CLEARFIELD – Once again, the Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging Inc., in cooperation with the state 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 produce grown in Pennsylvania or produce that was purchased directly from a Pennsylvania farmer. Previously approved FMNP farmers from neighboring states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia will be permitted to sell produce that they grow themselves or have purchased directly from a Pennsylvania farmer.
Produce purchased from wholesalers is not eligible for purchase with FMNP checks. Farmers may assist recipients in determining which produce is FMNP eligible. In Clearfield County, the distribution of SFMNP vouchers will begin June 16 and run through Sept. 30, or until all vouchers are distributed.
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 $21,590 for a single person and $29,101 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 Clearfield County Centers for Active Living or on the agency’s Web site (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: Kylertown Center for Active Living – 814-345-6338, Mondays from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., beginning June 23; DuBois Senior and Community Center – 814-371-4000, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., beginning June 16; Coalport Center for Active Living – 814-672-3574, Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., beginning June 25; Mahaffey Center for Active Living – 814-277-4544, Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., beginning June 26; Karthaus Center for Active Living – 814-263-7277, Fridays from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., beginning June 20; Houtzdale Family Service Center – 814-378-5120, Mondays, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., beginning June 16; Westover Fire Company, 583 W. Bridge St., Westover, Thursday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., July 17 only.
In the beginning, vouchers for the Clearfield area will be distributed at the Masonic Lodge, 6352 Clearfield/Woodland Hwy., (Route 322 next to Lock Haven University), Clearfield, Mondays and Thursdays, June 16, 19, 23 and 26 only, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.; Clearfield County Career & Technology Center, 1620 River Rd., Clearfield, from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. on the following dates: June 30, July 3, 7, 10,14 and 17 only. Beginning July 21, the vouchers will be available at the Clearfield Center for Active Living, Clearfield – 814-765-9319, Mondays from 1 p.m. – 2:30 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 $3.50.
For more information, call your local center for Active Living or the CCAAA at 814-765-2696 or 1-800-225-8571, or visit the 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.