The boards of supervisors of the several counties of Mississippi are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture and with the state department of public welfare and the respective county departments of public welfare in obtaining surplus food commodities to the end that these surplus food commodities may be available for distribution to needy persons under the program of surplus food commodity distribution provided by the agricultural adjustment act of August 24, 1935, as amended, the agricultural act of October 31, 1949, as amended, and all other acts of congress now or hereafter enacted authorizing the secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, or any other agency of the United States government, to distribute designated available surplus food commodities free of charge, to any and all eligible needy persons in the state.

The boards of supervisors of the several counties of Mississippi are authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to appropriate and set aside from any available funds, in either the pauper fund or the general fund, a sufficient amount with which they may lease, purchase or otherwise acquire storage facilities for such surplus food commodities, including storage under refrigeration, provide for the unloading, packaging, handling and distribution of said commodities and pay for such personnel or help as may be required in order to protect from waste and spoilage, to cooperate in the distribution of such commodities upon delivery to their respective counties, and may pay the rentals, salaries, and incidental expenses thereof, monthly, from their respective treasuries.