76,000 reportedly fed through govt food network

National Food Distribution Task Force Chairwoman Susan Holowesko-Larson said yesterday that more than 76,000 people have already benefited from government assistance through the task force since the start of June.

“They’ve (the government) already committed $900,000 to the task force,” Holowesko-Larson said.

“That has directly helped over 76,000 people just in the first 20 days of June. These are the results for just that initial outreach.”

The majority of the government-allocated funds were distributed on New Providence with $432,953; followed by Abaco with $147,558. Abaco was ravaged by Hurricane Dorian in September.

Larson said more than 5,000 food units have already been distributed for the month so far.

Distribution is separated into different zones: New Providence, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera, Northern Bahamas and Southern Bahamas.

Asked about the requirements for eligibility, she replied, “This is, obviously, a very delicate situation. We recognize how many people are in need and we have a fixed amount of money to try and meet that need. So, yes, there are criteria. We aren’t going to be using the criteria immediately.

“We’re going to phase the criteria in. We do want to manage people in and out of the program as quickly as their circumstances warrant.

“We don’t want people to — I say this compassionately — but we don’t want them and we can’t have people get overly comfortable because, you know, we do have a finite number of resources to allocate here unless, of course, there is an extraordinary response from the private sector.”

Employment status and vulnerability, including being pregnant, are among the things listed as criteria for the program, according to Holowesko-Larson.

She said vouchers and food parcels will be distributed weekly.

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis established the task force in April amid mass layoffs in The Bahamas as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has vowed that no one in The Bahamas will go to bed hungry.

Holowesko-Larson said yesterday that registration for the program will start today at 10 a.m.

She said the registration is for “anybody who feels they need for assistance”.

The task force will deliver emergency food relief from June 1 until August 31.

The government and a variety of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have committed more than $18 million for the operation of the program during the 12 weeks.

Individuals can register at rapidbahamas.com.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/06/26/76000-reportedly-fed-through-govt-food-network/