Hours extended to apply for food assistance

State officials say hours have been extended in Orleans and Jefferson parishes for residents seeking disaster food assistance following Hurricane Isaac.

Suzy Sonnier, secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, says both UNO's Lakefront Arena in Orleans Parish and the Alario Center in Jefferson Parish will process applications from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Wednesday for those whose last name begins with A through M; on Thursday, applicants N through Z will be processed.

DCFS says it's also increasing processing capacity by adding computers and staff at each site.

The department has also received a two-day extension for applicants in Lafourche. The new deadline there is Thursday.

In Plaquemines and St. John the Baptist parishes, the new deadline is Friday.