State-by-State Variances in TEFAP & CSFP and the Policy Behind It!

Thursday, January 29 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET

Members: Free
Non-Members: $25

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This webinar will discuss the reasons why TEFAP and CSFP operate differently from state-to-state and explore ways that advocates can work together with their state agencies to strengthen the programs in their states. We will outline the key federal regulations that guide the program, explain state plans and operational variances across states, and showcase examples of how advocates have identified opportunities to increase access and ease of administration in their communities.

Meet the Speakers:

Laura Held 

Director of Food Bank Programs & Compliance

Laura Held (she/her) has an MS Nutrition from the Agriculture, Food, Environment program at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She has worked at Foodlink since 2015, first as a SNAP-Ed nutrition educator. She became the Nutrition Resource Manager in 2017, Director of Operational Compliance in 2024, and Director of Food Bank Programs and Compliance in 2026. Laura’s expertise is in the connection between emergency food programs, food banking operations, and matters of nutrition, food safety, and interrelated federal and NY State policies.  

Julia Lemp 

Senior Policy Manager

Julia is a Senior Policy Manager on the Feeding America Government Relations Team, where she works to strengthen federal anti-hunger policy and USDA foods programs. Prior to joining Feeding America in 2023, Julia served as the inaugural Policy Specialist at the Capital Area Food Bank, supporting the strategic direction of the Advocacy and Public Policy Department throughout the DC metro area. Julia also previously lead the Advocacy Team in her role as a Marketing Communications Specialist at Northern Illinois Food Bank, serving 13 counties in the suburban and rural areas outside of Chicago. Julia received her B.A. in Political Communication from The George Washington University, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University (graduating in May 2026!). She lives in DC with her fiancé, Jason, and their newly adopted pup, Bagel. 

Ryan Prater

Director of Public Policy

Ryan Prater is the Director of Public Policy at Feeding Pennsylvania, the state association of nine Feeding America affiliated food banks. In his role he advocates on behalf of Pennsylvania's charitable food system and coordinates state and federal advocacy across the network. Ryan graduated from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA in 2019 with a degree in Political Science and Public Policy. He serves on the PA Department of Agriculture's Emergency Food Assistance Advisory Committee, the PA Association of Non-Profits Public Policy Committee, and ACDA's Public Policy Committee. 

John Zhang 

Director of Government Programs

John is the Director of Government Programs at Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. FAEW is an ERA for 19 counties for TEFAP, 5 for CSFP, and is a statewide SNAP Outreach partner with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. John is passionate about hunger relief and understanding poverty in the US, with a background in economics, marketing, and entrepreneurship prior to joining FAEW. He lives in Green Bay, but keeps sports teams from his past cities as souvenirs: go Wolverines, Red Sox and Patriots.