NPE provides nutritious meals for older adults either in congregate meal settings or through home delivery. The Department of Health and Human Services through State and local Agencies on Aging administers this Program. USDA involvement is limited to providing cash and commodities to State Agencies on Aging and Indian tribal organizations. Other nonprofit organizations, such as food banks, distribute commodities to the needy for household use. Each State establishes eligibility criteria for determining participation in the program.
Households qualify for the program based on their income and resources.
Participants receive a monthly food package that contains a variety of commodities to help them maintain a balanced diet. Through the CSFP, food packages are distributed monthly to supplement the nutritional needs of low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, children up to age 6, and persons at least 60 years old residing in the service areas. A variety of USDA commodities is provided in household-size containers. Women, infants, and children must be eligible for benefits under an existing federal, state, or local health or welfare program for low-income persons. Elderly persons must have incomes at or below 130 percent of federal poverty income guidelines.