Cheese to Be Distributed in 9 Area Cities

Low-income residents and people 55 or over are eligible to receive five pounds each of federal surplus cheese and butter March 28 at various distribution sites in nine southeast Los Angeles County cities.

To qualify, residents must be unemployed and at least 55 or earn less than the federal poverty level. Under the program’s guidelines, the poverty level is an annual income of $6,474 for a single person, $8,736 for a couple, $10,998 for a family of three and $13,260 for a family of four.

Participants must show proof of residency and proof of either age or need: a Social Security card or a Medicare card, food stamps or welfare identification.

The giveaway--five pounds of processed American cheese, butter and, at some locations, flour--is part of the ongoing Federal Food Distribution Project and is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Distribution is scheduled for residents in Bell, Downey, La Mirada, Lynwood, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, South Gate and Whittier.

Distribution begins at 9 a.m. at the following sites:

Bell--The city’s Parks and Recreation Department offices, 6526 Wilcox St.

Downey--Apollo Neighborhood Center, 12458 Rives Ave.

La Mirada--Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 14875 Adelfa Drive. (Homebound residents may call 943-0131, ext. 239, to assign a third party to pick up their allocation of cheese and butter at the VFW hall.)

Lynwood--Community Center, 3798 Century Blvd.

Norwalk--First United Methodist Church, 12111 E. Olive St.; Christ United Methodist Church, 14706 Pioneer Blvd.; Glad Tidings Church, 11910 Alondra Blvd.; Community Chapel World Outreach, 12400 Studebaker Road, and St. Linus Church, 13915 Shoemaker Ave.

Pico Rivera--Pico Rivera Plaza Shopping Center on Whittier Boulevard between Rosemead and Paramount boulevards. The food will be handed out behind the Montgomery Ward department store. (Home delivery of cheese and butter for shut-ins and the disabled can be arranged by calling City Hall at 942-200, ext. 260, before Tuesday.)

Santa Fe Springs--The Neighborhood Center, 9255 Pioneer Blvd.

South Gate--Senior Citizens Center, 4855 Tweedy Ave.

Whittier--Parnell Park, 10711 Scott Ave.; Guirado Park, 5760 Pioneer Blvd., and the Whittier Community Center, 7630 Washington Ave.