The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry has been chosen by the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank as a distribution site for the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) Food Kit Project from June through September 2010.

Funding for this project is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Each client/household receiving the ARRA Food Kit (one bag, or 30 pounds, of extra food) must meet specific requirements and show proof of each requirement during the monthly receipt of food kits.

The SCV Food Pantry will distribute the ARRA Food Kits each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon beginning June 23 and ending Wednesday, September 29 at 24133 Railroad Avenue, Newhall.

Requirements include:

Income Qualification – under 200% of federal poverty level (example: family of 4 no more than $44,100 per year or $3,675 per month). Acceptable verifications for income: salary/pay check stub, workers compensation documentation, unemployment insurance benefit check stub or state disability check stub.

At least one child under the age of 18 living in the household – Acceptable verifications for minor child in the home and relationship to applicant: official birth certificate, certified photocopy of birth certificate, certified computer generated abstract of birth record, original adoption decree or school records.

At least one U.S. Citizen living in the household – Acceptable verifications for U.S. Citizenship for Adults: Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561 from USCIS, Marriage certificate (must include date and place of birth). Acceptable verifications for U.S. Citizenship for Children: Birth Certificate, U.S. Passport, Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561 from USCIS or school records (must include date and place of birth)

Participants do not need to be a client of the SCV Food Pantry to benefit from the ARRA distribution. All Santa Clarita Valley residents who meet the above requirements are urged to register at the SCV Food Pantry for the ARRA Food Kit Project.

“We are so pleased to take part in this food distribution project and provide our clients and others in our valley extra food during the summer months. This project comes at a perfect time of the year, when the children of low-income families are out of school and can not partake of the free meal programs provided during the regular school session. During these summer months, many children go without meals as their families are struggling to put food on the tables.” said Belinda Crawford, SCV Food Pantry executive director.

The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry has distributed supplemental food to those less fortunate in the Santa Clarita Valley since 1986. For more information about the Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, to make donations or learn about volunteer opportunities, call 661 255 9078, email info@scvfoodpantry.org or visit the website here.