tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684784543184552002024-03-18T22:29:29.670-05:00Feed the Need Engaging the community to end hunger in north central MinnesotaFeed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-25455943453437968792016-03-08T07:00:00.000-06:002016-03-08T07:00:00.270-06:00What The Media Is Getting Wrong About The Snap 3-Month Time Limit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqmuxx2yf9GFwsAA1pCJtFkB-RtJhhAD6MeiO_0lpmdVTzrCXHJBhxw-FqiOfOSJ7x8uqHUb7EMDU7x-TAnv3K1ncd5fCKrKekehfnrp1lJr7juxe8XSa7-fWUpVP4qH3BZdIocQrkDc/s1600/snap+blog+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqmuxx2yf9GFwsAA1pCJtFkB-RtJhhAD6MeiO_0lpmdVTzrCXHJBhxw-FqiOfOSJ7x8uqHUb7EMDU7x-TAnv3K1ncd5fCKrKekehfnrp1lJr7juxe8XSa7-fWUpVP4qH3BZdIocQrkDc/s320/snap+blog+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
There has been a good deal of <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/26/why-half-a-million-people-will-lose-their-food-stamps-this-year.html">media coverage</a> over the last few weeks about the pending SNAP cuts affecting those the government labels as “Abled-Bodied Adults Without Disabilities,” better known as childless adults who may be struggling to get by and typically aren’t eligible for other forms of public assistance.<br />
This April, 23 states will re-impose a 3 month time-limit on SNAP benefits - formerly Food Stamps - for hundreds of thousands of low-income adults. As a result, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates at least 500,000 to <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/more-than-500000-adults-will-lose-snap-benefits-in-2016-as-waivers-expire">as many as 1 million SNAP recipients will have their benefits cut off in 2016.</a><br />
This 3 month time limit, originally imposed in 1996 but waived by most states during the recent economic recession, means that unemployed and underemployed adults aged 18-49 who don’t qualify for disability or aren’t raising children will be cut off from SNAP after just 90 days. Starting April 1st, these individuals will no long receive their food assistance benefit, which average just $150 -$170 per month, barely enough to meet the most basic nutritional needs. These are our nation’s <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/individuals-subject-to-the-time-limit-have-very-low-incomes">poorest of the poor</a>, with average incomes around $2,000 per year.<br />
However, they can continue to receive the assistance if they can secure a full-time job with at least 20 hours of work per week or enroll in the under resourced (and often unavailable) state job training programs.<br />
But that can be easier said than done. This harsh time limit does not take into consideration if someone is working part time, but less than the 20 hour per week required, is actively looking for work but can’t find anything, or is willing to participate in a job training, but there are no programs in their county or there are <a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/articles/2016-01-22/states-set-to-gut-snap-benefits-for-childless-adults">no open slots</a>. It does not consider if someone is a veteran, or homeless, or an ex-offender or struggling with addiction or mental health issues.<br />
It may be tempting to look at this wave of SNAP cuts as simply a “work requirement” or a system to incentivize “able bodied” folks to work hard and become “deserving” of food assistance, as some of the <a href="http://www.wvgazettemail.com/daily-mail-opinion/20160201/josh-archambault-dhhr-food-stamp-requirement-worthy">media coverage</a> will try to convey. But, without mandating that states offer employment or job training opportunities for this at-risk population and/or raise the minimum wage, a 3-month time limit that demands folks who face huge barriers to employment secure full-time work is downright shortsighted. For this population, already struggling on the bottom rungs, the <a href="http://admin.ohiofoodbanks.org/uploads/news/ABAWD_Report_2014-2015-v3.pdf">research shows</a> this time limit will simply mean more hunger and hardship.<br />
The nation’s food access organizations, advocacy groups and activists are bracing for yet another wave of Americans slipping through our deteriorating safety net. We cannot stand by and allow hunger in the U.S. to continue to grow. There is the <a href="http://fightfor15.org/">Fight for $15</a>, proposals to boost the <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/blog/obama-wisely-calls-for-boosting-the-eitc-for-childless-adults">earned income tax credit for childless adults</a> and <a href="http://frac.org/leg-act-center/">important legislation</a> protecting the right to nutritious food for all that we can and must continue to support.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>More Than Half A Million Unemployed Childless Adults Will Lose </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Food Assistance Benefits in 2016 </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Watch this video from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities to learn more:</div>
<br />
<a href="https://youtu.be/tTYBI0-IFGY">https://youtu.be/tTYBI0-IFGY</a>Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-81648734911127848542016-02-24T12:20:00.003-06:002016-02-24T12:20:58.594-06:00MN FoodShare March Campaign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFaEzNTohbGG0f7qMG-25fzmX63JkdoKapwh0OieejPwR9UkBsUyW1V0EGyhS4DCWOPclQrHBfgdJLANCM6aSxmiv03Xyx3dvj0hhuDd8gHNO4TEd55XmJoGgn_7rgQ993BVEsyacnxw/s1600/mn+foodshare+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFaEzNTohbGG0f7qMG-25fzmX63JkdoKapwh0OieejPwR9UkBsUyW1V0EGyhS4DCWOPclQrHBfgdJLANCM6aSxmiv03Xyx3dvj0hhuDd8gHNO4TEd55XmJoGgn_7rgQ993BVEsyacnxw/s200/mn+foodshare+fb.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="e2ma-p-div" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 16px;">The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign is an annual statewide effort to help local food shelves fight hunger. It recruits thousands of individuals, companies, schools and community groups to hold local fund and food drives to aid in the effort.</span></div>
