NEW ULM — The USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program will distribute 1,200 25-pound boxes of dairy products, meat and fresh produce beginning at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 30, in front of the Brown County Fairgrounds grandstand.

Food will be distributed free of charge, no questions asked. Enter the fairgrounds at the west gate near Washington School and proceed to the grandstand area. Food will be distributed until 5 p.m. or until it is gone.

Local sponsors include Catholic Charities USA, the Diocese of New Ulm, Knights of Columbus and the Brown County Fairgrounds.

“As winter seems to have set in, now is a good time to help our neighbor,” said New Ulm Council 1076 Grand Knight Dr. Gary Neubauer. “There is more hunger in our country now than perhaps ever before. Please help by letting people you know become aware of this opportunity and help us help everyone in need.”

Prepackaged food boxes will be placed in each vehicle before it exits out the south gate by the Isaak Walton League building.

On Sept. 29, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said more than 100 million food boxes were distributed in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers to Families Food Box Program.