EFA Food AssistanceProgram Policy

• Provide short-term food assistance to help households access groceries during temporary financial hardship.
• Assistance supports immediate food needs and short-term stabilization.

• Households experiencing food insecurity
• Individuals and families facing temporary financial hardship
• Low-income households or those in a documented crisis

Eligible assistance may include:

• Emergency groceries (direct distribution, if available)
• Store-specific gift cards
• Grocery vouchers
• Direct store purchases
• Referrals to available food resources

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrated food need or household food shortage
• Documented financial hardship or crisis
• Required documentation provided
• Request must support immediate food access

Applicants may be required to provide:

• Government-issued ID
• Proof of income or hardship (pay stubs, benefits letter, tax documents)
• Self-declaration of need or referral (if available)
• Supporting crisis documentation (income loss, medical, emergency)
• Any additional documentation required to verify eligibility

What This Program Does Not Cover:

• Cash assistance provided directly to applicants
• Non-food or non-essential purchases
• Ongoing or long-term food support
• Incomplete or unverifiable applications
• Requests without demonstrated food need
• Any costs restricted by funding sources

• Assistance may be provided through direct food distribution, gift cards, vouchers, or vendor payments
• Assistance is not provided as cash unless specified by program guidelines
• All assistance is subject to funding availability

• Assistance is not guaranteed
• Applicants must provide accurate and complete information
• AOP verifies information with third parties
• Duplicate funding for the same expense is not allowed
• Assistance must be used only for approved expenses

Processing time varies based on:

• Documentation completeness
• Verification requirements
• Funding availability

• Assistance is generally limited to one-time, short-term support per household
• Maximum amounts vary by funding source
• Amounts may be adjusted based on need and funding
• Repeat assistance is not guaranteed

When funds are limited, priority may be given to:

• Households with urgent need
• Low-income households
• Vulnerable populations (e.g., children, seniors, individuals with disabilities)
• Cases are reviewed based on need, documentation, and available funding

• Funding may come from government, foundation, corporate, or private sources
• Assistance must follow all funding requirements
• Eligible expenses may vary by funding source
• AOP complies with all applicable laws and regulations

• Staff and volunteers may not benefit from program assistance
• Conflicts must be disclosed and managed per policy

AOP reserves the right to:

• Approve, deny, or modify requests
• Request additional documentation
• Adjust assistance based on funding and program guidelines
• Eligibility does not guarantee assistance

• False or misleading information may result in denial or termination
• AOP maintains controls to ensure proper use of funds
• Suspected misuse may be reviewed and investigated

• Applicant information is collected and used solely for program eligibility, verification, and reporting purposes
• Information may be shared with service providers or funders as required
• AOP maintains safeguards to protect information

• AOP provides services without discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, age, disability or national origin

• Submission of an application indicates acceptance of this policy