<div class="e2ma-p-div" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 16px;">During the month of March, food shelves across the state collect donations of money and food for the Minnesota FoodShare Campaign. The food and fund donations stay local but count toward the statewide effort. The more that is raised locally, the larger the share of the statewide campaign. These donations will support your local food shelf and its efforts to help fill the shelves and feed people in need.</span></div>
<div class="e2ma-p-div" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 16px;">There are many ways to help support the March Campaign. Individuals can donate funds by mail, on-line or in person. Businesses or organizations can host food and/or fund drives to aid in the effort by collecting cash or cans from their customers, employees, or members. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hsSBWs8vjfUq_uF8s0P65b_9WdNlRlqJDmF4HpWV6SwbujPBBewRiUTcLPK4_SsCIOVR8tkVd8dnj8aS1tDsxy55wx8pKbFAGm0jWDTAjNr3lSTKL24b-aqoedaBF_qQ2kDH-1YnC0k/s1600/Stretch-poster_FINAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hsSBWs8vjfUq_uF8s0P65b_9WdNlRlqJDmF4HpWV6SwbujPBBewRiUTcLPK4_SsCIOVR8tkVd8dnj8aS1tDsxy55wx8pKbFAGm0jWDTAjNr3lSTKL24b-aqoedaBF_qQ2kDH-1YnC0k/s200/Stretch-poster_FINAL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="e2ma-p-div" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 16px;"><strong>Call your local food shelf or contact Second Harvest to get involved.</strong></span></div>
<div class="e2ma-p-div" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 16px;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
<div class="e2ma-p-div" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 30px;"><strong>Support your local food shelf today! </strong></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-56239810695977586892016-02-09T11:06:00.002-06:002016-02-09T11:06:18.674-06:00Why Hunger launches Find Food Texting Service!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXl96Zy1XuV-J1mcEjrTtPRjcrhSWV86_SqJEGkxxOZFkwI-GahQzSo_ej0VirWKLQqEazh_3UbxBM6IJvdc6stLhuC1c65qUvgidUWW5vOQi3khw1WFBBJgmA4AZkPHGKOpIXY8xvNM/s1600/why+hunger+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXl96Zy1XuV-J1mcEjrTtPRjcrhSWV86_SqJEGkxxOZFkwI-GahQzSo_ej0VirWKLQqEazh_3UbxBM6IJvdc6stLhuC1c65qUvgidUWW5vOQi3khw1WFBBJgmA4AZkPHGKOpIXY8xvNM/s400/why+hunger+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
WhyHunger is proud to announce the launch of its new <strong>Find Food Texting Service</strong> that will allow more people than ever to find healthy food in their neighborhood via a simple text message! This is a national service that is critical in making food even more accessible to those in need and it eliminates the extra step of making a call. <br />
<br />
To find food all you have to do is <strong>text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479</strong> to get an instant listing of places in your area that you can go to for food assistance.<br />
<br />
As part of the Nourish Network for the Right to Food, the WhyHunger Hotline 1-800-5 HUNGRY (1-800-548-6479) refers people in need of emergency food assistance to food pantries, government programs and model grassroots organizations nationally that work to increase access to nutritious food and build self-reliance. Help is available by phone <strong>Monday through Friday from 9am-6pm EST</strong> and now with the new text option, information can be retrieved <strong>24/7.</strong><br />
<br />
In addition, WhyHunger continues to add resources (food banks, food pantries, food access sites) to its comprehensive <a href="http://networks.whyhunger.org/?utm_source=Nourishing+Change-October+2015&utm_campaign=CCOctober2015&utm_medium=archive">Find Food Database</a> of emergency food providers from around the US with the most up-to-date information about access to healthy food and nutrition services. If you need any further assistance, don’t hesitate to call our Hotline number directly, <a href="http://www.whyhunger.org/find-food">search "find food"</a> or send a text!<br />
<br />Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-34847042030864492742016-01-26T15:50:00.003-06:002016-01-26T15:51:39.387-06:00Chef's Gala <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4BKd_E7Sqcx1ZtJ0BZw8zLD8ibEoCcT6iZ52ABpXoRk25D32aPD9GeJYL-10BEE73QxBzVk9B3Tguxw_pHD5rtT5c-6N7pqBA8wlQ-ORzJVTm5FGi8V4ff90wcvnJzs1jAR-kRzwV7c/s1600/2016+Chef%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4BKd_E7Sqcx1ZtJ0BZw8zLD8ibEoCcT6iZ52ABpXoRk25D32aPD9GeJYL-10BEE73QxBzVk9B3Tguxw_pHD5rtT5c-6N7pqBA8wlQ-ORzJVTm5FGi8V4ff90wcvnJzs1jAR-kRzwV7c/s1600/2016+Chef%2527s.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Area Chefs Unite to Support Second Harvest<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">A “Chef’s Gala Benefitting Second Harvest” will be serving up gourmet fare for hunger relief on Thursday, January 28<sup>th</sup>, 2016 at the Timberlake Lodge. Attendees will join four premier local chefs for a four-course meal of their signature dishes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">The evening will start with Chef Sarah Master, Mr. Roberts Resort preparing a fabulous appetizer followed by Chef Robert Hansen of Forest Lake serving up a delicious soup. Chef Dusty Gould of Timberlake Lodge/17<sup>th</sup> Street Grill will present the main course with a wine pairing provided by Tony Serratore of Pokegama Plaza Liquor. Barb Schack of Barb’s Korner Kitchen will wrap up the evening by serving dessert. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">“It is an honor for Second Harvest to have these talented chefs come forward to support the food bank” according to Sue Estee, Executive Director of Second Harvest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is our sixth year and the Gala is a great way to combine an interesting meal with hunger relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our community really cares about all of its residents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chef’s Gala will be a delicious way to raise money for a cause that is continuing to struggle to meet their needs.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">Local “celebrities” are being recruited for auctioning off as servers for the event as well as the entertainment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These “Celebrity Servers” may assist in serving the table that purchases them but will primarily act as fundraisers. Luke Garner will act as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif";">The Gala begins with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., Celebrity Server Auction at 6:15 and the first course will be served at 7:00 p.m. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Come join the fun and help fight hunger in our community. Seating is limited call Kim at 218.326.4420 ext. 24 to reserve your spot at the table!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-64025139603501635592015-12-31T13:00:00.002-06:002015-12-31T13:01:40.071-06:00Last chance for your 2015 tax deductable donation!<br />
