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The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Benefits:

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) distributes federal surplus foods to emergency food pantries and needy households. The program operates in a partnership with local governments and community organizations in all of the State�s 24 jurisdictions. In federal fiscal year 2004 (FFY 2004), the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided 386 emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters with 4,711,598 pounds of commodities. These commodities provide a base supply for emergency feeding locations, enabling these sites to use their resources for the purchase of additional foods. Also, more than 350,000 households in Maryland received TEFAP commodities in FFY 2004.

Eligibility Requirements: Category of Eligibility

1. Food Stamp Recipient
2. Energy Assistance
3. Medical Assistance
4. Unemployment
5. Welfare Recipient
6. Income less than:
   

   Household Size	Monthly Gross Income
   1	$1,516.65
   2	$2,041.65
   3	$2,566.65
   4	$3,091.65
   5	$3,616.65
   6	$4,141.65
   7	$4,666.65
   8	$5,191.65
   For each additional household member add $525.00

Where to Apply: Your local Emergency Feeding Organization. Click here to find one in your area.

What to Bring:

1. Photo Identification (Driver�s License, Maryland ID, or Employment ID)
2. Proof of Address (from Apartment or house lease; electric, gas, water, or phone bill; rent book; rent receipt; or mortgage statement)
3. Proof of Income or most recent benefit letter for government checks (SSI, SSDI, VA, Social Security, or any others)
4. Proof of Other Cash or Non Cash resources. (Bring all that apply to you: Most recent savings and checking account statements, life insurance policies, car truck or motorcycle titles, stocks or bonds, papers about anything else you own that is of value, except personal belongings).

Maryland Emergency Food Program (MEFP)

The Maryland Emergency Food Program (MEFP) provides grants to assist emergency food providers (including soup kitchens and food pantries) in purchasing food for needy individuals and families. During fiscal year 2003, 255 emergency food programs were awarded a total of $1,038,000 for the purchase of food only.

For more information about The Maryland Emergency Food Program, call Lindsay Bradshaw on (410) 767-7328.

Statewide Nutrition Assistance Program

The Statewide Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds the purchase of capital equipment for emergency food pantries and food banks, such as shelving, refrigerators, freezers, and food handling equipment. The Center for Poverty Solutions oversaw the administration of the program in Fiscal Year 2003 and provided the required 50% match if the emergency feeding orgranizations could not afford to do so. In FY 2003, SNAP distributed financial grants to 52 food pantries and emergency feeding organizations. Maryland food banks received $47,615.75 in SNAP funds and food pantries received $273,188.98.

For more information about The Statewide Nutrition Assistance Program, call Lindsay Bradshaw on (410) 767-7328.

Home-Delivered Meals to Persons with HIV/AIDS

This program provides home delivered food and nutrition counseling to persons with HIV/AIDS. The program recognizes that many people suffering from the effects of HIV/AIDS have very specific dietary needs. Nutritious meals, prepared in a safe and contamination-free manner, help maintain the immune system and reduce the side effects of some medications. Two programs carry out this function. Food and Friends, based in Washington, D.C. provides services to Southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary�s Counties) as well as Montgomery, Prince George�s, Frederick, and Washington Counties. Maryland Community Kitchen, based in Baltimore, provides services to eight counties on the Eastern Shore (Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties) as well as Baltimore City.