Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today announced that
the Department of Agriculture has received approval to continue
operating the Disaster Household Distribution program, through The
Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), to provide food to
Pennsylvanians adversely affected by COVID-19 mitigation efforts.
Originally approved by the USDA on March 27, the Disaster Household
Distribution program, set to expire the end of May, has been approved
through June 25.
The waiver eliminates the need for individuals to verify financial
eligibility upon arrival at a food bank or pantry. Those in need of food
through June 25 simply need to show up and receive their food. In
addition to removing barriers for Pennsylvanians to access food, the
waiver allows the Department of Agriculture and its partners to
distribute USDA Foods – including meats, vegetables, fruits, canned
goods, cereal, rice, pasta, eggs, milk, and more – to those in need.
The department estimates that in 2020, the Bureau of Food Assistance
will move more than $80 million of USDA foods through Pennsylvania’s
charitable food system in all 67 counties, with the state’s allocation
of TEFAP funding from USDA. In 2019, nearly $50 million was allocated to
the purchase of USDA Foods. The additional allocation for 2020 comes
through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the CARES Act,
in addition to an increase in funding through continued trade mitigation
efforts by USDA.
In addition to accessing USDA Foods and foods procured by the food bank,
Pennsylvanians are now able to access fresh, local foods through the
Farmers to Families Food Box program. Food banks around the state have
begun to hold events to distribute fresh products from USDA-approved
distributors, including 17 Pennsylvania-based contractors providing milk
and other dairy products, pork, chicken, and fresh produce.
Pennsylvanians interested in receiving a box through the Farmers to
Families Food Box program should contact their local food bank for
distribution information. For more information about Food Security in
Pennsylvania, visit
agriculture.pa.gov/foodsecurity.
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