a State that further restricts allowable TEFAP administrative expenses, allowability TEFAP administrative expenses, allowability will be determined based on Federal will be determined based on Federal regulations, not State-specific policy. Food regulations, not State-specific policy. Food purchases will purchases will not not be considered.be considered.