FiveCAP distributes food boxes.

FiveCAP distributes food boxes.

FiveCAP staff and volunteers recently packed and distributed 1,851 food boxes to low-income people in Mason, Manistee, Lake and Newaygo counties.

FiveCAP held its quarterly food distribution of The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) on Thursday, June 4. The program provides food every three months to income-eligible households. TEFAP is open to residents of all ages to help them extend their already stretched budget by providing nutritious foods and supporting basic needs.

On Wednesday, June 10, Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) food boxes were distributed to income-eligible senior citizens. The distribution program is every two months. It is designed to supplement the diets of low-income seniors, 60 and older, a demographic that is often forced to make difficult choices when it comes to spending their fixed income. Good nutrition sometimes takes a backseat to other expenses like utilities and medications. These boxes provide some of the staples from each food group, and help seniors stretch their grocery budget.

In support of providing healthy eating habits and cost savings by growing foods, FiveCAP offers gardening and food preservation workshops annually. To start their garden, each attendee receives a variety of vegetable plants including green beans, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, cabbage, corn, Roma tomatoes, green peppers, onions, and broccoli. This year, due to COVID-19 and the Stay-at-Home Order, the annual gardening workshops in May were cancelled, however plants and handouts from MSU Master Gardeners were given out during the CSFP food distribution and are still available on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information on FiveCAP programs and services, visit website www.fivecap.org, contact the local FiveCAP office in your county or call (231) 757-3785.

FiveCAP offices will resume services on Monday, June 15 with regular business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The agency has protocols in place for frequent sanitizing, temperature checks, masks and social distancing. Visitors are asked to call first and to not enter the building if they are sick or have a temperature of above 100.4 degrees.

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