<div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 585px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.givemn.org/organization/Secondharvest"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><img alt="header1_email2_nobutton.jpg" border="0" src="http://support.2harvest.org/images/content/pagebuilder/header1_email2_nobutton.jpg" height="285" id="_x0000_i1025" width="600" /></span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://support.2harvest.org/site/R?i=kCg-RWtaNSctTI-1oyKJtQ"></a></span><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="matchgraphic_opt2.jpg"
href="http://support.2harvest.org/site/R?i=kCg-RWtaNSctTI-1oyKJtQ" style='position:absolute;
margin-left:98.8pt;margin-top:0;width:150pt;height:225pt;z-index:251659264;
mso-wrap-distance-left:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:3.75pt;
mso-wrap-distance-right:3.75pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:3.75pt;
mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;
mso-position-vertical-relative:line' o:allowoverlap="f" o:button="t">
<v:imagedata src="http://support.2harvest.org/images/content/pagebuilder/matchgraphic_opt2.jpg"/>
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://support.2harvest.org/site/R?i=kCg-RWtaNSctTI-1oyKJtQ"></a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As 2015 comes to a close, we wanted to send you one last thank
you for your continued support of our mission to end hunger through community
partnerships.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can help us make 2016 a brighter year for the 1 in 7
children, families and neighbors in need in our area.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And because every $1 you give provides FIVE meals, imagine
the impact you can make on the lives of so many.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you haven't already, <a href="https://www.givemn.org/organization/Secondharvest"><span style="color: blue;">please consider making one final tax-deductible gift before the end of 2015</span></a>.</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0in;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank you, and Happy
New Year.</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-2393265920262537052015-12-29T13:10:00.000-06:002015-12-29T13:14:36.520-06:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguiNnTOW6DX9TYAohNh89HGFa_QukgC-3IkMkVkDLzfNJFyC1wrnIzBcaCCJqbl9zp5DoGNC10UBbJoblLsqWQT04DD26Za8-r2VhSOIDTxkFhxeUpvdiXtenMIe99goGeg6UmG7-bpg/s1600/HD-Images-on-Happy-New-year-2016-Download92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguiNnTOW6DX9TYAohNh89HGFa_QukgC-3IkMkVkDLzfNJFyC1wrnIzBcaCCJqbl9zp5DoGNC10UBbJoblLsqWQT04DD26Za8-r2VhSOIDTxkFhxeUpvdiXtenMIe99goGeg6UmG7-bpg/s320/HD-Images-on-Happy-New-year-2016-Download92.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTBO2Ob1PW6CWZPMC6xxaYjB3Aw-u70FwPQJlmAriDrWUjnVcJN0T072B7jPWqOje_PzPprSNBKlevsGdz6KfBfu-VcjqKHTlo3oC747off1w0GGkYbfwRhCJIjZwBS8O_Y90vtSwTBw/s1600/FA+boy+with+carrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTBO2Ob1PW6CWZPMC6xxaYjB3Aw-u70FwPQJlmAriDrWUjnVcJN0T072B7jPWqOje_PzPprSNBKlevsGdz6KfBfu-VcjqKHTlo3oC747off1w0GGkYbfwRhCJIjZwBS8O_Y90vtSwTBw/s200/FA+boy+with+carrots.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">On behalf of Second Harvest
staff, volunteers and all whom we serve please accept our sincere thanks
for your support of Second Harvest North Central Food Bank.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQco8ytGLhj7nZ2Q3C0N-UO1Z9orZCRrVM8vrd1TPAJ67cZf76AYM9uKktMb4v5Lr6q1bInEqW48lARCVzIk-lgorKE0XiHdzWL4lLFdhRUMCJWtGi1T8XqPyuSho9qmAr052XkEAwZjA/s1600/spahn+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQco8ytGLhj7nZ2Q3C0N-UO1Z9orZCRrVM8vrd1TPAJ67cZf76AYM9uKktMb4v5Lr6q1bInEqW48lARCVzIk-lgorKE0XiHdzWL4lLFdhRUMCJWtGi1T8XqPyuSho9qmAr052XkEAwZjA/s200/spahn+family.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Because of your contributions
we were able to distribute 4.5 million pounds of food through our member
agencies to thousands of children, families and low income seniors in
north central Minnesota. While we are proud of all that we accomplished in
2015, our work continues. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Help us make 2016 an even brighter year for so
many children, seniors and families who are counting on us for a little extra
help during a difficult time in their lives.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Please consider a 100% tax-deductible year-end gift to Second Harvest
North Central Food Bank and help us feed hope in 2016. </span></span><br />
