The USDA continues to help feed those in Louisiana impacted by last month's hurricane Ida. And that help include distribution of food packages with nutritious, high quality, U.S.-grown foods.

"We basically give packets of food, boxes of food to the local food bank, and the food banks have the network already in existence," said Louisiana Nutrition Service Regional Director Bill Ludwig. "So they take those foods and send it out to the local community. So they're the ones that actually distribute the boxes of food. We supply them, we approve them, and the food banks take them out."

Ludwig adds, other methods of feeding support includes providing foods to local shelters and feeding sites as supplies run out, and when authorized, SNAP. USDA recently approved a waiver allowing SNAP participants to purchase hot foods with their benefits through September 28th.

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