About The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) actively backs local food banks and pantries through the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This program not only provides essential nourishment to those in need but also supports the nation’s agricultural producers. Through TEFAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) purchases a variety of nutritious, high-quality USDA Foods, and makes those foods available to state distributing agencies.

The amount of food each state receives out of the total amount of food provided is based on the number of unemployed persons and the number of people with incomes below the poverty level in the state. States provide the food to local agencies that they have selected, usually food banks, which in turn distribute the food to local organizations, such as soup kitchens and food pantries that directly serve the public.

States also provide the food to other types of local organizations, such as community action agencies, which distribute the foods directly to low-income households. These local organizations distribute USDA Foods to eligible recipients for household consumption or use them to prepare and serve meals in a congregate setting. Under TEFAP, states also receive administrative funds to support the storage and distribution of USDA Foods.

These funds must, in part, be passed down to local agencies. TEFAP is administered at the federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the USDA.

How to Get Food

The Food Bank RGV has an Emergency Food Pantry on-site for people in need of emergency food assistance, such as when there is no food in the home. During your initial visit to the Food Bank RGV, you will receive a food distribution through our client-choice food pantry and a  referral to a food pantry in your neighborhood, close to you, that can provide food assistance on a monthly basis, as needed. When visiting the Emergency Food Pantry, please provide your I.D. and proof of address, such as a utility bill.

Food Bank RGV’s Dates and Times of Operation:

Pharr Resource Center

Monday – Friday
8:30am – 11:30am
1:30pm – 5:00pm
*Closed 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to allow staff a lunch hour*

The Pharr Resource Center is located at 724 N. Cage Blvd. in Pharr, TX.

Mission Resource Center

Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
*Closed 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. to allow staff a lunch hour*

The Mission Resource Center is located at 115 S. Mayberry St. in Mission, TX.

Food Bank RGV Edcouch-Elsa ISD Resource Center

Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
*Closed 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. to allow staff a lunch hour*
Phone number: (956) 904-4548

The FBRGV Edcouch-Elsa ISD Resource Center is located at 302 S. Juanita St.  in Edcouch, TX.

For More information

For more information about TEFAP or if you are in need of food assistance, please contact the Food Bank RGV. We work with a network of more than 275 partner agencies across Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy counties, and our team can help connect you with a partner pantry near you.

For assistance or a pantry referral, please call 956-682-8101 and select option 2.

Neighbors may also visit the Food Bank RGV Resource Center to access emergency food assistance. The Resource Center is located onsite at the Food Bank RGV, 724 N. Cage Blvd. in Pharr.

You can also use our online pantry locator to search for a pantry near you. Neighbors are assigned to pantries based on their service area. If you visit a pantry outside of your assigned area, you may receive emergency food assistance during your initial visit and will then be referred to a pantry that serves your area for future assistance.