Partner Agency Resources | North Country Food Bank

Note: After clicking any document link in the sections below, you can either:
1. Print 2. Make a Copy to save to your own Google Drive (File > Make a Copy) or 3. Download to your device (File > Download > Word or PDF).

TEFAP

What is TEFAP?

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

TEFAP providers must be approved by the food bank/state in order to distribute TEFAP foods. Providers must also stay in compliance with TEFAP policies and guidelines at all times.

Mn Tefap Summary 2024

MN TEFAP Manual for Providers

Reference the MN Department of Human Services TEFAP Policy & Operations Manual for TEFAP Providers (link), revised 2023.
MN TEFAP website link
Hunger Solutions MN also offers some TEFAP resources for providers.

MN TEFAP Intake & Income Guidelines

The current (2024) paper intake form and income guidelines can be found here.

Monthly Reporting of Statistics

Reporting monthly household statistics (total households, number of adults, children, and seniors, and pounds distributed) is a required component of compliance with TEFAP. This Statistics Guide breaks down the definitions and how to calculate the service stats.

(Want to shift away from paper and complete intake and track visits electronically? Check out the Service Insights (SIMC) section of this resource page!)

Civil Rights

Civil Rights Training is also a required component of the TEFAP (or any USDA) program. NCFB will administer this training once a year for partner agencies. If you have questions, please contact Kristin Osowski, Agency Relations Coordinator at kosowski@northcountryfoodbank.org.

Agency Ordering / Deliveries

Retail Food Rescue / Food Donations

Content for those currently receiving food rescue donations from a retail store or other business. If your agency would like to pursue a food rescue program, please reach out to Hannah Douglas at hannah@northcountryfoodbank.org for assistance.

Food Rescue Resources

NCFB Donation Standards (can use with retail donors or individuals)
NCFB Donation Guidelines (very suitable for individuals or community groups-food drives)
Good Samaritan Act overview (explains the protections a food donor has from liability)
Food Dates Guide (Sell By, Best by, what it all means)

Agency Materials

Retail Food Rescue Manual (best practices for agencies with food rescue efforts)
Food Rescue Pounds Reporting Sheet (one-time)
- Includes breakdown of categories and example items.
Monthly Food Rescue Pounds Reporting Sheet

Monthly Reporting is a necessary and required action of food rescue. It is one of the most basic ways we can steward our food donors! Food Rescue pounds are due to NCFB staff by the 5th of each month.

MealConnect

Record and submit food rescue donations in real time! No more tally of donations and remembering to submit to the food bank each month!

MealConnect is a digital platform used to capture food rescue donations, and it's FREE! It works on a desktop browser, or use the mobile app! Learn more about it here.

Want to sign up? Email Hannah to get started.

https://mealconnect.org/

Service Insights (SIMC)

Volunteer Management

Extra Links & Resources

Below is a variety of resources that may be useful to your agency's operations. Check it out!

More Than Food Consulting (Katie Martin (CEO) authored the book "Reinventing Food Bank and Pantries")
- They offer regular webinars which are recorded and have other videos available here.
Leah's Pantry
- This organization offers lots of trainings with a trauma-informed lens. Two notable trainings are: Building Nourishing Pantries and The Nutrition Pantry Program.
Food Dignity has an institute module training that looks beyond the charitable food system.