Thousands affected by Irma receive food benefits
Published 1:16 pm Tuesday, October 31, 2017
- More than 5,000 people applied for food benefits at the event in Suwannee County.
LIVE OAK, Fla. — Residents impacted locally by Hurricane Irma received food benefits the past two weeks.
The Department of Children and Families, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, implemented the Food for Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program for those in Lafayette and Suwannee counties Friday through Tuesday at the Live Oak Church of God.
According to Patricia Medlock, DCF Northeast Regional Managing Director, more than 5,000 people were helped as of Monday afternoon.
Medlock said Friday was busy with people coming in and it slowed down Saturday and Sunday.
The site was staffed by DCF employees and a few paid volunteers.
“All the customers have said it was a good experience,” Sharon Sproul, site manager, said.
Eligible individuals and families must have suffered a disaster-related loss, such as damage to their homes or self-employment property, loss of food, reduction or loss of income, or have incurred other disaster related expenses.
“They are awesome people doing an awesome job for people in need,” Live Oak Church of God Pastor Greg Richie said.
The Live Oak Police Department, Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office and Lake City Police Department helped direct traffic and provide security services for the event.
“I can’t say enough about them,” Bryan McDuffie, an Operations Manager for Family Safety, said. “They have been amazing.”
Suwannee County resident Rose Saraco said the program was very helpful for her.
Lafayette County resident Carrie Willis said she was very grateful that programs like this exist.
“It was a very quick and easy process,” Willis said. “ The people were kind.”