SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Social Services has announced receipt of 4.2 million pounds (106 truckloads) of chicken from the United States Department of Agriculture to help feed needy low-income residents.

The unexpected bonus shipment will soon arrive at food banks and soup kitchens throughout California.

In Lake County, the Clearlake Gleaners will receive 8,656 pounds of the chicken.

“It’s unusual for food banks to receive high-quality meat commodities such as chicken, so we are especially pleased to make this protein-rich food available to needy Californians,” said John Wagner, director of the department.

Forty-seven truckloads of 10-pound packages are ready for distribution to large households, 37 truckloads of 4-pound packages will go to smaller households, and the remaining 22 truckloads of 33-pound cartons will be shipped to soup kitchens.

The chicken will be processed into smaller packages prior to delivery to the food banks. Food banks will receive a steady flow of chicken over the next two months. In all, this chicken will provide more than eleven million meals to California’s needy families.

In addition to the bonus chicken, California also receives other types of bonus food throughout the year such as fresh fruit and vegetables, fruit juices, canned and dried fruit, canned meat, fish, and milk. Bonus commodities are provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from purchasing domestic surplus food to help supplement the diets of low-income Americans and to provide price support to farmers and growers.

The bonus foods will help to ensure food security for needy Californians during this economic downturn.

The food will be delivered to California’s 49 food banks for distribution to more than 1.5 million needy Californians.

To qualify for the Emergency Food Assistance Program, a household’s income cannot exceed 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For example, a family of three can make up to $27,465 in annual income to qualify for food assistance.

To find out if you qualify, contact your local authorized Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) distribution agency. A list of EFAP agencies can be found at www.dss.cahwnet.gov/efap/PG1910.htm, or call 916-229-3344.

For a list of Food Banks and their chicken allocations, please visit www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/PressRelease/ChickenAllocationByFoodBank.pdf.