$10,000 in ground beef and hams will be given away Aug. 15th. 

By Frank Phillips

DLC Media News

BRAZIL – This is the smallest food distribution in terms of amount of money and it is also the smallest in the number of products being distributed, said Brazil Plan Director and Park Board member Janet McClellan on Wednesday. 

But it may be the most needed.

“A lot of people lost their meat in their freezers (when the storms hit),” McClellan said. “And meat is so expensive now, so we are focusing on meat only in this distribution.” 

Thanks to a grant from Duke Energy Foundation, the city received $10,000 to spend. They are getting $6,000 in ground beef and $4,000 in ham. The beef is coming from Jacobs Farms, which provided beef in past distributions, and $4,000 in hams is coming from Save-A-Lot. 

Clay County residents only will be able to pick up meat free of charge on Aug. 15th, 5-6:30 p.m. at the Cow Palace in Forest Park. 

You must have either a driver’s license or state ID showing you are a resident of Clay County. This is for low-income and senior citizens, age 65 and older, McClellan said. 

Drivers should enter the north drive by the softball diamond off Pinckley Street. Follow directions and do not get out of your car. 

“One trip per household because we want to reach as many families as we can,” McClellan said. 

Based on past food distributions, McClellan expects about 250 households will receive food this time around. 

The first nine food distributions were at First Christian Church. 

While the last distribution was funded by $144,000, that distribution offered toiletries and other items in addition to food. There were 230-240 households that benefited from that distribution, said McClellan. 

“Rick Burger contacted the Mayor with grant opportunities,” McClellan said. “I got online and looked it up and we partnered with Clay County Emergency Food Pantry. We got the grant for $10,000.”