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oa2AS5svOua9Eeg6EELRuAXxTQ5geWVIhuiD10aPkOT5jKXno3MH_efqKH7pfT36fTpoFvYtkN9V3zC_2jtJh5c6rPS6XeBI-_aeIJ7YZCi156x5HXqBAC5iW0tF2fLFRVoVjOLdEnM/s1600/northern+lights+school+dec+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oa2AS5svOua9Eeg6EELRuAXxTQ5geWVIhuiD10aPkOT5jKXno3MH_efqKH7pfT36fTpoFvYtkN9V3zC_2jtJh5c6rPS6XeBI-_aeIJ7YZCi156x5HXqBAC5iW0tF2fLFRVoVjOLdEnM/s200/northern+lights+school+dec+2015.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Again, we would like to thank you for your support of our mission to end hunger.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.givemn.org/organization/Secondharvest" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img alt=" Donate today!" border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8eohSYbZ5LVeLk-OOhx9at_oXvXJr7CL7oZfYhNptWKSxtds9cU34-DtgbhfouXMTAniupDJjW0OGVk9vhk8oTitM3IwsOLeQ4tiiNp1QmqOMKWrypwcr3EJBmiKNvSwXHbjH9_AEbpY/s200/DonateButtonGREEN.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Happy New Year, </span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7egglvpc01vnhD4SbwCqOWjNQ47_VXPtOs8-4jewCZKQlfTKfDtBUG3y2ZnIRiLyYGDcv1wpG66DdaJGLVQ_QgGlzUwiE_jGJyiABqDcieM1hKu4hDehYZ9juhqdCP-gl9T_SPg5-sC0/s1600/LaDoux+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7egglvpc01vnhD4SbwCqOWjNQ47_VXPtOs8-4jewCZKQlfTKfDtBUG3y2ZnIRiLyYGDcv1wpG66DdaJGLVQ_QgGlzUwiE_jGJyiABqDcieM1hKu4hDehYZ9juhqdCP-gl9T_SPg5-sC0/s200/LaDoux+family.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt;">Susan Estee, Executive Director</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="e2ma-style"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Second Harvest North
Central Food Bank</span></b></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<span class="e2ma-style"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span class="e2ma-style"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.givemn.org/organization/Secondharvest" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" Donate today." border="0" height="68" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgo9hN7XjP0ROa7t0AalA-bXIIs1N4dDgxqF2nDxON7U3vuRdBS8tYMm5u8v1CJ4wOHpsJmR8p3gppypiinpLvDdeCg01aO0M3DBAlBZbc355FjUyjsW7rA3iUUUw88Q8ZBcL_x01ZVA/s400/tax+deductible+gift.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span>Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-14545327299763628022015-12-15T15:56:00.001-06:002015-12-15T15:56:32.005-06:00Jaden Hebeisen – Feeding Hope for the Holidays<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .25in; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jaden Hebeisen – Feeding Hope for the Holidays<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jaden Hebeisen didn’t
get any presents on her birthday. Jaden won’t get any at Christmas this year
either.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs_Ah0_Fb61MWxLxVN3dqReBJuTw9UxbrgGDr6SwVlY3-5P5mudrN3qsQIL0sVTQXuO_CBGRiuWBr1hikHSEIvS-qvTx-5LhfvV6_ZfT4W3ZZsaj9k91vqjmdNSExBParuWFEbarrm70/s1600/Jaden1+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHs_Ah0_Fb61MWxLxVN3dqReBJuTw9UxbrgGDr6SwVlY3-5P5mudrN3qsQIL0sVTQXuO_CBGRiuWBr1hikHSEIvS-qvTx-5LhfvV6_ZfT4W3ZZsaj9k91vqjmdNSExBParuWFEbarrm70/s320/Jaden1+resize.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Instead, Hebeisen, who
just turned 9, took the gifts she would have received and, with her dad Jared’s
help, Jaden brought them to Second Harvest North Central Food Bank and donated
them to the Itasca Holiday Program. “I just heard a similar story on the radio
and I ran to my dad and told him that I wanted to do that too, help others.” Jared thought that the idea would quickly
fade and become forgotten but when Jaden got up the next day, they made a plan
to give her presents away. Not only did Jaden give her gifts but on Monday,
December 14<sup>th</sup>, Jaden and her dad dedicated several hours packing and
distributing gift bags to those in our community that are in need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “On my birthday, other people get my presents,
so it helps families,” she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .25in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For her 9th birthday,
she said, “I didn’t need anything, and I wanted to donate. It’s important to
help others.” “I couldn’t be more proud
of her, said Jared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYh3hHRNHo8nhTVBL4k17zsNluxVxDwt-hq9uXmiw7tZb2vlDTqbFR1DwyZaB93GLdv-jeco-PprKU0hZWXHr5Jpj9bO2o2HvROcN0IfRPHavpIVtG48Z-CYEuKqcjBQEwy2m1KKUS7h0/s1600/Jaden2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYh3hHRNHo8nhTVBL4k17zsNluxVxDwt-hq9uXmiw7tZb2vlDTqbFR1DwyZaB93GLdv-jeco-PprKU0hZWXHr5Jpj9bO2o2HvROcN0IfRPHavpIVtG48Z-CYEuKqcjBQEwy2m1KKUS7h0/s320/Jaden2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jaden with Second Harvest Board Member Diane Skelly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Symbol","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Second
Harvest North Central Food Bank serves 115 hunger relief agencies in
Koochiching, Itasca, Cass, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties. Just
over 4.8 million pounds of food and grocery products were distributed through
those agencies in 2014. For more information regarding Second Harvest North
Central Food Bank, visit <a href="http://www.secondharvestncfb.com/">www.secondharvestncfb.com</a>
or call 218.326.4420. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-83482795230019823362015-12-08T14:45:00.001-06:002015-12-08T14:45:59.021-06:00SNAP REPORT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE<div align="center" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">FACT
SHEET: Council of Economic Advisers Releases Report Highlighting New Research
on SNAP’s Effectiveness and the Importance of Adequate Food Assistance</span></strong><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A new <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUxMjA4LjUyNDYxNDExJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MTIwOC41MjQ2MTQxMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTM5MjYzJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&101&&&https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/documents/SNAP_report_final_nonembargo.pdf">report</a>
released today from the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) finds
that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as
Food Stamps, is highly effective at reducing food insecurity—the government’s
measure for whether households lack the resources for consistent and dependable
access to food. The report highlights a growing body of research that finds
that children who receive food assistance see improvements in health and
academic performance and that these benefits are mirrored by long-run
improvements in health, educational attainment, and economic self-sufficiency.
