CCJ promotes many different federal food programs as part of its anti-hunger strategies. This article discusses some of these food programs. This includes the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and two commodities programs which distribute surplus food to those in need.  This article also includes a list of useful links about these programs.  Anyone with additional questions about these programs can also contact CCJ's Food and Nutrition Program Helpline at 1-800-481-4989 during regular business hours.  

The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service administers these programs at the Federal level.  State agencies are responsible for determining participant eligibility, providing benefits and services, and authorizing vendors.

 Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) - The FMNP provides fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants.  The program expands the awareness, use, and sales at farmers’ markets.

WIC Senior Farmers’ Market Program (SFMNP) - The SFMNP provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs.

Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

TEFAP distributes surplus commodities to low-income households and local emergency feeding organizations.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

CSFP is a Federally funded program that works to improve the health of low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding women, other new mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age six, and elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods.

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

CACFP plays a vital role in improving the quality of day care and making it more affordable for many low-income families. The program provides assistance to day care providers for nutritious meals and snacks for children in their care. The program also provides meals and snacks to adults who receive care in nonresidential adult day care centers. CACFP reaches even further to provide meals to children residing in emergency shelters, and snacks and suppers to youths participating in eligible after school care programs.