WJAC: Food for Families looking to help more people

by Haleigh DiBetta, WJAC-TV

CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WJAC) — Food For Families in Johnstown, run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, wants people to know it's here to help.

The organization, which provides food to those in need, got a visit from Hunger-Free Pennsylvania on Monday.

Sheila Christopher, the executive director of Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, says she wishes more people knew about their programs. Such as their Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

Food For Families provides monthly food boxes to those 60 and older throughout Cambria County through CSFP.

Christopher says they're able to provide 552 people with the boxes each month, and right now less than 400 people take advantage of the program.

"We keep telling seniors that we talk to, 'This is here for you, this food package is to help supplement, so you don't necessarily have to make a choice between buying food or paying for your meds. You worked for it, you earned it, you put your time in, so take advantage of the program,'" says Christopher.

To qualify for the free food, you must meet income guidelines based on your household size.

According to Christopher, a household of one would have an annual income of $16,237 to qualify. An additional $5,746 is added to that base income for each member of a household.

The boxes include canned foods, cereal and pasta.

Volunteers take the boxes to local distribution sites throughout the county every month for people to pick up.

Watch the segment on WJAC-TV.