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The new food assistance program that provides eligible senior citizens in Madison County with an opportunity to receive a free package of food each month is set for September 22. Each package contains about 30 pounds of food such as cheese, canned chicken or tuna, shelf-stable milk, beans, rice, cereal and juice.
The program, called the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, or CSFP, is administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and is managed by Second Harvest of the Big Bend. The program is meant to provide assistance to senior citizens in rural counties such as Madison.
“Second Harvest is proud to be partnering with the Florida Department of Agriculture and the USDA to provide seniors with free, supplemental food on a monthly basis,” said Second Harvest CEO Rick Minor. “Many seniors living in Madison County are struggling to make ends meet, and this new program can help them obtain the nutritious food they need to stay healthy.”
The monthly food packages are available to Madison County seniors who are at least 60 years old, with an income below 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Seniors must pre-register to receive food. The next registration opportunities are on Friday, September 22 at the following times and locations:
• 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. at Greenville UMC, 174 SW Church Ave., Greenville
• 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Madison Senior Center, 1161 SW Harvey Greene Dr., Madison
• 1:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Cherry Lake UMC, 260 NW Settlement Rd., Madison
Seniors who wish to register must bring a photo ID, and those determined to be eligible will be able to pick up their food in early October. During the registration times above, Second Harvest personnel will also be distributing food packages to seniors who registered prior to September 22.
To learn more about the CSFP or Second Harvest of the Big Bend, please contact Daniel Warren at (850) 879-3285 or by email atdwarren@FightingHunger.org.