Commodity Supplemental Food Program
What Is The CSFP Program?
The New York State Department of Health's Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) Program was established to offer free, nutritious foods to women, infants, children and seniors 60 years of age and older. In 2004, the number of people participating in CSFP was approximately 35,000 monthly and the number of CSFP seniors participating in the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) was 21,562.
The program's goal is to ensure that participant's receive adequate nutritious foods.
What Does CSFP Provide?
Quality foods including:
- Infant formula and cereal
- Cheese
- Evaporated and nonfat dry milk
- Canned vegetables and fruits
- Canned meats and fish (tuna)
- Breakfast cereals
- Fruit juices
- Rice, instant potatoes, spaghetti, macaroni
- Peanut butter, dried beans (pinto beans).
In addition, CSFP provides:
- Guidance in preparing nutritious meals, including cooking demonstrations.
- Nutrition and health information provided by nutritionists.
- Referrals to health care agencies for other needed services.
How Do I Apply for CSFP?
To apply to the CSFP Program, please call the distribution site nearest you for application information. Once each month you will pick up your food at a convenient food distribution site. The following are local distribution sites:
| Nassau and Suffolk Counties: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities | ||
| 38 St. John's Place, | Freeport, NY 11520 | (516) 623-4568 |
| 66 North 19th Street, | Wyandanch, NY 11798 | (631) 491-4166 |
| Queens County: | ||
| Builders for The Family and Youth | 89-56 162nd Street Jamaica, NY 11432 |
(718) 523-2220 |
| Kings County: | ||
| Kings County Hospital Center | 840 Alabama Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11207 |
(718) 498-9208 |
Who Can Apply for CSFP?
- Pregnant women.
- Post partum women up to 1 year after birth of baby.
- Children from birth up to age six.
- Seniors 60 years of age and older.
- Persons on public assistance, Medicaid, Food Stamps, SSI or free or reduced price school meals, are eligible to apply.
- If you do not participate in any public assistance program, you may be eligible as long as your family income falls within CSFP Program guidelines and you meet the other eligibility requirements such as being a New York State resident.
Send questions and comments to: nysfan@health.state.ny.us
For further information go to Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
www.commodityfoods.usda.gov
For a WIC or CSFP local agency nearest you call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline at 1-800-522-5006.