NE TN Organization Sets the Table to Feed 2,500 Households
08/13/08 Morning Edition
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/consumer/article/ne_tn_organization_sets_the_table_to_feed_2500_households/12619/
08/13/08 Morning Edition
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/consumer/article/ne_tn_organization_sets_the_table_to_feed_2500_households/12619/
A northeast Tennessee group is setting the table to feed 2,500 households across the Tri-Cities.
The Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency volunteers are boxing and bagging food and supplies for Wednesday’s commodity distributions. It begins at 9a.m. and runs until three—or until the food runs out at the following locations:
*ERWIN* National Guard Armory 615 South Main Street 423-743-4103
*JOHNSON CITY* Keystone Recreation Center 841 Pardee Street 423-928-7327
*MOUNTAIN CITY* National Guard South Shady Street 423-727-6633
The UETHDA distributes commodities to eight counties across the volunteer state. The effort gives food to households in Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. So far the UETHDA volunteers have given out $96,334 in commodities this year.
January 2,524 households served 72,094 lbs distributed $37,671 (dollar value) March 2,590 households served 56,487 lbs. distributed $23,372 (dollar value) May 2,696 households served 53,700 lbs. distributed $35,291 (dollar value)
The food comes from the United States Department of Agriculture, and goes to people living below the poverty level.
Volunteers have given out $96,000 in commodities since January. Now recipients will have to register and obtain a yellow identification card before taking home a box of food.
Community Service Block Grant coordinator Anne Sparkman says there are new steps to Wednesday’s distribution.
“This time we’re doing things a little differently. We have ID cards that we’re issuing to people to receive commodities,” said Sparkman.
“The food service distribution is not just for public housing residents. What we’ve offered is the sight which is centrally located. But it’s open to all people that are eligible, “said Johnson City Housing Authority Executive Director Ed Zimbicki. The housing official says normally the give away opens up at 10a.m. and crowds begin to assemble around nine o’clock.
“What’s happening now, is people are actually showing up 7 to 7:30 a.m,” added Zimbicki.
The Johnson City official says he feels this is indicative of the need for food and the downturn of the United States economy. Zimbicki says people come for the food, but they also discuss social needs at the Keystone center.
“They’re also discussing other issues such as health care, transportation. And consequently we’ve been able to address that,” added Zimbicki.
Zimbicki says the Housing Authority has been able to help increase the number of people who take advantage of the services over the years.
UETHDA Organizers say people must meet Tennessee poverty status to obtain commodities. The following figures detail income requirements by household size.
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commodity Distribution Section Income Eligibility Scale Household Eligibility for USDA Foods (Effectively July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009)
Household Size/ 1 person Annual / $15,600 Monthly/ $1,300 Twice Per Month/ $650 Every 2 Weeks/ $600 Weekly/ $300
Household Size/ 2 people Annual / $21,000 Monthly/ $1,750 Twice Per Month/ $875 Every 2 Weeks/ $808 Weekly/ $404
Household Size/ 3 people Annual / $26,400 Monthly/ $2,200 Twice Per Month/ $1,100 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,016 Weekly/ $508
Household Size/ 4 people Annual / $31,800 Monthly/ $2,650 Twice Per Month/ $1,325 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,224 Weekly/ $612
Household Size/ 5 people Annual / $37,200 Monthly/ $3,100 Twice Per Month/ $1,550 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,431 Weekly/ $716
Household Size/ 6 people Annual / $42,600 Monthly/ $3,550 Twice Per Month/ $1,775 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,639 Weekly/ $820
Household Size/ 7 people Annual / $48,000 Monthly/ $4,000 Twice Per Month/ $2,000 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,847 Weekly/ $924
Household Size/ 8 people Annual / $53,400 Monthly/ $4,450 Twice Per Month/ $2,225 Every 2 Weeks/ $2,054 Weekly/ $1,027
Household Size/ Each Additional Family Member + Annual / $5,400+ Monthly/ $450+ Twice Per Month/ $225+ Every 2 Weeks/ $208+ Weekly/ $104+
The Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency volunteers are boxing and bagging food and supplies for Wednesday’s commodity distributions. It begins at 9a.m. and runs until three—or until the food runs out at the following locations:
*ERWIN* National Guard Armory 615 South Main Street 423-743-4103
*JOHNSON CITY* Keystone Recreation Center 841 Pardee Street 423-928-7327
*MOUNTAIN CITY* National Guard South Shady Street 423-727-6633
The UETHDA distributes commodities to eight counties across the volunteer state. The effort gives food to households in Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties. So far the UETHDA volunteers have given out $96,334 in commodities this year.
January 2,524 households served 72,094 lbs distributed $37,671 (dollar value) March 2,590 households served 56,487 lbs. distributed $23,372 (dollar value) May 2,696 households served 53,700 lbs. distributed $35,291 (dollar value)
The food comes from the United States Department of Agriculture, and goes to people living below the poverty level.
Volunteers have given out $96,000 in commodities since January. Now recipients will have to register and obtain a yellow identification card before taking home a box of food.
Community Service Block Grant coordinator Anne Sparkman says there are new steps to Wednesday’s distribution.
“This time we’re doing things a little differently. We have ID cards that we’re issuing to people to receive commodities,” said Sparkman.
“The food service distribution is not just for public housing residents. What we’ve offered is the sight which is centrally located. But it’s open to all people that are eligible, “said Johnson City Housing Authority Executive Director Ed Zimbicki. The housing official says normally the give away opens up at 10a.m. and crowds begin to assemble around nine o’clock.
“What’s happening now, is people are actually showing up 7 to 7:30 a.m,” added Zimbicki.
The Johnson City official says he feels this is indicative of the need for food and the downturn of the United States economy. Zimbicki says people come for the food, but they also discuss social needs at the Keystone center.
“They’re also discussing other issues such as health care, transportation. And consequently we’ve been able to address that,” added Zimbicki.
Zimbicki says the Housing Authority has been able to help increase the number of people who take advantage of the services over the years.
UETHDA Organizers say people must meet Tennessee poverty status to obtain commodities. The following figures detail income requirements by household size.
Tennessee Department of Agriculture Commodity Distribution Section Income Eligibility Scale Household Eligibility for USDA Foods (Effectively July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009)
Household Size/ 1 person Annual / $15,600 Monthly/ $1,300 Twice Per Month/ $650 Every 2 Weeks/ $600 Weekly/ $300
Household Size/ 2 people Annual / $21,000 Monthly/ $1,750 Twice Per Month/ $875 Every 2 Weeks/ $808 Weekly/ $404
Household Size/ 3 people Annual / $26,400 Monthly/ $2,200 Twice Per Month/ $1,100 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,016 Weekly/ $508
Household Size/ 4 people Annual / $31,800 Monthly/ $2,650 Twice Per Month/ $1,325 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,224 Weekly/ $612
Household Size/ 5 people Annual / $37,200 Monthly/ $3,100 Twice Per Month/ $1,550 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,431 Weekly/ $716
Household Size/ 6 people Annual / $42,600 Monthly/ $3,550 Twice Per Month/ $1,775 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,639 Weekly/ $820
Household Size/ 7 people Annual / $48,000 Monthly/ $4,000 Twice Per Month/ $2,000 Every 2 Weeks/ $1,847 Weekly/ $924
Household Size/ 8 people Annual / $53,400 Monthly/ $4,450 Twice Per Month/ $2,225 Every 2 Weeks/ $2,054 Weekly/ $1,027
Household Size/ Each Additional Family Member + Annual / $5,400+ Monthly/ $450+ Twice Per Month/ $225+ Every 2 Weeks/ $208+ Weekly/ $104+