The report also features new research that shows benefit levels are often
inadequate to sustain families through the end of the month—resulting in
high-cost consequences, such as a 27 percent increase in the rate of hospital
admissions due to low blood sugar for low-income adults between the first and
last week of the month, as well as diminished performance on standardized tests
among school age children. </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif;">Each month, SNAP helps
about 46 million low-income Americans put food on the table</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">. The
large majority of households receiving SNAP include children, senior citizens,
individuals with disabilities, and working adults. Two-thirds of SNAP benefits
go to households with children. </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Today’s CEA report draws on a
growing body of high-quality research about food insecurity and SNAP, finding
that: </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SNAP
plays an important role in reducing both poverty and food insecurity in the
United States</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">—<strong>especially
among children. </strong></span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SNAP benefits
lifted at least 4.7 million people out of poverty in 2014—including 2.1 million
children. SNAP also lifted more than 1.3 million children out of deep poverty,
or above half of the poverty line (for example, $11,925 for a family of four).</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The temporary
expansion of SNAP benefits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 (ARRA) lifted roughly 530,000 households out of food insecurity. </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SNAP
benefits support vulnerable populations including children, individuals with
disabilities, and the elderly, as well as an increasing number of working
families.</span></strong><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nearly one in
two households receiving SNAP benefits have children, and three-quarters of
recipient households have a child, an elderly member, or a member with a
disability. Fully 67 percent of the total value of SNAP benefits go to
households with children as these households on average get larger benefits
than households without children.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Over the past
20 years, the overall share of SNAP recipient households with earned income
rose by 50 percent. Among recipient households with children, the share with a
working adult has doubled since 1990.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SNAP’s
impact on children lasts well beyond their childhood years, providing long-run
benefits for health, education, and economic self-sufficiency.</span></strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Among adults who
grew up in disadvantaged households when the Food Stamp Program was first being
introduced, access to Food Stamps before birth and in early childhood led to
significant reductions in the likelihood of obesity and significant increases
in the likelihood of completing high school. </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Early exposure
to food stamps also led to reductions in metabolic syndrome (a cluster of
conditions associated with heart disease and diabetes) and increased economic
self-sufficiency among disadvantaged women.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">SNAP has
particularly large benefits for women and their families. </span></strong><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maternal
receipt of Food Stamps during pregnancy reduces the incidence of low
birth-weight by between 5 and 23 percent.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Exposure to
food assistance in utero and through early childhood has large overall health
and economic self-sufficiency impacts for disadvantaged women.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The majority of
working-age SNAP recipients already participate in the labor market, and the
program includes important supports to help more recipients successfully find
and keep work.</span></strong><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fifty-seven
percent of working-age adults receiving SNAP are either working or looking for
work, while 22 percent do not work due to a disability. Many recipients are
also the primary caregivers of young children or family members with disabilities.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SNAP also
supports work through the Employment and Training program, which directly helps
SNAP beneficiaries gain the skills they need to succeed in the labor market in
order to find and retain work. During fiscal year 2014, this program served about
600,000 SNAP recipients.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Even
with SNAP’s positive impact, nearly one in seven American households
experienced food insecurity in 2014. </span></strong><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These
households—which included 15 million children—lacked the resources necessary
for consistent and dependable access to food. </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2014, 40
percent of all food-insecure households—and nearly 6 percent of US households
overall—were considered to have <em>very
low</em> food security. This means that, in nearly seven million
households, at least one person in the household missed meals and experienced
disruptions in food intake due to insufficient resources for food.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">While
SNAP benefits allow families to put more food on the table, current benefit
levels are often insufficient to sustain them through the end of the month, with
substantial consequences.</span></strong><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More than half
of SNAP households currently report experiencing food insecurity, and the
fraction reporting very low food security has risen since the end of the
temporary benefits expansion under ARRA. </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New research
has linked diminished food budgets at the end of each month to high-cost
consequences, including: </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo7; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A drop-off in
caloric intake, with estimates of this decline ranging from 10 to 25 percent
over the course of the month;</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo7; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A 27 percent
increase in the rate of hospital admissions due to low blood sugar for
low-income adults between the first and last week of the month;</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo7; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An 11 percent
increase in the rate of disciplinary actions among school children in SNAP
households between the first and last week of the month;</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-list: l2 level2 lfo7; tab-stops: list 1.0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diminished
student performance on standardized tests, with performance improving only
gradually again after the next month’s benefits are received. </span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<strong><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Administration
Efforts to Build on Progress</span></strong><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">To reduce hunger and improve
family well-being, the Obama administration has been and remains dedicated to
providing American children and families with better access to the nutrition
they need to thrive. These investments make a real and measurable difference in
the lives of children and their families, and ensure a brighter, healthier
future for the entire country.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Through the Recovery Act, the
Administration temporarily increased SNAP benefits by 14 percent during the
Great Recession to help families put food on the table. Reports indicate
that food security among low-income households improved from 2008 to 2009
amidst a severe recession and increased unemployment; a significant part of
that improvement is likely attributable to SNAP.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The Administration has also
developed several initiatives to improve food security and nutrition for
vulnerable children. Through the Community Eligibility Provision, schools
in high-poverty areas are now able to offer free breakfast and lunch to all
students with significantly less administrative burden. Recent revisions to the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
added a cash benefit to allow participants to purchase fruits and vegetables, a
change that substantially increased the value of the package. The
Administration also has expanded access for low-income children to nutritious
food during the summer months when school meals are unavailable and the risk of
food insecurity is heightened. The results of these efforts have been
promising. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) delivered 23
million more summer meals than in 2009. And the Administration has
successfully implemented Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children
(SEBTC) pilots, which provide additional food assistance to low-income families
with children during the summer months. These pilots were found to reduce very
low food security among children by 26 percent. The President’s 2016
Budget proposed a significant expansion of this effort.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Finally, this Administration has
provided select states waivers to test ways of reducing the administrative
burdens of SNAP for elderly households, a population that continues to be
undeserved. After seeing positive results in participating states, including
an increase of elderly participation by more than 50 percent in Alabama, the
President’s 2016 Budget included a proposal to create a state option that would
expand upon these efforts to improve access to SNAP benefits for the elderly.</span><span lang="EN"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-31545195257221927622015-11-30T07:00:00.000-06:002015-12-01T10:04:04.738-06:002015 Itasca Holiday Program<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZquvKVV9_wSfCdgP6lDDRQxKPOEywTPYP3Sfp6bp0RFbLO3sPKJR2eLcb5kkZY3Ytno55nJAmAeTqkVbKB0gfz0pcax5U8yNgZBhDJiIq7jdgflS-hGnDicrUoQcdCA1JDXhLvo41MJU/s1600/IHP-logo-24.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZquvKVV9_wSfCdgP6lDDRQxKPOEywTPYP3Sfp6bp0RFbLO3sPKJR2eLcb5kkZY3Ytno55nJAmAeTqkVbKB0gfz0pcax5U8yNgZBhDJiIq7jdgflS-hGnDicrUoQcdCA1JDXhLvo41MJU/s400/IHP-logo-24.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In collaboration with
hundreds of donors and volunteers, Second Harvest North Central Food Bank will
help fill empty plates this holiday season. Second Harvest works all year
providing hunger relief to low income people in the region. During the
holidays, families already struggling to put food on the table experience extra
pressure to make ends meet. The Itasca Holiday Program has been helping families
have a brighter holiday for the past 21 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbYfx4_L9ukWj-TBO_nrIjVDYLltNcXOiewKWJjYQtgp2R8RqeJ3BdTJgYYOUmVPLnrhTn_eKWe0CDlh7_crAtv-s_a5410ywvPogmn-K07X9tqoGPChlaS4bLvHpYgVN8ERXux56fRU/s1600/LM+kick+off+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbYfx4_L9ukWj-TBO_nrIjVDYLltNcXOiewKWJjYQtgp2R8RqeJ3BdTJgYYOUmVPLnrhTn_eKWe0CDlh7_crAtv-s_a5410ywvPogmn-K07X9tqoGPChlaS4bLvHpYgVN8ERXux56fRU/s320/LM+kick+off+2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Special holiday food boxes are the primary focus of the program.
