Logan County Good Samaritan, Inc.

Serving the Needs of Logan County Since 1997

USDA “Commodities” Program Still Around

By Denise McDonald, Executive Director, LCGS

5/15/09

 

Many folks may remember lining up for their monthly ration of “commodities” years ago. The most memorable of these items had to have been the cheese. Everyone loved the “commodity cheese”. Unfortunately, that is a big reason why it disappeared. Fraud ran rapid in the program and eventually it became unavailable in many areas.  The federal program was designed to help low-income households by giving them a monthly supplemental ration of food to help them stretch their food dollars.

 

After some time, the distribution process for the program was re-designed and put under the direction of regional food banks. Our regional food bank is in Elizabethtown and recently changed their name from Feeding America. In 2000, Logan County Good Samaritan entered into a contract with the food bank to bring the program back to Logan County. We continue to provide distribution of the USDA foods along with several other programs.

 

During these stressful economic times we want to be sure to encourage those households who qualify for these foods to come in and apply for them. The amount we receive from the food bank is determined by the number of households that we served the month prior. If your household qualifies, please do not feel like you would be keeping someone “more in need” from receiving them. The more we give out, the more they will send us.

 

Which items we have available is determined by availability at the food bank and this varies each month. Recently, the program received some stimulus funds and this has meant an increase in the foods available. Most households (but not all) who qualify for this program will also qualify for our “Pantry” program. This program provides additional food as both a monthly supplement and/or in a crisis situation.

 

Below is the latest income scale for the USDA commodities program. This scale normally changes each July 1^st but we have been informed that we can start using this scale immediately. In trying to determine if a household may qualify for this or any other program we offer please remember to consider the following:

1. Gross amounts are used and all income is counted. This means amounts are before taxes, Medicare premiums, etc are taken out. All income includes such things as odd jobs and child support. If it is money coming into the household, it is income.

2. Everyone who lives at the residence who does not have separate utilities is counted as being in one household. This is confusing to many people because the food stamp office allows more than one case in some households. We do not have that option.

3. The household must reside in Logan County. The USDA rules state the food must be distributed in each county separately. Our agency as a whole only serves Logan County.

 

             Household Size            Monthly Income Limit

                          1                                     $1,174

                          2                                     $1,579

                          3                                     $1,984

                          4                                     $2,389

                          5                                     $2,794

                          6                                     $3,199