Free health screenings included with this week’s commodities distribution

Food given on first-come, first-served basis

Free health screenings will be offered at the Forrest City Sports Complex during this week’s commodities distribution.

The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas will distribute commodities on Wednesday, from 9 a.m. until noon, or until supplies are depleted.

The Arkansas Minority Health Commission is planning to bring its mobile health unit to the distribution site to perform screenings for cholesterol, blood pressure and glucose. The health screenings will be offered from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

During the drive-through distribution, recipients are required to remain in their vehicles while Food Bank and city employees load the items into the vehicles.

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

In addition to the Forrest City distribution, commodities will also be distributed

Wednesday at the Hughes Community Center, Palestine City Hall and Wheatley City Hall.

At the time of the distribution, information cards will be filled out for all recipients. Recipients will need to provide their names, 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 commodities for themselves and one additional household. 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 from the person he or she is picking up for that shows the 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.

Commodities are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.