Food for Families gets food out

Ulysses Andrews and John Gilbert,
both with Catholic Charities, load
one of 49 boxes of food scheduled
for Linda Little's van. Little delivers
food to the elderly and those without
transportation in the Angie-Varnado
area. (Photo by John H. Walker)

The lines were long in Cassidy Park Tuesday morning, as food distribution through the Food for Families program got started shortly after 6 a.m.

By 6:20, more than 75 vehicles were in line as John Gilbert and Ulysses Andrews, both of New Orleans, took pre-packed boxes from a roller line off a truck to load into vehicles.

Linda Little of Varnado had her van backed up to be loaded.

Long lines were waiting when
distribution began this morning.
(Photo by John H. Walker)

"I'm getting food or the elderly and people who can't come in or don't have a way," she told wpnewsblog. "I've got 49 boxes to deliver to those folks to try and help them."

"She does this every month," Gilbert said. "She's doing work for God."

Volunteers are being sought to assist with Tuesday morning's Food for Families distribution at Cassidy Park. The distribution, funded by the USDA through the Department of Health and Hospitals, is administered by Catholic Charities of New Orleans. Food for Families distributes food in all 64 Louisiana parishes.

Persons wishing to assist may do so by simply showing up at Cassidy Park or can give advance notice by calling city personnel director Sandy Bloom 730-4397 or city council clerk Brenda Ford at 732-6202.

Nearly 800 families receive food through the Bogalusa distribution.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)

Help needed Tuesday with Food for Families

Volunteers are being sought to assist with Tuesday morning's Food for Families distribution at Cassidy Park. The distribution, funded by the USDA through the Department of Health and Hospitals, is administered by Catholic Charities of New Orleans. Food for Families distributes food in all 64 Louisiana parishes.

And part of the agreement that brings the program to Bogalusa is that manpower is provided to help distribute the food on the first Tuesday of every month. In the past, city workers have helped but, because of personnel reductions, the city no longer has the manpower.

Thus the call for help.

"I understand some of the youth at First Baptist Church are going to help," said District D City Councilamn Teddy Drummond. "But we need to make sure we have adequate help out there, because the crowds are large and growing."

Nearly 800 families receive food through the program monthly and distribution runs from about 6:30 a.m. until 10 a.m.

It's a call echoed by Mayor Charles Mizell, who has encouraged volunteerism in the community and has been seen himself, picking up trash along Louisiana Avenue.

Persons wishing to assist may do so by simply showing up at Cassidy Park or can give advance notice by calling city personnel director Sandy Bloom 730-4397 or city council clerk Brenda Ford at 732-6202.