There are several food distribution programs in Kansas that provide free food to low income households who qualify. The food is shipped to food banks and helping agencies throughout the state at various times during the year.

SRS breaks Food Distribution Services into five separate programs.
They include the following:

1. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
   
   
2. Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
   
   
3. Soup Kitchen Food Bank (SKFB)
   
   
4. Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP)
   
   
5. Charitable Institution Commodity Program (CICP)

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) food provides free food to low income households throughout Kansas. To learn where and when to pick up the food, you may contact the local food bank, helping agency, or the local SRS office. To find the Social and Rehabilitation Office nearest you, click on the Locations tab in the banner at the top of this page or call toll free at 1-888-369-4777.

What kind of food is available?
When is the food available?
Who qualifies for the food?
Where do I get the food?

What kind of food is available?

TEFAP food is shipped about four times per year. Each distributor determines when and how often food is distributed. The food includes vegetables, fruit, juice, meat, cereal, peanut butter, nonfat dried milk, and pasta. Each shipment provides a minimum of four and a maximum of ten foods per household.

The food supply may vary with the farm market. The foods may include:

When is the food available?

TEFAP ships the food about four or more times a year to food banks and helping agencies. A time table of distribution location shipments is available at: www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/TEFAPcalendars.pdf.

Who qualifies for the food?

Persons who work, but have low income, as well as those who do not work are eligible for this program.

Additionally, to qualify interested persons need to do the following:

• Sign a paper, saying they qualify for TEFAP. They must sign the paper before they pick up food.
  
• Provide their income amount and household size.
  
• Give proof of income and household size, if asked.
  
• Live in Kansas.
  
• Apply in their home county.
  
• Comply with other local requests.

Where do I get the food?

The food is available at certain community organizations in most counties. A complete list of community organizations is available at: www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/TEFAPcontacts.pdf

Each community organization determines its own distribution dates. For more information, contact the participating organization nearest you.

For further clarification regarding TEFAP see the Kansas Commodity Distribution Manual (KCDM) KCDM Manual online or at a participating organization. For more information or to apply for services:

• call or visit your nearest SRS office
  
• call toll-free 1-888-369-4777
  
• visit www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/TEFAP.htm

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) serves persons over the age of 60 with income less than 130% of federal poverty and women, infants and children up to age six with income less than 185% of federal poverty that are not receiving WIC vouchers.

Eligible persons receive a monthly food package which contains 10 food groups; cheese, evaporated milk, nonfat dry milk (every other month), peanut butter or dry beans, cereal, meat, vegetables, fruits, juice, and instant potatoes, rice or pasta.

CSFP is currently administered through three Local Agencies in the following 21 counties:

Cross Lines Cooperative Council
Kansas City, KS
for Wyandotte, Johnson, and Leavenworth counties

Let’s Help Inc
Topeka, KS
for Douglas, Shawnee, Jefferson, Osage, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Riley, Franklin and Wabaunsee counties

United Methodist Open Door
Wichita, KS
for Butler, Chautauqua, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Pratt, Reno, Sedgwick, and Sumner counties

For more information contact Lori Allen by email at Lori.Allen@srs.ks.gov or by telephone at 785-368-8120.

You can also contact:

Cross-Lines Cooperative Council (913) 433-2268

Let’s Help (785) 234-6208

United Methodist Open Door (316) 267-0511

Started in 1988, the Soup Kitchen Food Bank program (SKFB) is a subprogram of The Emergency Food Assistance Program. The SKFB provides monthly shipment of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food commodities for use in congregate meals for:

• Soup kitchens for the homeless
  
• Homeless shelters
  
• Alcohol and drug facilities
  
• Domestic Violence Shelters

To determine if your institution is eligible to receive SKFB food, contact Ron Hamilton at Ron.Hamilton@srs.ks.gov or (785) 296-2072.

The Nutrition Program for the Elderly (NPE), the Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP) also started in 1988. The program is jointly administered by SRS and the Kansas Department on Aging (KDOA). NSIP provides United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food commodities to participating projects for use in congregate or home delivered meals to persons over the age of 60. Foods are available for at least monthly shipment for a fee that covers storage, shipping and administrative costs. Most of the meals are lunches served during the week.

The eleven Kansas Area Agencies on Aging contract with one or more nutrition project(s) to provide home delivered and/or congregate meals for a specific geographic area. The projects receive their funding from the Older American’s Act of 1965 title III C, state, and local funds. Most choose to receive the option of a percent of their Federal NSIP funding in USDA food commodities in lieu of cash.

The location of NSIP feeding sites throughout Kansas may be obtained from local Area Agencies on Aging or the Kansas Department On Aging. For more information on NSIP cash or policy call KDOA at 800-432-3535 or 296-4986.

For more information about NSIP contact Ron Hamilton at Ron.Hamilton@srs.ks.gov or (785) 296-2072.

The Charitable Institution Commodity Program (CICP) provides United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) food commodities for congregate meals to eligible nonprofit institutions. In Kansas participation is limited to institutions that can accept and use truck load size shipments of one food item. This includes state institutions, medical centers, and correctional facilities that meet minimal requirements for inmate rehabilitation. CICP was started in July of 1985.

To determine if your institution is eligible to receive CICP food, contact Ron Hamilton at Ron.Hamilton@srs.ks.gov or (785) 296-2072.

For more information on food distribution programs and a program fact sheet go to: www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/facts/commodityfacts.htm.

Information on Food Resources in the State of Kansas can be found at:

www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/TEFAPcontacts.pdf

www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/food_main.htm

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Page Updated: August 20, 2008