Emergency food stamps out

To boost relief efforts for victims of Supertyphoon Chaba, the Nutrition Assistance Program of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs said yesterday that it is now accepting application for emergency food assistance.

According to NAP, Emergency Food Assistance Centers have been created to distribute and process applications, designating the former courthouse near the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe as headquarters for Saipan, the DCCA Office on Aging for Rota, and the Tinian Gymnasium for Tinian.

The centers began operation yesterday and will continue until Friday, Sept. 24, with operating hours between 8am to 8pm. On Sept. 24, hours on Rota and Tinian will be from 8am to 12pm.

NAP also designated registration dates based on the first letter of the last name of the head of the recipient’s household.

For Saipan, applicants whose last name begins between letters A-D registered yesterday, while those between E-H may register today. Names between I-L may register tomorrow, Sept. 20. The rest are as follows: M-P on Sept. 21, Q-T on Sept. 22, U-Z on Sept. 23, while Sept. 24 is open for those who missed their dates.

On Rota and Tinian, applicants with names beginning between A-H registered yesterday, while I-P may register today. Names between Q-Z may register tomorrow, while Sept. 21-24 will be open for those who missed their designated dates.

“Residents may qualify if their homes or belongings were damaged or destroyed and they have substantial disaster-related expenses or if they have lost income, resources, or their food supply as a result of Supertyphoon Chaba,” said the agency.

NAP recipients in August 2004 may also apply if their coupons were destroyed by the typhoon.

All applicants are required to provide official identification, Social Security number, verification that they reside in the CNMI—utility bill, voter’s registration card, entry or work permit, or employment contract—and verification of income—last check stub or earnings document, Social Security benefits, child support, alimony, retirement pension, or veterans benefits.

Applicants are also required to submit verification of resources or liquid assets, verification of disaster-related expenses, and a sketch to the applicant’s permanent or temporary residence, if any.

NAP said all applications will be audited and reviewed, and field studies will also be conducted on household cases suspected of fraud violations.

Also, all emergency food assistance coupons will be invalid after Sept. 30, 2004. Items that can be purchased with the coupons are vegetables, fruits, fish, rice, meat, canned foods, baby formula, milk, eggs, drinking water, bread and other bakery products.

“Ineligible items include alcoholic beverages, tobacco, soap, detergents, paper products, medicine, cosmetics, toilet tissue, pampers, and betel nut,” NAP said.

For more information, call 235-9889/90/92 for Saipan, 532-2657/9354/9474 for Rota, and 433-9330/0914 for Tinian.