The Union County Department of Social Services could get more food to needy families if more local groups would agree to store and distribute the food, Susan Lawson, program coordinator for economic services, says.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program receives U.S. Department of Agriculture commodities such as peanut butter, cheese, flour and powdered milk from a government food bank in Charlotte, N.C. The distributions are based on unemployment and the number of people living below the poverty level in a community. With one-fifth of its working age population unemployed and one-sixth of its population living below poverty level Union County is eligible for more food than it is getting.

“Union County qualifies for a lot of food and I’m sure we could get more but we don’t have the refrigerator and other storage space,” Mrs. Lawson said. “Right now the Salvation Army stores and distributes the food we receive but more space and distribution is needed. We’re hoping some of the local churches and other non-profit groups can help us store and distribute the food.”

Mrs. Lawson said that Emergency Food Assistance is different from the food stamp program because more people can qualify. For example, a family experiencing unemployment or a cutback in hours at work that has reduced their disposable income, can go to the Salvation Army, explain their situation and income level. If they qualify they can receive the food that’s available.

The Salvation Army distributes the food in Union from its office at 614 Green St. on the first, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. On the third Tuesday, it distributes food in Carlisle from the Carlisle Town Hall. Jill Jylguessregen, social worker with the Salvation Army, said that in March, the army distributed food to 294 households in Union. On April 21, it distributed food to 89 households in Carlisle.

Carlisle Mayor Mary Ferguson Glenn praised both the DSS program and the Salvation Army’s efforts to get the food to the needy of Carlisle. A member of the Salvation Army’s board, Mrs. Glenn said the decision to distribute the food from the town hall made it more convenient for town’s residents.

“It’s just a great program,” she said. “We have a lot of elderly and disabled people and a lot of unemployed here in Carlisle and so the food program is really needed. It was much easier on our people to get the food here at the town hall than to travel 28 miles to Union.”

Mrs. Jylguessregen said the Army needs volunteers to help with packing the bags of food for distribution. While the Army usually has plenty of volunteers at Christmas, Mrs. Jylguessregen said they are needed year-round because the needs of the community doesn’t end with the Christmas season. She said anyone interested in volunteering should call 427-9622.

Churches and other non-profits interested in storing and distributing food under the Emergency Food Assistance Program may contact DSS at 429-1660.