Food Bank to distribute commodities Wednesday

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas will hold its monthly commodity distribution event in several areas in St. Francis County on Wednesday.

Commodities will be distributed from 9 a.m. until noon on Oct. 13. The drivethrough distribution sites include the Forrest City Sports Complex, Hughes Community Center, Palestine City Hall and Wheatley City Hall.

Recipients are asked to stay in their vehicles distribution.

In September, the Food Bank served 362 households and 439 people total.

According to Keith Livesay, USDA Coordinator for the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, "We'll bring the non-perishable boxes we normally do with canned items and shelf-stable items.”

Livesay also said those receiving the USDA food must during the reside in St. Francis County. Recipients must also meet the income guidelines that have been set for the emergency food assistance program.

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 food for themselves and one additional household. To pick up food for a shut-in, elderly person or other qualified household, the person picking up the food must have a signed authorization slip with the 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. Case workers picking up for large groups must make prior arrangements with the USDA coordinator, according to Livesay.

For more information about the distribution of commodity foods, questions concerning eligibility for this program contact Livesay at the Food Bank by calling 870-932-3663.