What is CSFP?

What is CSFP?

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a federal program designed to provide nutritious food to low-income seniors aged 60 and older. The program helps improve the health and well-being of this vulnerable population by distributing boxes of shelf-stable, nutritious food to eligible participants. These food boxes typically include items like canned vegetables, fruits, dairy products, protein-rich foods, and whole grains. CSFP helps to ensure that seniors have access to the essential nutrients they need, especially for those who may face limited access to grocery stores or have difficulty preparing meals due to age or physical limitations.

To make the administration of the CSFP as seamless as possible, PantrySoft has developed a purpose-built solution to meet the program’s stringent requirements. Fully aligned with federal CSFP regulations, our CSFP module helps food banks navigate the complexities of participant applications, certifications, distribution tracking, and inventory management, ensuring compliance while reducing administrative burdens. With PantrySoft, food banks can confidently serve their communities, knowing they are meeting all regulatory guidelines and providing seniors with the vital support they need.

What challenges do CSFP providers often encounter?

CSFP comes with a set of administrative requirements more rigorous than The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). In order to receive a CSFP box, an individual, 60 or older, must fill out an application documenting their qualifications. The application must be certified, and the applicant must be notified of their status in the program and any changes in status in a required time frame. Certifications must be verified once per year, and seniors must re-apply for the program every three years. Monthly distributions and missed distributions must be recorded. If the state is not successful in documenting at least 96% of the allowed distributions, federal funding will be reduced in subsequent years.

Inventory must also be tracked at the item unit level separately from other inventory such as TEFAP, from the time it arrives at the food bank until the time it is given to the participant.

How does PantrySoft make this process easier?

In order to make this administrative overhead less burdensome, PantrySoft has developed a set of tools to guide you through the process.

Select any of the workflows below for a further breakdown of each of these aspects of PantrySoft's CSFP module. 

Application Workflow

Distribution Workflow

Inventory Workflow