The UCHRA food commodities program has begun its shut down after making its final food distribution.
The food commodities program provided food to families in need for decades. The state decided to move the program to regional food banks. UCHRA Putnam County Coordinator Mistie Johnson said now that the final distribution has been delivered, she is proud of what the program has accomplished.
“There’s many people out there that really struggle to have food on the table for their families,” Johnson said. “And I believe that we provided some of that food for them to be able to feed their families during hard times.”
Johnson said it is tough knowing that the families will have to go to someone else for food. Johnson said she will miss the friends that the staff had made when distributing the food.
“A lot of the clients are faces that you see in the office, also with other programs,” Johnson said. “And you get to know each other and you bond with each other. You try to help each other. They tell you their stories, and sometimes you are the only person that is there for them to vent to.”
Johnson said what she is most proud of is the staff that made the program possible.
“All the staff and volunteers that come together to help these families be able to have extra food in their household,” Johnson said. “If we don’t come together as a whole, we wouldn’t have been able to help so many families during this time.”
Johnson said last Saturday, the program served an estimated 834 households. Johnson said 104 of those were households that had never been served by the program before.
“That just lets you know that there are families out there that don’t know what’s out there, like where to go when they need help,” Johnson said.
Second Harvest will be taking over the program beginning October 1. Johnson said she believes Second Harvest will do a great job. Johnson said people in need of food can still come to the UCHRA, as they will be able to guide them to resources that can help them.
