By-Line: Julie Murphy, Flagler County Government
Florida Power & Light (FPL) is doing its part to help seniors prepare for hurricane season. It joined forces with Flagler County Senior Services on June 20 (Friday) to bolster the Commodity Supplemental Food Program with kits containing three days of shelf-stable food, water, and snacks.
“We helped seniors prepare for hurricane season by preparing and delivering these kits,” said Karina Bayona, FPL senior communications strategist. “More than 300 seniors in Flagler County received the kits and are now ready in case of a storm.”
Flagler County Senior Services on the third Friday of every month hosts and assists with the FarmShare Commodity Supplemental Food Program to deliver boxes that include the following: canned or bottled fruits and juices; canned vegetables; instant and ultra-pasteurized milk; canned meat, poultry, and fish; plant-based protein; two boxes of cereal; pasta and rice; and, cheese. The kits FPL provided were delivered along with the regular supplement.
“The food arrives ready for delivery so there are same-day deliveries throughout the county,” said Health and Human Services Director Joseph Hegedus. “There is a great need for these services. We interview and qualify seniors’ eligibility based on income and family size, and maintain a fluid waitlist so we can meet needs immediately when a vacancy occurs.”
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is among the programs that strive to meet seniors’ nutritional needs. The Board of County Commissioners in 2017 entered into an agreement to provide a commodities food delivery once a month to eligible Flagler County seniors.
For more information about becoming a volunteer or for specifics about eligibility, call 386-586-2324, extension 3623.
