Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (Commodities)

The Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program provides food to eligible households four times a year in Fremont County and two times a year in Chaffee County.

Commodity Distribution Criteria

Each household must meet one of the following income criteria to be eligible to receive an allocation of commodity food at any scheduled distribution:

Participation in federal or state programs which have an established income eligibility criteria as follows:

1. Colorado Works (with copy of award letter)

2. Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

3. Old Age Pension (OAP), Aid to the Needy Disabled (AND), and Aid to the Blind (AB)

4. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

5. Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) (with copy of award letter)

6. Medicaid Eligible Foster Children. Households that have foster children as defined in Staff Manual, volume VII (7,708.1) shall have their household size based only on the number of Medicaid eligible foster children in the household. For example, a household that has three Medicaid eligible foster children will be classified as a household of three persons.

Allowable Gross Monthly Income

Household "Gross" monthly income declared by a household at or prior to the scheduled distribution of commodities shall not exceed:

Click here for Income Guidelines

Documentation required at time of application:

1. Proof of income: bring award letters, check stubs, or Colorado Quest Card.

2. Social Security numbers for all residents in the household over 18 years of age

3. Picture ID

Only one commodity card per household (or street address) is allowed, and actual receipt of commodity food shall depend on the availability of sufficient quantities of USDA commodities.

Participants are NOT personally or individually notified of scheduled distribution dates and times. This information will be printed in area newspapers and aired on radio stations.

Participants will be asked to designate the site of their choice, and that will be the ONLY site from which they will be able to receive commodities.

Fremont County Distribution Sites

Fremont County residents may apply for the commodities program Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the UAACOG offices located at 3224 Independence Road in Canon City or call Erlin Trekell at (719) 275-4191 ext.111. Commodity distribution sites are as follows:

• Penrose Community Center 405 Broadway, Penrose

• Florence Community Center 100 Railroad, Florence

• Golden Age Center 728 Main St. Canon City

• Deer Mountain Fire Station #1 Copper Gulch Road

• Coaldale Community Center 13690 County Road 45, Coaldale

Chaffee County Distribution Sites

Chaffee County residents may call the Area Agency on Aging office (719) 539-3341 for information on when and where to apply. Commodity distribution sites are as follows:

• Mt. Shavano Manor, 525 W. 16 St., Salida
• Buena Vista Community Center, 715 E. Main St., Buena Vista

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