The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a federal program administered by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). The program aims to provide nutritious meals in the form of monthly food packages to promote healthy eating and a healthier lifestyle for the low-income residents of Kentucky. The food is meant to be a supplemental diet, not a complete diet, and aims to target the nutrients that are commonly deficient in the recipients. Nutrition education is also provided under this program.
The FNS, a part of the United States Department of Agriculture, provides food and administrative services to the state of Kentucky. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture further distributes the food items to public and nonprofit private local organizations. These organizations are responsible for the distribution of the food, assessing the eligibility of applicants, as well as administering nutrition education. They can also provide information to people about other federal programs introduced to cater to the nutrition, healthcare, and welfare of citizens.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be at least 60 years of age and must be residing in the state of Kentucky; however, there is no minimum established limit on the duration of the residency. Applicants must also undergo a test conducted by a physician or the staff at the local organization to assess whether they are at nutritional risk.
Income Guidelines
Applicants are also required to have a household income that is at or less than 130% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. The income for your household is calculated before excluding social security taxes, income taxes, insurance premiums, bonds, etc.
| Federal Poverty Guidelines-100% | Elderly – 130% | |||
| Family Size | Annual | Annual Income | Monthly Income | Weekly Income |
| 1 | $12,760 | $16,588 | $1,383 | $319 |
| 2 | 17,240 | $22,412 | $1,868 | $431 |
| 3 | 21,720 | $28,236 | $2,353 | $543 |
| 4 | 26,200 | $34,060 | $2,839 | $655 |
| 5 | 30,680 | $39,884 | $3,324 | $767 |
| 6 | 35,160 | $45,708 | $3,809 | $879 |
| 7 | 39,640 | $51,532 | $4,295 | $991 |
| 8 | 44,120 | $57,356 | $4,780 | $1,103 |
| For each additional member, add: | 4,480 | $5,824 | $486 | $112 |
Local Agencies
The agencies administering CSFP in the state of Kentucky, along with their addresses and contact numbers, are listed below:
| Agencies | Address, Contact |
| Dare to Care Commodity Warehouse | 3360 Commerce Center Place
Louisville, KY 40216 Contact: Tami Garris Phone: 502-736-9916 tami@daretocare.org |
| God’s Pantry Lexington | 1685 Jaggie Fox Way
Lexington, KY 40511 Contact: Danielle Bozarth Phone: 859-255-6592 Danielle@godspantry.org |
| Feeding America KY’s Heartland | 313 Peterson Drive
Elizabethtown, KY 42701 Contact: Milissa French Phone: 270-769-6997 mfrench@feedingamericaky.org |
| Purchase Area Development District | 1002 Medical Drive
PO Box 588 Mayfield, KY 42066 Contact: Geri Lamb Phone: 270-247-7171 Geri.Lamb@purchaseadd.org |
| Northern KY Area Development District | 22 Spiral Drive
Florence, KY 41017 Contact: Crystal Cottrill Phone: 859-282-2700 Crystal.cottrill@nkadd.org |
| Facing Hunger Food Bank | 1327 7th Street
Huntington, WV 25703 Contact: Veronica Degutis Phone: 304.523.6029 Ext: 24 veronica@facinghunger.org |
To apply for the program, the participant can either contact their local agency or request them to mail the CSFP application/certification form or print the form available online, fill, sign and submit it at the organization. You will be required to provide the following information along with the form:
ID card, birth certificate, driver’s license, or any other document that can verify the identity and age of the applicant
A utility bill to verify the place of residence of the applicant
Documents proving the gross monthly income of the applicant
Applicants are also required to sign a participant agreement form that will require the participant to certify that the information they have provided is accurate, that they will not participate in the CSFP and WIC programs at the same, and other legal rights and responsibilities.
Women, infants, and children who were participating in CSFP before February 2014 were previously eligible for the benefits. They can no longer participate in this program and it is exclusively for the senior citizens now. Women and children can opt for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Applicants are only allowed to opt for either one of the two programs, WIC or CSFP, and cannot participate in both at the same time.
Food Package Content
The food items included in the food package are designed to cover all of the food groups and provide a healthy nutritious meal. The package includes protein, iron, calcium, vitamin A, C, and D to enhance health as well as foods low in sodium to facilitate heart health. The items are listed below:
Low-fat dairy – cheese and milk
Canned vegetables – no salt content or low sodium
Canned and dried fruits – slightly sweetened or unsweetened
Whole grains – oats, rice, whole grain pasta, cereals
Proteins – poultry, lean meats, fish, beans
The complete list of food available for this program is listed here.
For further information contact Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Food Distribution
107 Corporate Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601
United States
Kevin Peach, Admin Branch Manager
502-782-9231
In case a participant has faced discrimination, a complaint can be filed to the USDA by filling and submitting their Program Discrimination Complaint Form.