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Title

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Intro

The program distributes U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) foods to individuals and families who use food shelves, on-site meal programs and shelters.

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Go to TEFAP forms and resources
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Non-perishable food on shelf
Sections

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Office of Economic Opportunity (DCYF, OEO) contracts with Minnesota’s regional food banks (Second Harvest Heartland, The Food Group, Second Harvest Northland, Channel One Food Bank, North Country Food Bank, and Great Plains Food Bank) to distribute TEFAP foods to more than 350+ food shelves, Tribal food programs, on-site meal programs and shelters.  

Together, the network provides nutritious, domestically produced food to Minnesotans in need, and provides direct support to the agriculture community. TEFAP uses county-level poverty and unemployment data to ensure an equitable distribution of TEFAP foods statewide. 

Minnesota TEFAP program structure

TEFAP organizations with logos
Fresh produce

Minnesota Food Shelf Program

TEFAP food shelves and Tribal Nations are also eligible for Minnesota Food Shelf Program (MFSP) funds from DCYF, OEO. Funds may be used to pay for food, supplies, personnel, and more to support program operation and administrative costs. Find out more about the Minnesota Food Shelf Program. 

TEFAP Funding

Minnesota receives approximately $3.5 million annually to purchase USDA foods for TEFAP food providers. USDA also awards Minnesota approximately $1 million in additional federal TEFAP funding that is granted to the regional food banks. These granted funds are used by the food banks to cover costs associated with storage, distribution, and administration of USDA foods and programs. 

A total of 22.8 million pounds of USDA foods valued at $29.4 million were distributed in 2024. 

Pounds of food distributed by the program
Bar graph showing pounds of food distributed
Minnesota food shelf visits from 2016 - 2024
TEFAP food shelf visits

Food shelf visits

Food shelves have seen a continual rise in visits since 2021 after the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Minnesotans made nearly 9 million visits to food shelves in 2024, a record number for the 4th consecutive year. However, visits are not rising as quickly as 2022 to 2023. 

Types of food distributed

TEFAP provides an essential source of nutritious food and consists of a variety of canned and dried foods, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, meat, and dairy products. In Minnesota, food is ordered based on feedback from TEFAP providers, food banks, and direct recipients of USDA products. Minnesota is committed to using TEFAP funds to purchase healthy, fresh and nutritious foods that are priorities for communities, as identified by the Minnesota Food Shelf Survey.

TEFAP foods distributed in 2024 (in pounds)
Graph showing breakdown of food types distributed
Read the 2024 Minnesota Food Shelf Visits Report 
Presented by The Food Group and Hunger Solutions, MN. 
2025 TEFAP Income Eligibility Chart

Family size

Annual income

1

$0 - $46,950

2

$0 - $63,450

3

$0 - $79,950

4

$0 - $96,450

5

$0 - $112,950

6

$0 - $129,450

7

$0 - $145,950

8

$0 - $162,450

*For each additional family member, add $16,500 of allowable income.

Eligibility

Food shelves are available to anyone in Minnesota who self-reports that their household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines.  

Forms and resources for TEFAP distribution sites

Partners and providers can find information, eligibility forms in multiple languages and other supporting materials for TEFAP distribution sites. 

Contact

Minnesota TEFAP Grant Managers 
MNTEFAP.DCYF@state.mn.us 
P.O. Box 64951 
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55164-0951