The boxes contain foods for traditional holiday meals plus several additional
meals. Over 1,800 food boxes, along with a bag of seasonal fruit and a $15
grocery voucher, will be distributed to referred families, seniors and disabled
adults in Itasca County and Hill City during the week of December 13 -17. Children
ages 1-12 in the households receiving a food box will be given a gift bag provided
by donations through the Gingerbread Giving Trees and Toys for Tots in Itasca
County. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the second year in a row, due to space limitations at
Second Harvest Food Bank, the gift collection and distribution will be
conducted at Zion Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. Beginning in early December, Zion will
provide space in the Christian Life Center to sort and store the donated gifts. Volunteer activities related to gift sorting
will be held at Zion during the week of December 7<sup>th</sup> culminating
with distribution of food boxes and gifts to Grand Rapids area referred
families with children on December 13 and 14.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhSdalx7_R-O_e2t1zkduFb0ktWtaDAcosGbl_juPwL_tVmyKk3mbYHz57-j0oXaSNpXcVl3njY2TiKscBJ0pdfld7UrzOARMeCm6Bc5yoHKidhcrtJWUR0Nj1Xlw6AEkzFwCcIAyXAU/s1600/pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhSdalx7_R-O_e2t1zkduFb0ktWtaDAcosGbl_juPwL_tVmyKk3mbYHz57-j0oXaSNpXcVl3njY2TiKscBJ0pdfld7UrzOARMeCm6Bc5yoHKidhcrtJWUR0Nj1Xlw6AEkzFwCcIAyXAU/s320/pumpkins.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grand Rapids distribution moved to the Zion Lutheran Church
last year and not only alleviated the holiday space crunch at Second Harvest
but allowed more convenient distribution times for referred families and
volunteers. Once again, families will
have the choice to pick up their food box and gifts on two different days, one
being a weekend. “Since so many of our
participants are working families, offering the Sunday distribution time helps
make it easier for people to pick up their food boxes and gifts”, according to
Sue Estee, Second Harvest Executive Director.
“The new Sunday volunteer day also provides more opportunities for
people to get involved and help others during the holidays,” Estee added. Grand Rapids participants without children who
qualify for Food Boxes will pick up at Second Harvest usual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Food box and gift distribution at the other locations in
Itasca County and Hill City will go on the same as in previous years. Referred families from Deer River, Bigfork,
Inger, Squaw Lake, Nashwauk, Taconite and Hill City will pick up at the same
locations as last year. Community
volunteers coordinate referral and distribution in each community, making the
Itasca Holiday Program truly an effort of neighbors helping neighbors. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The many annual activities related to the Itasca Holiday
Program have begun. The program appeal is out, the Gingerbread Giving Trees are
going up, and referred families are signing up for the program. The gratitude
of the families is evident as they thank Second Harvest for the food, and
express how little they would have for their children if it weren’t for this
program. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO83aip1Mh3-_3QNEdAl58BLH4DFN7gDZgFXZ3cNa-bVo3-klwHlZcaKpcEFggbkUyUlCXFymjJ1QLsmxG2p9QjX2ThijXfP_UvEJ8mRFkESoJc0O0miZToRpoVXE0uk_7GE-_rAegbVg/s1600/IHP+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCtsyig_hqF_a7Q1tnFtUihpCRhyphenhyphenUgoGp8naWHze1grDfJEN0_WDqNQLwDB_6KG9eOgT2uGfsNp4OLeJHo_SRHqP5GLh5sHrQn5y-BJODPi5drx0fMehJPxRnAdamP25g07Ier1ovXzc/s1600/IHP+children+donating+gifts+11+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaCtsyig_hqF_a7Q1tnFtUihpCRhyphenhyphenUgoGp8naWHze1grDfJEN0_WDqNQLwDB_6KG9eOgT2uGfsNp4OLeJHo_SRHqP5GLh5sHrQn5y-BJODPi5drx0fMehJPxRnAdamP25g07Ier1ovXzc/s200/IHP+children+donating+gifts+11+2014.jpg" width="150" /></a><strong><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While signing up for the program, one mother explained “I have two girls’
ages three and six years old, and they hear from everyone, “you don’t get
presents if you’re bad”. My girls have
not been bad, but they get hardly anything at Christmas because I can’t afford
it and pay the other bills, too. I never
want them to think they are bad just because I don’t have the money to give
them special things on Christmas. I know
the holidays aren’t supposed to be about what you get, but I want to be a
parent who can give some presents to my kids and make them feel good and happy
on Christmas. Without your help, that would be impossible for me and it’s tough
to admit that.”</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></strong> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The need for hunger relief continues to increase in our
community. So far this year, food
shelves have seen a 15% increase in people coming for help. High costs for food, transportation and
