LA Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

The CSFP program works to improve Louisiana's health outcomes by offering nutritious USDA commodity foods to eligible seniors who are at least 60 years of age.

The Louisiana Commodity Supplemental Food Program (LA CSFP) is one of forty-three CSFP state programs nationwide, it is currently the third largest CSFP in the country. As of July 2024, our sole local agency for CSFP is Feeding Louisiana.

The Food Packages

All food packages contain high-protein, nutrient-dense foods, specially selected in order to ensure that clients receive proper nutrition each month. All foods are top-quality, purchased especially for our program. These foods are donated to Louisiana by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and are very similar to foods you would find in grocery stores. In many cases, CSFP foods come packed in the same boxes and bags as the popular brand-name foods found on grocery store shelves.

Senior citizens receive a food box each month containing the following:

canned meat, either boneless chicken, beef, pork, tuna, or beef stew
vegetables
fruits
a box of breakfast cereal or a bag of grits, oatmeal, or farina (Cream of Wheat)
a two-pound block of American cheese
a two-pound package of either spaghetti, macaroni, or rice
Ultra High-Temperature Shelf Stable 1% Milk
1.8-pound box of non-fat dry milk every other month
a jar of peanut butter or a two-pound bag of dried beans
fruit juice

Nutrition Education

Clients learn about good nutrition in the following ways:

tastings of recipes made with commodity foods
short talks about good eating and the importance of exercise
delicious, easy-to-make recipes using your commodity foods
senior clients receive "Dear Friends" nutrition newsletters in their boxes

Where can I get CSFP?

All residents of Louisiana who meet the income requirements and the other eligibility requirements listed above may participate in CSFP. Currently, CSFP operates food distribution operations in every parish in the State, with the exceptions of Plaquemines and Saint Bernard Parishes (as these parishes' populations return during the post-Katrina and post-Rita period, food distribution services will be resumed when and where appropriate. Residents of these parishes are allowed to participate in CSFP if they are able to travel to a food site in another parish. Persons who are interested in doing so should contact Food For Families/Food For Seniors at one of the telephone numbers listed below.

If you are a senior citizen and are unable to travel to one of our food sites, or lack friends, family, or neighbors who can go get your food box for you, you may be eligible for a volunteer to deliver your monthly food box to your home. Contact Food For Families/Food For Seniors to learn whether you are eligible for this service.

How do I qualify for CSFP?

To participate in the CSFP program, applicants must reside in the state of Louisiana and meet CSFP income eligibility requirements.

CSFP uses the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Federal Poverty Guidelines to determine income eligibility.

How do I sign up for CSFP?

Information on how to apply is available on the Feeding Louisiana CSFP Website. Certification Forms may be obtained by visiting your local food bank and/ or distribution site. Feeding Louisiana will review CSFP Certification Forms to determine eligibility and will notify applicants about their eligibility status. Eligible applicants will receive instructions on how to complete the in-person step at the distribution site.

When you go to get registered at a food site, you will need to bring:

Proof of your address (such as a utility bill, phone bill, or driver's license)
Proof of your income (such as a check stub, award letter from Social Security or SSI, or check stub from one of those programs)
Proof of your age (a document listing your birth date, such as a birth certificate or a driver's license)

Can I get benefits from both CSFP and other nutrition programs at the same time?

Yes. You can receive benefits from CSFP and other nutrition programs. It is perfectly okay for the same person to receive both CSFP and:

Food Stamps (Louisiana Purchase card)
Quarterly commodities (foods from the Emergency Food Assistance Program, TEFAP)
Congregate meals for senior citizens
Meals-on-Wheels
Foods from charitable food pantries, food banks, or soup kitchen

Can I get benefits from two different CSFP sites at the same time?

No. An individual may not receive food at two sites in the same month. Receiving more than one CSFP food box in the same month from two different CSFP site is illegal and may result in removal from the program, and a bill for the value of benefits illegally received.question