New Mexico Association of Food Banks

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The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

The New Mexico Association of Food Banks contracts with the New Mexico Food and Nutrition Service Bureau to administer The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Distributing USDA commodities, our food bank network served 89,000 low-income families per month through emergency food pantries. More than 82,000 meals are provided in shelters and soup kitchens each month. Because food banks distribute TEFAP commodities, families can supplement their commodities with fresh produce, bread, and other emergency food.

For a history and desciption of TEFAP click HERE

Facts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture makes commodity foods available to each state.
December 2003 New Mexico Association of Food Banks joined in partnership with the State Commodities Bureau to distribute food throughout the state.
Since NMAFB began ordering and distributing commodities, the number of families receiving this food has nearly tripled to an average of 30,000 households per month.
In 2007 more than four million pounds of emergency food were distributed to every county in the New Mexico.
Commodities distributed by NMAFB member food banks were also used to prepare nearly one million meals at soup kitchens that directly serve the public.

More than 60 products were made available during fiscal year 2007, including:
canned & fresh fruits
canned vegetables
fruit juice
soups
pinto & refried beans
meat/poultry/fish
nonfat dry milk
pasta products
canned tomatoes
spaghetti sauce
rice and cereal