The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including the elderly, by providing emergency food assistance at no cost. TEFAP provides bulk commodities of nutritious food to food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and non-profit charitable organizations as well as local Community Action Agencies.
Southern New Hampshire Services is the distributor of TEFAP foods for Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties. Eligible and approved residents can receive this food at one of our own Food Pantry Sites in Raymond, Salem and Seabrook or through the many other food pantries throughout Hillsborough County including the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Manchester, the Nashua Soup Kitchen, and the New Horizons Soup Kitchen/Food Pantry in Manchester.
The types of foods USDA provides through TEFAP varies and may include more than 120 nutritious high-quality products. Products include: canned, frozen, dried, and fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, milk and cheese, and whole-grain and enriched grain products including rice, cereal, and pasta.
For a complete list of foods available through TEFAP, refer to the USDA Foods Available List for TEFAP.
We also offer the following additional food & nutrition assistance programs through Southern New Hampshire Services that TEFAP recipients may qualify for:
- Supplemental nutrition through Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
- Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for Seniors 60+