The Georgia Mountain Food Bank will distribute food to 800 families in the Hall County area today.

The food bank is hosting its second food distribution of the year at 10 a.m at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hall County.

Executive Director Kay Blackstock said the food will be distributed to people who qualify for the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

Each household receiving food will be asked to provide a name and address and sign a self-declaration form required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Blackstock said the food distribution will be set up like a drive-through.

Volunteers and employees of the Georgia Mountain Food Bank will be on site to help direct traffic and to load each vehicle with food quickly and safely.

Blackstock said the food bank is able to provide more than nonperishable items at this food distribution due to funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"As a part of the stimulus act, food banks were given extra funding to buy USDA commodities," she said.

"Everyone’s going to get ham and orange juice."

Packages of food also will include cheese, canned fruit and eggs.

The food bank held a similar distribution in September in Flowery Branch and saw an overwhelming response. They were able to distribute food packages to 526 families before running out.

"We could have served at least 100 more," Blackstock said, adding that this time, the group ordered more food and moved to a new location they hope will accommodate more people.

"There’s a great, great need in that area," Blackstock said. "It may be difficult for them to get transportation all the way to Flowery Branch."

Today’s food distribution is a change of pace for the food bank, which usually does not give food directly to people in need.

The food bank typically collects food to distribute to partner nonprofit organizations, but Blackstock said the group is excited about the event.

"This is people helping people, and that’s what it’s all about."