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Local extension partner says Equal Justice Initiative funds will help dozens of Lamar County families
Summary
During public comment, Jerry Smith said extension partners and the Equal Justice Initiative identified families in need in Lamar County and will distribute cards intended for grocery purchases locally, for several months. Commissioners welcomed the work and community-preparedness workshops.
During public comment at the July 28 Lamar County Commission meeting, Jerry Smith described a local partnership to deliver short-term food assistance to families in the county.
Smith said extension staff and board-of-education contacts helped identify 25 families in Lamar County for participation in a program run with the Equal Justice Initiative. He said those families “will begin cards of $415 per month for the next six months” to be spent in Lamar County grocery stores and that the program aims to prioritize local merchants and food access for families with children.
Smith also referenced a prior distribution that ran from October 2024 to March 2025 in which about $76,000 was shared in the county and said the current aid amount would run for six months. He thanked local extension staff and Mike Wilson for disaster-preparedness work and encouraged residents to participate in upcoming certification workshops and the farmers market season.
Commissioners responded with appreciation for extension efforts and noted municipal and emergency-management coordination on hazard mitigation and disaster planning discussed later in the meeting.
The commission did not take formal action on the assistance program during the meeting; Smith’s remarks were recorded as public comment.
