Key Flexibilities
Additional Funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program: FNS is providing up to $850 million in additional funding for states to distribute to food banks and food pantries.
Disaster Household Distribution: FNS is approving state and local agency requests to provide boxes of foods directly to households in affected areas.
Supporting Participants in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations: FNS is providing an additional $100 million for COVID-19 response, increasing the monthly food package and providing administrative support.
Additional Flexibilities
Entitlement Waiver for SY 2021-22: FNS is establishing a nationwide opt-in waiver to minimize the impact of SY 2021-22 COVID-19 related school closures on State Distributing Agencies’ SY 2021-22 USDA Foods entitlement.
Entitlement Waiver for SY 2020-21: FNS is establishing a nationwide opt-in waiver to minimize the impact of SY 2019-20 COVID-19 related school closures on State Distributing Agencies’ SY 2020-21 USDA Foods entitlement.
FDPIR Flexibilities for Indian Tribal Organizations and State Agencies: An overview of the flexibilities available to Indian Tribal Organizations and state agencies that administer FDPIR to assist them in continuing to provide food to people in need.
Funding Sources for TEFAP: An overview of the various funding sources for TEFAP.
TEFAP Flexibilities: An overview of state agency flexibilities in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) in response to COVID-19.
Other Resources
Disaster Household Distribution Fact Sheet: When traditional channels of food are unavailable or disrupted as a result of a disaster or emergency, FNS is able to offer states and Indian Tribal Organizations the option to quickly provide short-term food assistance to persons in need.
Food Distribution Q&As: Information on the WIC and food distribution programs in response to COVID-19, including authorities as provided through FFCRA.