United Way Distributes Produce to Local Agencies

By Robin Gregg

Over 79,000 pounds of produce were donated to the United Way of the Mark Twain Area through the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Deliveries of 16,000 pounds of produce was distributed to local agencies. On May 20, 2020, the United Way gave the Monroe City Food Pantry 325 produce boxes to give away at their next food bank. They are making Monroe City the essential stop with other agencies in attendance to receive their boxes. Those agencies also receiving produce were: Paris Senior Center received 15 boxes; Center Baptist Church received 120 boxes; Shelby County Senior Citizens Center received 10 boxes; Shiloh Christian Ranch received 10 boxes; and the Monroe City Nutrition Center received ten boxes as well.

Paris Senior Center Administrator, Tara Garside said, “This will help out our clients who are struggling right now to make ends meet. We will use some of the food items in our own facility for our clients. This will help with the shortage of food because of the increase of food prices. We have seen more clients than we have seen in my nine years there. We are blessed to receive these things and we rely on grants and donations to continue on supporting the community.”

These deliveries will continue each week until June 22, 2020.