[StBernard] Free Food For Seniors Program Now Available in St Bernard Parish

[Westley Annis]

Food For Seniors Program Now Available in St Bernard Parish

Low-income senior citizens age 60 and older can now sign up to receive
free monthly food supplies through the Food For Families Program.
Participating seniors will receive a food box on the 3rd Friday of
every month. The contents of the food boxes may vary from month to
month, but will usually include items like evaporated milk or dry
milk, juice, cereal, canned meat, canned fruits and vegetables,
potatoes or rice or pasta, peanut butter or dried beans, and cheese.

To enroll in the program, seniors must provide proof of their
birthdate, proof of a Louisiana address, and proof of income.  The
income limits for this program are: $1,174 per month for a family of
1;  $1,579 per month for a family of 2; $1,984 per month for a family
of 3; and $2,389 per month for a family of 4. A husband and wife can
each get a food box if they are both over 60 and their total income
meets the guidelines.

St Bernard Parish organizations participating in the Food For Families
Program include the Community Center of St Bernard, First Baptist
Church of Chalmette, and Christian Fellowship Worship Center. Seniors
wishing to sign up for the program may bring their documentation to
these locations during the following times:

Community Center of St Bernard, 1107 LeBeau St, Arabi on Monday-Friday
from 10 AM – 4 PM.

First Baptist Church of Chalmette, 305 E St Bernard Hwy (Rear
Entrance), Chalmette on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9 AM - Noon

Christian Fellowship Worship, 5816 E Judge Perez, Violet on Tuesday,
and Thursday from 9am-1:00pm. On the 3rd Thursday of each month the
office will be closed. You can call (504) 957-1791 to set an
appointment.

Please note that participants may register at only 1 location and will
pick up their food box from the location where they are registered.
The next distribution date will be Friday, October 16, 2009. Seniors
who are already enrolled in the Food For Seniors Program in Orleans or
Jefferson Parishes and who wish to transfer their pickup sites to a St
Bernard location should talk to staff at the St Bernard enrollment
sites.

Since 1970, the Food For Families Program has been Louisiana’s
Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The Louisiana program is
currently the largest in the country, and is designed to improve the
diets and health of targeted groups of low-income individuals
throughout the state. Food for Families is a collaborative effort of
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, the United States
Department of Agriculture, and Louisiana Department of Health and
Hospitals. 

For more information about the Food For Seniors/Food For Families
Program, please phone 1-800-522-3333.