Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
DOCAA VOLUNTEERS helped pack 600 boxes of food to be distributed in Bessemer on Monday.
By BRYAN HELLIOS
Bessemer - The Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency has made changes to its monthly delivery of groceries through its Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
Linda Cossi, CSFP coordinator, said, more pick-up locations plus the convenience of a "drive-through" system will allow for more efficient food distribution.
"Like in Ontonagon," she said, "We'll park our truck in the Catholic church parking lot. People will drive up - we'll put the box in their car - they drive away and the next one pulls up."
Cossi said the change will impact those who currently receive delivery of commodities and who are not on the Meals on Wheels program.
"We were doing a few home deliveries, we can't do that any more," she said.
Those who are on the Meals on Wheels program will continue to have their commodity food boxes delivered, she added.
Started in the early 1980s, the GOCAA has been helping residents of Gogebic and Ontonagon counties who are experiencing food insecurity. Residents need to show proof of residency and provide verification of income before receiving commodity boxes.
"It's free food for low income individuals," Cossi said.
Tina Baross, housing assistant at GOCAA, said the reason their able to function is because of all the help from volunteers. Preparing more than 600 boxes in an assembly line requires a lot of work, she said. "Without them, our program would be nonexistent."
Both Cossi and Baross expressed the organization is seeking volunteers and they are always in the need of boxes. When asked if they had a preference for a type of box, both ladies replied simultaneously, "banana boxes."
For information about registering for the program, or current volunteer opportunities, call Bessemer 906-667-0283 or Ontonagon 906-884-2106.
Distribution locations have been designated in Ironwood, Bessemer, Wakefield, Marenisco and Watersmeet.
The schedule includes:
Monday, April 15
GOCAA Office, 100 S. Mill St., Bessemer, 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
Wakefield VFW, 9 to 9:30 a.m.
Sunset Manor Apartments community room, Wakefield, 9:40 to 9:55 a.m.
Riverview Apartments parking lot, Wakefield, 10 to 10:15 a.m.
Hillcrest Apartments community room, Bessemer, 10:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Fairview Apartments community room, Bessemer, 10:50 to 11 a.m.
Tuesday, April 16
Pioneer Park Apartments, tenants only, Ironwood, from 9 to 10 a.m.
Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church parking lot, Ironwood, 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.
Mill Trace Apartments west parking lot, Ironwood Township,11:35 to 11:45 a.m.
Mill Trace Apartments east parking lot, Ironwood Township, 11:45 to 11:55 a.m.
Wildwood Apartments community room, Ironwood Township, 12:30 to 12:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 17
Bruce Crossing Stannard Township Ballpark, 1 to 1:30 p.m. EDT.
Watersmeet Food Pantry, 1:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Marenisco Town Hall, 3 to 3:20 p.m.
Thursday, April 18
Bergland Lake Gogebic Senior Center, 9:45 to 10 a.m. EDT.
White Pine Porcupine Mountain Senior Center, 10:20 to 10:35 a.m. EDT
Ontonagon Holy Family Catholic Church, 11 to 11:45 a.m. EDT.
Mass City Resource Center, 1:15 to 1:45 p.m. EDT.