housing put a squeeze on low income families and those on fixed incomes. Winter causes extra strain on already tight
budgets. The food boxes provided by the
holiday program provide extra food at a time that so many struggling families,
low income seniors and people with disabilities really need it.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn97ZkIQy46f8xY5Q_3183RGP1bDvYm-rJKuUi7xRFG47mS0hDkW_NGOx3KtzdFpkBvn500OZbkjT2ogrtW4cg5FMj-2QI1SyiexZ43xZdDiX0fnwFXhx9UWiKZtTnhHGyA1HerQMOGQ/s1600/feeding+Hope+Logo+2015_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Second Harvest’s annual Itasca Holiday Program enables the
community to reach out to their neighbors during this season of sharing. We are
fortunate to live in such a caring community. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Please help Second Harvest feed
hope this holiday season.</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>(Pictured here: (1)L & M employees with SHNCFB staff Ellen Christmas kicking off the Itasca Holiday Program. (2)Children helping others by donating gifts to the Itasca Holiday Program)</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></strong> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.givemn.org/organization/Secondharvest" target="_blank"><img alt="Give Today!" border="0" height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC2uvp1IpHwyyAEhyphenhyphenZRoNGUnMQ-YzlLQy_HKobjfseOPclTssfNZXZ7TjenZsl-c5XdSmNcL4Ssau030UwKsSwphehWZlD7h7MQBGqIKNKa_CGQE5u03sQoDCEKu1IWHequp4gWBgzg0/s200/Give+Today.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="e2ma-p-div" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<strong><span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 15px;"></span></strong> </div>
<div class="e2ma-p-div" style="color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaiRcdMR1lV2w0UEKk2D_RUqWtKkHMsznvdcC3F-buB13Wswfi9sjBKaaP19DvrBTPhi1jQgfYSSOCGSg-R2VKPtCvtNGw1lPbUO9B-UjM1v7fTFSbiCdxLzGgCybBOAmuOdu5aLJ7FA/s1600/dec11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaiRcdMR1lV2w0UEKk2D_RUqWtKkHMsznvdcC3F-buB13Wswfi9sjBKaaP19DvrBTPhi1jQgfYSSOCGSg-R2VKPtCvtNGw1lPbUO9B-UjM1v7fTFSbiCdxLzGgCybBOAmuOdu5aLJ7FA/s1600/dec11.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Join Itasca County officers and employees at the Itasca County Courthouse on Friday, December 11th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm for a benefit lunch. All proceeds help support the Itasca Holiday Program.</span> </div>
<br /></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-84713330012205611122015-11-25T08:00:00.000-06:002015-12-01T10:03:48.224-06:00Happy Thanksgiving 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKea03e_HxRNtCAbD7JyNbhrmpE-48lumUg5M6zlcW9OqQQg0ixluMPFKd7ADXL3qYfLNTWouWdMeQA0Z0QctyiFO9z0ANugIXNjtHGOPv16S_M0aHwhjxhQQGIW7ob2gvdZ1OwqdNiz4/s1600/thanksgiving+facebook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKea03e_HxRNtCAbD7JyNbhrmpE-48lumUg5M6zlcW9OqQQg0ixluMPFKd7ADXL3qYfLNTWouWdMeQA0Z0QctyiFO9z0ANugIXNjtHGOPv16S_M0aHwhjxhQQGIW7ob2gvdZ1OwqdNiz4/s320/thanksgiving+facebook.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "cambria";"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>How
can 49 million people face hunger in a country that wastes billions of pounds
of food?<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There
is more than enough food in America to feed every man, woman and child. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, here</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> in
north central Minnesota, thousands of people face hunger during the holidays
and throughout the year. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As individuals, charities, businesses and government, we all
have a role to play in getting more food to people in need. Together, we can
solve hunger and ensure that everyone has enough to eat this holiday season and
all year long. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Second Harvest North Central Food Bank
provides over 3.5 million meals for people in need every year and leads the
fight against hunger in our community. As a member of Feeding America, we also
play</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> a vital role in solving the problem of hunger nationwide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As we gather together this
Thanksgiving, we are thankful for the opportunity to share an abundant meal
with our family and friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same
time, let us remember that many in our community are struggling every day to
put just a little food on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thanks to the generous support of so many donors and volunteers, Second
Harvest is able to help thousands of hungry kids, seniors on low fixed incomes,
disabled adults and hard working families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m so thankful for this community’s support for Second Harvest Food
Bank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Donate. Volunteer. Advocate.
