WHITE CITY — Nine cars back in a line already a dozen deep, Marge Medeiros waited patiently in the Wednesday afternoon sun.

The 79-year-old White City woman had only a few minutes before she needed to get back to her volunteer job as a foster grandparent at the Rogue Family Center.

But with 40 pounds of free food at stake, the retiree on a fixed income was willing to idle a while in her teal-green El Camino.

"When you’ve got only your little Social Security, this really helps out," said Medeiros.

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Like some 60 people who rolled up outside the White City library, Medeiros was eligible for a monthly cardboard box filled with juice, cheese, canned vegetables and more distributed through the federal Commodity Supplemental Food Program.

ACCESS Inc. of Medford was chosen last spring as one of three food banks in Oregon to offer the nutrition program aimed at helping people aged 60 and older.

The program also can serve poor pregnant and breast-feeding women, new mothers and children to age 6. But with many qualifying women and children already served through the federal Women, Infant and Children program — WIC — ACCESS officials decided to focus on resources for older people.

"We are seeing more and more seniors in need coming to our emergency food pantries," explained Philip Yates, ACCESS nutrition programs manager.

After a quiet start serving about 225 residents of Jackson County’s most rural areas, the program is now accepting applications from Medford seniors with incomes at 130 percent of federal poverty levels — about $12,000 a year.

"Once we sign a person up, they get a regular food box every single month," said Yates. "We do have room for more people."

So far, 410 people have signed up out of a possible 556, Yates said.

The program, which operates in lieu of the federal WIC program in many other states, aims to improve the diets of low-income elderly people. Boxes emphasize nutrients typically lacking: protein, fruits, vegetables.

Established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is administered through a contract with the Oregon Housing and Community Services department.

For many recipients, the program can augment monthly staples received at local food pantries, Yates said.

Those in Wednesday’s line said the food helps tight budgets stretch a little further.

Carol Carpenter, 65, of White City, turned to the program after she had surgery on her left leg and could no longer work caring for people in their homes.

"It helps, I’ll tell you that," said Carpenter, who is raising two grandchildren.

That sentiment was echoed by Darilyn Williams, 47, who walked to the site with a rolling suitcase to pick up her box of food. She’s the designated proxy for her husband, Rondal Markey, 65, of White City.

"The food box is very good," she said. "My husband goes through the cheese. That’s almost all he eats, cheese and crackers."

ACCESS officials are seeking volunteers to help staff the program. About 18 volunteers are needed to hand out food boxes at nine sites throughout Jackson County.

Another 15 volunteers — a club or service group, perhaps — are needed to pack the boxes once a month.

"We try to pack all 550 at once. Last week was the first time we tried to do it with that many," said Yates.

The next packing session will be in the third week of October, he added.

Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail jaleccia@mailtribune.com.