Quarter 4 Family Nourishment Program (TEFAP) Newsletter

The Emergency Food Assistance Program provides food nutrition and education to individuals and families, to alleviate some food costs and provide a means for families to make meals, in the home.

Food bags are issued quarterly within each of the nine counties. Our quarters, usually, go as follows:

Quarter 1: January, February, and March
Quarter 2: April and May
Quarter 3: July, August, and September
Quarter 4: October, November, and December

Sign up can be done at the distribution site, on the day of distribution. The household income will need to be verablized, as eligibility is based on household size and income. Proof of ID will need to be shown.

This is a USDA distribution site. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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October Distributions

Below is a list of our October 2023 distribution dates, times and locations.

Pope County

Johnson County

Logan County

Franklin County

November Distributions

Below is a list of our November 2023 distribution dates, times and locations.

Scott County

Polk County

December Distributions

Below is a list of our December 2023 distribution dates, times and locations.

Yell County

Yell County

Conway County

Perry County

Who/What is ARVAC, Inc?

ARVAC, Inc. promotes self-sufficiency and provides pathways out of poverty for individuals, families, and communities.

ARVAC is committed to providing thoughtfully designed services to children and families. Our approach demonstrates several pathways out of poverty through high-quality, comprehensive programming. Our vision for education, health, and additional services is that the individuals, families, and communities who partner with us will be fully prepared economically to succeed.

Since its inception in 1965, the Arkansas River Valley Area Council (ARVAC), Inc. has been dedicated to building a diverse portfolio of services to meet the needs of low-income families in the region. We serve a nine-county area in the Arkansas River Valley, including Conway, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Scott, Perry, Polk, Pope, and Yell counties.

Established as part of President Johnson’s War on Poverty to eliminate the pervasive indigence existent in Central Arkansas, particularly within the counties that we serve, ARVAC’s programs have consistently been shaped around providing residents access to resources that increase self-sufficiency and provide opportunities to move into the middle class.

What is included in a bag?

"The commodities that the USDA donates may vary from time to time depending on which foods products are available. Because of the nutritional needs of participants in the TEFAP program most foods are purchased based on their protein value. Foods presently available are peanut butter, canned vegetables, fruits, fruit juices, meats, and dry packaged goods such as rice, pasta, and beans or peas.

All of the commodities purchased by the USDA must be certified by the USDA’s inspection services to assure specifications are met. Only high grades of meats, fruits and vegetables are accepted. Specifications for the quality of the commodities are constantly updated. Recently revised specifications have reduced the fat, sugar and salt contents of foods purchased. For example, USDA is buying canned meats with less salt and beef with lower fat content."

-Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education

Income Eligibility

*Please note the new guidelines, effective July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

Non-Discriminatory Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632- 9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.