Community Action Starts Turkey Distribution Today

by David Croyle

“I’m excited!” That is the phrase Armstrong County Community Action Agency Director of Family Services Robin Rainey described the influx of donations that followed Wednesday’s Kittanning Paper article.

Rainey had originally announced the agency would not be able to distribute turkey vouchers for Thanksgiving due to a lack of regional and local funding. But yesterday afternoon, it all changed.

“Through the people reading the (Kittanning) paper, the Salvation Army, Community Action, and generous donors, we are able to supply $10 vouchers,” Rainey said in a telephone call to the Kittanning Paper NewsDesk.

The turkey vouchers will only be available to individuals already signed up in the food distribution network.

“The food bank applicants who are currently registered on the Armstrong County Community Action Food Bank - they are a registered food bank applicant.”

Because the local 19 food banks have already distributed their allotment for the month, recipients are going to have to physically come to the Community Action office in East Franklin Township.

“They come to 705 Butler Road - our main address. It will be Thursday at noon - we are going to start - Noon till three. On Friday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday - It will be 9:00 till 3:00 those days.”

Don’t go empty handed to pick up your voucher, Rainey said. She encouraged recipients to bring the proper paperwork.

“They must bring an ID in order to pick up their voucher. If you are a proxy, you must bring to food bank applicant’s ID.”

Rainey said donations from individuals, the Salvation Army, and the turkey fund at Community Action is sufficient to take care of everyone on their list.

“My last count last month was 1,378, but we have had a couple of people sign up in the last week, so we will be able to accommodate everybody that has signed up.”

Rainey said that emergency cases are being referred to individual church pantries or the Salvation Army, but added that the turkey vouchers would not be available in those situations.

For more information, contact the Armstrong County Community Action Agency at 724-548-5764.