CLEARFIELD – Once again, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, Inc. in cooperation with the PA Department of Agriculture will be distributing Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program food vouchers. This program provides eligible, older citizens of Pennsylvania with vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown or can be grown in Pennsylvania. FMNP customers may buy only the fruits and vegetables grown in Pennsylvania or purchased directly from a farmer in a neighboring state. Neighboring states include: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. For example, tomatoes that were grown in California or Florida are not eligible.
In Clearfield County, the distribution of SFMNP vouchers will begin June 4 and run through Sept. 30 unless all vouchers are distributed prior to Sept. 30.
Four $5 vouchers will be distributed to individuals 60 years of age and older in Clearfield County who apply and meet income eligibility and residency requirements. The income limit for this year is $20,665 for a single person and $27,991 for a married couple. Identification showing date of birth and county (or town) residency is required when vouchers are picked up. A social security card is not a valid form of identification for this purpose.
Eligible individuals who cannot pick up their vouchers may name a proxy to pick these up for them by signing an authorized proxy form. Proxy forms are available at all countyCenters for Active Living and also on the agency’s website (www.ccaaa.net). The form must be signed by the eligible individual prior to picking up the vouchers, and identification for both persons must be submitted by the proxy when applying for vouchers.
The schedule for FMNP voucher distribution is as follows: Houtzdale Family Service Center – 378-5120, Mondays and Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. beginning June 4, 2012; Coalport Center for Active Living – 672-3574, Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. beginning June 5, 2012; DuBois Senior & Community Center –371-4000, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. beginning June 6, 2012; Mahaffey Center for Active Living – 277-4544, Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. beginning June 7, 2012; Kylertown Center for Active Living –345-6338, Fridays from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. beginning June 8, 2012; Karthaus Center for Active Living – 263-7277, Fridays from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. beginning June 15.
In the beginning, vouchers for the Clearfield area will be distributed at the Masonic Lodge, 6352 Clearfield Woodland Highway (Route 322 next to Lock Haven University), Clearfield, Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 5, 7, July 12 and 14 only, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Clearfield County Career & Technology Center, 1620 River Road, Clearfield, from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. on the following dates: June 19, 21, 26, and 28 only. Beginning July 2, the vouchers will be available at the Clearfield Center for Active Living, 103 N. Front Street, Clearfield – 765-9319, Mondays 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Those individuals who are interested in having lunch at any of the Centers are asked to call one day in advance to make their reservation. Any individual over the age of 60 may reserve a lunch and contribute to the cost of the meal on a donation basis. The cost of a meal for a person under 60 is $3.00.
For more information, call your local Center for Active Living or the CCAAA at 765-2696 or 1-800-225-8571, or visit our Web site at www.ccaaa.net.
Programs and services of the Agency are funded in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc, Mature Resources Foundation, and local and consumer contributions.