FAQs Archive - Page 2 of 2

Q: What if I do not feel comfortable sharing my information with the food pantry?

Neighbors who are not comfortable showing a photo ID or providing information may receive donated product, but not government commodities such as TEFAP or CSFP. Government commodity programs are designed to serve Arizona residents only and require proof of residency and identification.

Q: What if I don’t have an ID, forget to bring one, or don’t reside in Arizona?

Neighbors without a photo ID, or those who don’t reside in Arizona, may receive donated product, but not government funded commodities such as TEFAP or CSFP.

Q: What type of IDs are acceptable to receive food?

Some programs require different forms of identification. Acceptable forms of ID for each program include, but are not limited to those outlined below: The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): Driver’s license; Photo ID containing the participant’s address; Lease agreement; Property ownership documentation; Rent or mortgage receipt; Utility bill; or a letter from an official Arizona agency that shows your current address. If you are experiencing homelessness, be sure to know the cross-streets or location where you stay at night. Commodity Senior Food Program (CSFP): Driver’s license; Photo ID containing the participant’s date of birth; Birth Certificate; Social Security Administration record; Passport or passport card (regardless of expiration date); Census documents; including Tribal census records; Baptismal certificate; Military discharge documents; or a letter from an official Arizona agency that shows your current address.

Q: What should I expect and bring on my first visit to a food pantry?

Expect there to be a line and that you may have to wait before being served. Try calling the food pantry ahead of time to ask when the best time is to come for low wait times. Find a food pantry near you, by visiting Find Food Now . Bring Proof of Identity (please see which IDs are acceptable in question below). You will also need share how many people are living in your household and some pantries may require their names and ages to keep track of who lives in what household. If receiving government commodities, you will be asked for your first and last name, date of birth, gender identity, ethnicity, and proof of AZ residence. This information is never shared with outside groups. Your information will be written down or put into a computer-based system called Link2Feed. This is a statewide database that food pantries use to track the number of households served and the type of product distributed.