McDonough city officials have announced a collaboration with the McDonough Lions Club to provide fresh produce for area residents.
A Farmers to Families Box Distribution site will be in operation Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot of McDonough High School, 100 Postmaster Drive. There is limited availability, with one box allowed per family, and the event will conclude once all of the boxes have been distributed.
Participating residents will be directed to drive up to a station where a volunteer will load the box directly into the vehicle. Each box is approximately 20 pounds, and organizers expect to distribute 1,920 boxes containing locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, green cabbage, lettuce, lemons, yellow squash, apples, oranges, etc. Specific items depend upon availability.
Anyone interested in volunteering for this event is encouraged to contact McDonough Lions Club President Beverly Coley at tinglin51@yahoo.com or 770-689-6509. Every volunteer must wear a mask and gloves, use hand sanitizer as needed, and comply with social distancing guidelines. Masks and gloves will be provided for any volunteers who do not already have them.
“The mission of the Lions Club is to serve and, considering the impact of COVID-19, it is vital that we take positive steps towards ensuring the needs of our community are being met,” said Coley.
The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) was established to provide direct support to eligible farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers who suffered losses as a result of supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Farmers to Families Box Distribution Program is a recent initiative implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in which it partners with regional and local suppliers, whose workforce has been significantly impacted, to purchase and distribute $3 billion worth of agricultural products to those in need.
For more information on the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box, visit www.ams.usda.gov.
