A newsletter from Feeding America provides a good summary of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).  Since 1981, this program has supplemented the diets of our neighbors with low incomes by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost.  It is run by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the Department of Agriculture (USDA).  
The USDA purchases nutritious, high-quality food from U.S. farmers and then makes that food available to state distributing agencies who provide this food to local agencies such as food pantries and soup kitchens.  The program is funded by the federal government, primarily through the Farm Bill.  After a number of short-term extensions, the 2018 Farm Bill will expire after September 2025.  Feeding America describes this program as a “win-win” providing essential financial support to our farmers and nutritious food to our neighbors experiencing hunger.  More than 20% of food at partnering food banks comes from TEFAP.   TEFAP has typically enjoyed broad bipartisan support but is facing potential cuts due to federal funding reductions that cut or freeze nearly a billion dollars in food aid.  We can stand with neighbors at risk of hunger by joining the Campaign to End Hunger and making our voices heard in the halls of power.  For more information visit FeedingAmerica.org/Act.