The Emergency Food Assistance Program

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a federal program administered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry that helps supplement the diets of low-income Mainers by providing emergency food assistance at no cost. Operating from Augusta, TEFAP collaborates with more than 250 food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the state to distribute a wide variety of nutritious foods including canned vegetables, frozen meats, soups, cereals, and flours, with an estimated 32,000 to 40,000 people receiving assistance monthly. The program operates as a state agency initiative that leverages partnerships and distribution networks across all 16 Maine counties to serve the entire state's food security needs.