TEFAP Rules for Food Pantries in Arkansas

In Arkansas, TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) is run by Arkansas Dept of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Division, Food Distribution Unit. This page sets out what a food pantry or other distribution site has to do: who qualifies, what each household declares, what you record at each visit, how long you keep it, how complaints are handled and what you report. Where Arkansas's own documents disagree, that is said plainly rather than smoothed over.

Arkansas's TEFAP agency and official documents

• Arkansas Dept of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Division, Food Distribution Unit — the State agency's own TEFAP page (checked 2026-10-10).

Your food bank's agreement and current forms are the final word on the figures and forms to use.

Who qualifies: the income limit

Household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (official table: Income Eligibility Guidelines effective 10 Feb 2026 - 30 Jun 2027). Households in these programs qualify without an income test:

• SNAP
• foster children

Computed as 200% of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. Your State's printed table is the official one and may round differently or take effect on a different date.

The eligibility declaration

Form: application with self-declaration. How often: 12 months stable 1 month unstable. Clients self-declare; proof of income is not required.

What to record at each visit

• county and/or zip

Client signature at every pickup: No. Electronic signatures: Not published by the State (or not found in its public documents).

Proxies

Authorized Representative (written or verbal at interview).

How long to keep records

4 years — 3 prior FFYs + current.

Civil rights

Complaints: no local forwarding deadline is published — forward promptly. Anyone may complain, in writing or verbally, without giving a name. Training: annual + before public contact.

Posted or handed out:

• And Justice for All (English and Spanish)
• LEP waiver form

Reporting

monthly to food bank/state, due by the 10th on Monthly Commodity Clients Served Report + Monthly Inventory Report.

• families
• individuals
• soup kitchens

Storage temperatures

Refrigerated 32–40°F, frozen at or below 0°F, dry 50–70°F. Temperature log: daily recommended; at least every other day; logs kept 5 years.

Where the sources disagree

• Manual still says 130% (stale).
• Plan says county/zip only; FFY2027 Agreement lists street address.

Ask your food bank which one they monitor against.

Sources

• media.ark.org/agri/1a._ADE_FDU_-_FY_2025_TEFAP_STATE_PLAN-SIGNED_REVISED_1.8.2025_SSB_114957_151715.pdf
• media.ark.org/agri/Temperature-Logs-8-25-Revision.pdf

TEFAP in nearby States

TEFAP in Louisiana · TEFAP in Missouri · TEFAP in Oklahoma · TEFAP in Texas · all States

This page describes published State and food bank documents and is not legal advice. Your State agency and your food bank agreement are the final word. See also the federal TEFAP record rule and the free TEFAP readiness checklist.