SALVATION ARMY DISTRIBUTES FOOD COMMODITIES TODAY

The Cape Girardeau Salvation Army will begin distributing commodities today. Food items will available from 1-4 p.m. at the army headquarters, 701 Good Hope.

Commodities will also be distributed Thursday and Friday at the same times.

Salvation Army Capt. Elmer Trapp said, "We just came up with the idea that we need to be distributing commodities here."

The commodity food items will be distributed once a month.

Available this month are beans, butter, flour, rice, dry milk, prunes and applesauce.

Food will be given according to state income guidelines, Trapp said. Applicants need to bring proof of identification for every member of the household.

Trapp said, "The state used to distribute commodities, but now it's up to an individual agency to say they want to become involved."

He said no other agencies in Cape Girardeau are distributing commodities at this time.

The commodities come from the Bootheel Food Bank in Sikeston, Trapp said.

The Salvation Army has used government commodities for its monthly feeding program, called Meals with Friends.

"We just thought we would get more and distribute the food," he said. "This is in addition to our other feeding programs."

The Salvation Army has a food bank with donated canned and boxed food available for needy families.

Also, the last week of each month the agency sponsors Meals with Friends. Each night of the week a meal is served at the Salvation Army headquarters. Meals with Friends will be served Sept. 23-27.

"We see this as a preventative measure to keep people from going hungry," Trapp said.

"We're hoping a lot of people take advantage of this program," Trapp said. "People don't need to be ashamed if they need the food. That's what it's here for.

"I think more people are becoming aware of the services and taking advantage of them before they run out of food," Trapp said. "There's nothing wrong with that.

"That's what we try to continue to do, prevent people from getting to point that they are down and out."

For more information, call 335-7000.