Reagan orders surplus cheese given to needy

It may not be in time for Christmas, but President Reagan's decision to distribute millions of pounds of surplus cheese will benefit many needy Americans during the holidays - especially the elderly and children.

Noting that many Americans are feeling the pinch of the economic recession, the President Tuesday ordered 30 million pounds of cheese, now held in federal storage, to be given to needy Americans.

The cheese - valued at $43 million and representing only about 5 percent of the 560 million pounds owned by Uncle Sam - will be made available to states that request it for distribution through private agencies.

The President also said that more distributions may be coming up.