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Answering questions about Meal Barrel eligibility:
We have received concerns regarding the operation of The Meal Barrel Project and the eligibility of some recipients. We would like to clarify the following points to ensure transparency and understanding:
1. Information Verification:
Food pantries, including ours, are responsible for taking the information provided by potential recipients as true. We compile this information as outlined by the application and submit it to the state, we are not responsible for verifying the accuracy of this information. While some pantries may choose to verify information or request supporting documentation, the state interpretation of the Federal USDA application is that information is to be taken as self-attesting. This means we are to accept the information provided (meaning the answers to the questions we ask to complete the application process) and leave the verification process to the Alabama Department of Education.
For more details, you can refer to [Section 251.5 of Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations](https://www.ecfr.gov/.../subchapter-B/part-251/section-251.5).
2. We use an electronic application process where we will scan your identification (which fills in most of our paperwork for you) and ask the remaining questions to complete the application. For each visit to the food pantry following the completion of your application, your driver’s license will be scanned to serve as an electronic signature for that day’s food benefits.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND:
1. An electronic document is EXACTLY THE SAME as a paper document and is legally recognized as such.
2. An electronic signature is EXACTLY THE SAME as a handwritten signature, and carries the same legal consequences as a handwritten signature.
Details of our intake process is outlined in the included video link:
3. Reporting Concerns:
If you believe someone has received food benefits in error or misused these benefits, please understand this event to be a state issue and not a program issue, and direct your complaint to the Alabama Department of Education. Compile your complaint and any supporting documentation and report it to:
**Alabama Department of Education:**
50 N Ripley St
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-694-4900
4. Proxy Recipients:
Many individuals who come through our line are delivering food to others in need. The state department allows proxies to receive food on behalf of others and deliver it to them, ensuring those unable to come in person still receive the assistance they need.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to serve our community. If you have further questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you,
The Meal Barrel Project Team
In case you missed it concerning PFAs:
water quality is a serious issue. I am retired and we never hid anything before or after I became Manager, or is anyone hiding anything now. During my tenure the issue was disinfection by products and how to address them. It took nearly a decade for EPA to address how this issue that is a result of disinfecting drinking water. It could not be done until a limit was set, and treatment methods developed. Florence installed a multimillion dollar ion exchange process several years ago to address this issue. This issue was in the news for several years as incremental limits were set, treatment processes developed, and regulations developed. Now all systems are facing a new challenge, PFAS! I have included a link you can read if you have time. I would also recommend the movie “Dark Waters” on Netflix. It is accurate in the information given on PFA’s, and the cover-up by 3M & Dupont for decades.
In the future, it will be something else. Why, because as the science gets better and the ability to measure contaminants allows detection at lower and lower levels, and they find out how a contaminant may affect humans. When I started, contaminants were expressed in parts per million, the later parts per billion, today parts per trillion. The limit set last year for PFAS was set at 4 parts per trillion. To put in perspective, that is one grain of sand in a trillion grains of sand. A trillion is a 1 with 12 zeros after it, represented as 1,000,000,000,000 or 10¹². At the time the level was set, there was not an approved method to accurately measure that low, but they would not set it that low if they didn’t know a method would be available by the time the regulation would go in effect. PFAS will be the largest issue systems have faced to date.
Before I left, I authorized the consulting engineers to begin setting up pilot studies to determine what is the best method for the City. Those studies are currently ongoing. Discussions before I retired was that the Department could be looking at a cost up to $70,000,000, depending on the best method.
The Water Department is an enterprise fund of the City. That means it operates like a business, with it’s only source of revenue being the sales of the product and services, i.e., water and sewer rates. They receive no tax monies, or are eligible for very few grants. Funds for improvements come from warrant (bond) issues, or low interest State Revolving Loan Funds (SRF).
If you would like to educate yourself self more, there is plenty of information available on this topic and more on the internet. The treatment plant operators for the City’s facilities are required by law to be certified at the highest level by taking an exam that has less than a 20% passing rate last I heard. In addition, the Department is not only transparent, it is required to be transparent, hence the Annual Water Quality Report. Even that is likely change. When I left, the Alabama Department or Environmental Management was considering, if possible,
making the report mandatory twice per year.
You can also learn more by contacting the Department’s Manager, Tad Cole will be happy to provide info. In addition, with the exception of 9/11 security concerns and COVID, has started back giving tours to elementary & high school groups, college groups, civic groups, and non-profit groups.
If interested in a career, the Community Colleges offer an Associate Degree program and a BS Degree program is offered some Universities with the closest being Athens State University.
Thank you,
Michael Doyle
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