Feeding the need

USDA planning food distribution for area

ralphhardin@gmail.com Keith Livesay, USDA Coordinator for the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, doesn’t want anyone to go hungry this holiday season.

With that goal in mind, a commodity distribution for Crittenden County is scheduled for Wednesday Dec. 2, from 9 a.m. until noon (or until food supplies are gone). The distribution will take place at the VFW Post 5225, 406 South Avalon Street, in West Memphis.

“This will be a drivethrough distribution,” according to Livesay.

“Persons receiving the USDA food must reside in Crittenden County.

Recipients must also meet the income guidelines that have been set for the emergency food assistance program.”

Livesay said at the time of the distribution, information cards will be filled out for all recipients.

Recipients will need to provide the following information: name, address, family size and combined monthly income of the household.

An appropriate form of identification such as a driver's license, social security card, or picture identification card must be shown.

“Recipients will only be allowed to pick up commodity foods for themselves and one additional household,” Livesay said.

“To pick up food items for a shut-in, elderly person or other qualified household, the person picking up the food must have a signed Authorization Slip with the

Continued on Page 2 FOOD BANK (cont.)

following information on it from the person he or she is picking up for: name, address, family size and combined monthly income of the household receiving the food.”

He said case workers picking up for large groups must make prior arrangements with the USDA Coordinator.

Commodity foods are distributed on a first come, first served basis. The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas and the U.S.

Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, handicap, religion or national origin. Bi-lingual translators are not guaranteed to be available on site.

For questions concerning eligibility for this program, contact Keith Livesay at the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas by calling (870) 932-3663.