The Food Soldier Hunger Coalition is returning to Athens for five additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farmers to Families free drive-through grocery distributions.
The food distributions will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, Nov. 21 and 28 and Dec. 5 and 19, as well as Tuesday, Dec. 29. The distribution site has been relocated to the Athens County Fairgrounds, 286 W. Union St., to better accommodate traffic.
Each food distribution will offer free 35-pound boxes of farm fresh food, including meat, dairy and produce. Limited amounts of baby food will also be available.
“This food is available to everyone, regardless of your income or where you live,” said Roshelle Pate, the on-site coordinator of the distributions, a military veteran and founder and director of the Food Soldier Hunger Coalition, and a 1993 graduate of Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication. “We will be providing one to two boxes of food per family depending on demand, and participants are encouraged to pick up boxes for those unable to come to these distributions. All you have to do is drive up, and our volunteers will load the box into your vehicle.”
The USDA’s Farmers to Families program partnered with the Food Soldier Hunger Coalition for three free food distributions held in Athens in October. Those distributions resulted in approximately 7,548 boxes, carrying a total of approximately 132 tons of food, being provided to area residents.
No identification is required to receive a food box. For the safety of volunteers, those picking up food boxes are asked to wear a face mask. Local food banks and community, school or veteran organizations are encouraged to contact Roshelle Pate at freefoodsoldier@gmail.com for bulk pick-up on distribution days.
The Food Soldier Hunger Coalition is in need of volunteers to help with these distributions. Those interested in volunteering are asked to arrive at the Athens County Fairgrounds by 11 a.m. on distribution days.
The Farmers to Families food box program was launched in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In late September, the USDA announced that more than 100 million food boxes had been distributed through the program.