Food aid centers open in Felicianas

Centers to process applications for emergency food aid as a result of Hurricane Isaac are opening Thursday in East and West Feliciana parishes.

One center will open at the former East Feliciana Early Learning Center, which also housed a temporary parish courtroom, at 914 Plank Road in Clinton.

The West Feliciana location will be housed in the Independence Community Center, 10498 La. 965, southeast of St. Francisville.

Both centers are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week until further notice.

The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is operated by the state Department of Children and Family Services.

Department Secretary Suzy Sonnier said in a news release that residents of the two parishes are urged to preapply for the benefits online or by phone if they do not already receive food benefits, have low to moderate incomes and suffered loss or damage during the hurricane.

Feliciana residents may call (888) 524-3578 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily. Callers will select the appropriate language and then select options 3 and 3.

If residents have Internet access, they can preapply by visiting http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/preapply or http://www.getagameplan.org, the news release says.

The sites will service applicants on a staggered, alphabetical basis, beginning with last names starting with A, B and C on Thursday.

The remaining schedule is Friday, D through G; Saturday, H through L; Sunday, M through R; and Monday, S through Z.

Makeup days are Tuesday, A through M, and Wednesday, N through Z.

The food aid is an income eligibility-based program to assist eligible households that do not receive regular SNAP benefits and need help buying groceries due to lost income or damage following a disaster.