LAWRENCE COUNTY Commissioners discuss replacing vouchers with food distribution

The Pittsburgh food bank would eventually like to open another site.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners are considering eliminating the voucher system the county now uses for its food distribution program.
Instead, they would begin working with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to distribute food items to eligible residents early next year.
Commissioners, at their caucus on Thursday, said they are contemplating entering into an agreement with the Allegheny County-based food bank to provide free food to Lawrence County residents as often as once a month.
The county now distributes food vouchers quarterly.
"The idea is we want to get more food to more people more often," said Commissioner Steve Craig. "And we want to make it as simple for people as we can. By working with the food bank in a cooperative effort, I think we can provide more for the people who need it."
Commissioners said they plan to have a meeting with representatives from the food bank and groups and agencies that likely would help distribute the food if the program were revised. They said they have asked John Hodge, county solicitor, to review the proposed agreement between the county and the food bank.
Cynthia Moore, agency relations director for the food bank, said during the caucus that eventually the food bank would like to open a site in Lawrence, Butler or Beaver County.
Ongoing discussion
Commissioners began talking about revamping the food distribution program earlier this year after the program's coordinator moved into another county position.
The current voucher system allows low- to moderate-income residents to get food vouchers from the county and to use those vouchers to obtain free food from participating grocery stores.
Commissioners said the county intends to distribute food vouchers one more time this year, likely within the next six weeks.