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 third 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 Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Chalmette, 305 E St. Bernard Highway (Rear Entrance), Chalmette on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays 9 a.m. to noon. Christian Fellowship Worship, 5816 E Judge Perez, Violet on Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 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.