What is the purpose of this service?
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) gives out a variety of nutritious foods at no cost to Illinoisans through local food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens.
Who can receive these services?
Those at less than or equal to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are eligible to participate in TEFAP. This chart has the IDHS Maximum Gross Income for receipt of USDA food based on household size and monthly income.
DHS MAXIMUM MONTHLY GROSS INCOME FOR RECEIPT OF USDA FOOD FOR STATE FISCAL YEAR 2025
| Household Size |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| Monthly Income |
$3,913 |
$5,288 |
$6,663 |
$8,038 |
$9,413 |
$10,788 |
$12,163 |
$13,538 |
$14,913 |
$16,288 |
*For households with more than 10 persons, add $1,375 for each additional person up to 300% FPL.
How do I find TEFAP food?
To find a TEFAP participating pantry, shelter or soup kitchen, connect to local food resources by visiting Food Connections. For other questions, call the IDHS TEFAP phone number 217-558-0030.
Civil Rights Training
Access the USDA Civil Rights training brought to you by IDHS. This training is mandatory for "frontline staff" and those who supervise frontline staff. New employees must receive Civil Rights training before participating in Program activities. Volunteers must also receive training appropriate for their roles and responsibilities.
TEFAP General Overview Training
Access the TEFAP General Overview Training Sept 2025 brought to you by IDHS.
Within this training is general information about the program, links to valuable TEFAP resources and a "how to" for accessing TEFAP food and forms.
Food Management Training
Access the TEFAP Food Management Training brought to you by IDHS. This training provides frontline staff and volunteers a comprehensive overview for proper food handling at TEFAP food distribution sites, such as pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens. Topics include food storage, food safety and sanitation, food labeling, and soup kitchen requirements. Additionally, Food Bank staff can take the second part of the training, which has topics around ordering, shipping and receiving food, managing food losses and overages, and inventory management.
Food and Nutrition Service Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained on the USDA website, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
- 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
- Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
- Fax: (823) 256-1665 or (202)690-7442; or
- Email: Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
