By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

“Anyone in this country who goes without food has no one to blame but themselves,” one senior citizen said Thursday at Marion Senior Center.

People in Marion County have at least two sources for free food, food banks, operated by private donations, and government commodities distributed once a month.

About 40 boxes of commodities were available for distribution Thursday in Marion and more were available in other towns. The food bank was open from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

County Agency on Aging director Gayla Ratzlaff said commodities usually are gone by the Monday following the initial distribution day. If any are left over, the food bank is called to pick them up.

Senior center manager Janet Bryant said people who weren’t able to pick up commodities could call and ask for deliveries.