Apr 21, 2002 3 min read

Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. will visit southwestern Uniontown on Friday to launch the new United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). The event will take place at 10 a.m. at the Uniontown Senior Center, 137 North Beeson Ave., Uniontown.

CSFP is a new initiative for southwestern Pennsylvania.

It is funded by USDA. CSFP will assist eligible southwestern Pennsylvania residents aged 60 and over, as well as breastfeeding postpartum women and children ages five to six referred from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

The goal of CSFP is to supplement the diets and improve the overall health of the participants.

Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Indiana and Westmoreland counties are currently participating in the CSFP initiative.

Fayette County Community Action Agency Food Bank is serving as the product storage site for Fayette, Greene, and Westmoreland counties.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is serving as the product storage site for Allegheny and Indiana counties.

Food boxes will be distributed monthly to eligible individuals at their local food pantries, senior centers and at the county’s food bank.

The 40 pound food boxes are filled with healthy and nutritious foods, including canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, juices, canned meats, poultry, canned or instant milk, peanut butter, canned potatoes, pasta and cheese. CSFP will serve 5,000 individuals per month for fiscal year 2002 in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Donated Food (PDA/BDF) will serve as the state agency for CSFP. In June 2001, PDA/BDF contacted the Pennsylvania Association of Regional Food Banks (PARF) asking if they would be willing to administer the program.

PARF serves as the local agency for Pennsylvania and includes Corner Cupboard Food Bank (Greene County), Fayette County Community Action Agency Food Bank, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (Allegheny County), Indiana County Community Action Program Food Bank, and Westmoreland County Food Bank.

PARF has a five-year implementation plan to provide CSFP throughout Pennsylvania.

Currently, PARF is in phase one, southwestern Pennsylvania. Pending expanded funding, eastern Pennsylvania will begin in phase two (2003).

Northwestern Pennsylvania will begin CSFP in phase three (2004), followed by north central Pennsylvania in phase four (2005).

CSFP will complete phase five (2006) with south central Pennsylvania.

Hayes was a lawmaker and legislative leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1970-1992.

For many years Hayes served as majority leader and Whip in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Hayes has been a long time supporter of hunger awareness and has provided leadership in reference to the State Food Purchase Program and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

He was instrumental in the process to initiate CSFP in the five-step phase across the Commonwealth.

For more information, contact Christopher at 724-743-3000 or Jennifer Canada, Fayette County Community Action Agency Food Bank project manager at 724-437-6050, ext. 264.