BROWN BAG PROGRAM
The Brown Bag Program of the Wiregrass is a supplemental grocery program for eligible individuals age 60 and older who live in Houston, Henry, Dale, Coffee, Geneva, and Barbour counties in Alabama. Each month, seniors are provided bags of groceries during the third week of the month – the time when most budgets are depleted. Seniors receive groceries from one of 17 distribution sites set up throughout our service area, usually churches, senior centers, or community resource centers. There is no cost to the individuals served and eligibility is determined by using the federal income guidelines for poverty. The Brown Bag program is designed to help those whose main source of income is Social Security, and who normally have to choose between nutritious foods and crucial medications. The bulk of the food provided comes from the Food Bank. The food is donated to the Food Bank by wholesalers, grocers, and distributors who receive a charitable contribution deduction on their taxes and enjoy the benefit of seeing that good food goes to those who need it. Along with the food obtained through the Food Bank, food is also donated through food drives hosted by civic groups, religious organizations, individuals, businesses, and other organizations.Funding for the program comes through donations. Through the sponsorship program, $65 provides an individual with this service for an entire year, however, donations of any amount help and are greatly appreciated.
If you’d like to help the Brown Bag program, there are several ways to do so. You can help by sponsoring program participants, hosting a food drive to benefit the Brown Bag program, volunteering at a distribution site, volunteering to deliver groceries to homebound individuals, and helping to find additional sources of donated food, especially fresh produce. To make a donation to the Brown Bag Program, please mail checks made payable to the Brown Bag Program to the Wiregrass Area Food Bank at 382 Twitchell Road, Dothan, AL 36303. If you’d like to donate by debit or credit card, please use the secure PayPal link below and be sure to include in the note that your donation is designated for the Brown Bag Program. Thank you for your support!
BROWN BAG APPLICATION – REVISED 080118