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Together we can solve hunger.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjqIQuo391VdpoKCj5T-c5resOSr8X12o92ah5x7FgGXu11WPTDmaYAAlnuJuQkUZLUTES8lALSInoFPihbbMevpLpKCmb3wlqT7jaGanzdbEHnM6W5KrrxK-yTlMndDR5TWMCfuNFV0/s1600/happy+thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOjqIQuo391VdpoKCj5T-c5resOSr8X12o92ah5x7FgGXu11WPTDmaYAAlnuJuQkUZLUTES8lALSInoFPihbbMevpLpKCmb3wlqT7jaGanzdbEHnM6W5KrrxK-yTlMndDR5TWMCfuNFV0/s1600/happy+thanksgiving.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.givemn.org/organization/Secondharvest" target="_blank"><img alt="Give Today" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzRqB8dn5mMTxp7AAsHHSoYOiDD1nUgI5s2aWHcz1GhqOy96RC3y_bTm3ODcEySqvBgq2CYeCqgR0l1KZD21oEzkfZDSpNVz9jFzY36ucw9WzuQk63bUPwPPcIHnzf52-Kn6gb7auO-o/s1600/Give+Today.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span> </div>
<br />Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-69894506061379168162015-11-16T15:06:00.002-06:002015-11-17T09:23:18.878-06:00November is Diabetes Awareness Month<div class="date" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/normal "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #53682b; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 500 36px/38px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Diabetes in the food-pantry line: how food banks can help reach the hard-to-reach</span></div>
<div class="date" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/normal "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="date" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/normal "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
November 12, 2015</div>
<div class="author" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/normal "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
by Elaine Waxman</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
This blog is re-posted from Urban Institute's blog,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.urban.org/urban-wire/diabetes-food-pantry-line-how-food-banks-can-help-reach-hard-reach" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98300; text-decoration: underline;">Urban Wire</a>.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqEUgA4oVunnUsrA1DG2YVOq8Vv8eH4BctdF60_1qVqYye1er-aGAg1EkGQ9LcAvAmg-qVUAmm2Mbv6kSBp9V66dWSvYPN5mSUEDU9VqXJKzfvVahtPJo8IF6wTr0hkvj256Cs56NsXg/s1600/DSC00371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqEUgA4oVunnUsrA1DG2YVOq8Vv8eH4BctdF60_1qVqYye1er-aGAg1EkGQ9LcAvAmg-qVUAmm2Mbv6kSBp9V66dWSvYPN5mSUEDU9VqXJKzfvVahtPJo8IF6wTr0hkvj256Cs56NsXg/s320/DSC00371.JPG" width="320" /></a>On a sunny spring day in 2013, the <a href="http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/redwood-empire-food-bank.html?s_src=W15BREFER&s_referrer=www.feedingamerica.org%2F&s_subsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.feedingamerica.org%2Fneed-help-find-food%2F" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98300; text-decoration: underline;" title="Redwood Empire Food Bank">Redwood Empire Food Bank</a><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of Sonoma County, California, set up a mobile food pantry in the parking lot of a boarded-up Albertson’s supermarket. Nearly 85 people—mostly mothers with very young children—came to pick up fruits and vegetables, which can be expensive items for low-income families. But that day, the food bank was also providing another service: screenings for diabetes, a disease that can be impossible to control if you can’t afford enough to eat.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
About 80 people signed up to be screened, and several had elevated A1C levels, a marker for blood sugar control used to diagnose diabetes. In some cases, these young moms were not aware they were sick. Others told food bank staff that they previously had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes, but could not afford medical care or had lost their health coverage after the birth of their child. </div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
For these clients, the mobile food pantry’s public health intervention came at a critical moment. Prior research suggests that food insecurity may act as a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17436030" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98300; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">risk factor</a> for diet-sensitive diseases and that people struggling with both diabetes and food insecurity <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3263865/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98300; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">have poorer health outcomes</a>. People facing hard choices between buying food and medicine or medical care may all but give up on managing their disease.</div>
<div class="large-paragraph" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Piloting diabetes interventions at food pantry sites</strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
Because many people with food insecurity have health problems that can be managed or improved with a better diet, food pantries are ideal sites for health interventions. We tested this concept through a pilot project that included Redwood Empire, The Food Bank of Corpus Christi in Texas, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in Grove City, Ohio, and their food pantry partners.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
Between February 2012 and March 2014, we enrolled 687 food pantry clients with diabetes in a six-month intervention program. Participants received diabetes screenings, blood sugar monitoring, diabetes-appropriate food, medical-care referrals, and self-management support. The hope was that the program would empower clients to manage their diabetes by providing them with food and with educational resources that would support them in following through on their doctor’s orders.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
My coauthors from the University of California, San Francisco and from Feeding America and I recently <a href="http://www.urban.org/node/72741" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98300; text-decoration: underline;">published our evaluation</a> of the pilot project. We found that, by the end of the intervention, participants had improved their blood sugar control, added more fruits and vegetables to their diets, and were better able to follow their doctors’ instructions for taking medicine and managing their disease.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
While the results need to be confirmed in a controlled trial, <a href="http://healthyfoodbankhub.feedingamerica.org/resource/feeding-americas-response-to-diabetes-and-food-insecurity/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98300; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">already underway</a> this fall, the study suggests that food pantries are a promising model for promoting better health among vulnerable populations—and not just for diabetes, but also for other diseases affected by poor nutrition, such as hypertension.</div>
<div class="large-paragraph" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Food banks can partner with and educate health care providers</strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
This vision places a heavy burden on food banks, which would need to continue improving the quality and nutritional content of the food they distribute, including adding more perishable food, which adds costs and complexity to their operations. Through the pilot, we gained crucial experience in working through challenges such as purchasing food when donated supplies didn’t meet quality standards, increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables, and educating staff and volunteers about the needs of clients with diet-sensitive diseases.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
But this vision also offers new hope for leveraging the nonprofit sector to reach those disconnected from or underserved by the health care sector. The Feeding America food banking network serves 46.5 million people annually, and about one-third of these households <a href="http://help.feedingamerica.org/HungerInAmerica/hunger-in-america-2014-summary.pdf?s_src=W15BREFER&s_referrer=www.feedingamerica.org%2F&s_subsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.feedingamerica.org%2Fneed-help-find-food%2F" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #e98300; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">reported in 2014</a> that at least one member of their household had diabetes; more than half reported someone had hypertension.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
Moreover, partnerships with food banks can give health care providers an important resource for food- insecure patients who are struggling to manage their health. Effective diabetes management requires a regular supply of healthy food, a need not typically addressed through the health care system. During the pilot study, food banks also reached out to health care providers about screening patients for food insecurity and referring them to the diabetes food program. At Redwood Empire Food Bank alone, providers referred more than 200 of their patients to the food bank during the study, as they began viewing the project as a real benefit for their patients.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
While charitable solutions alone won’t be enough to improve the health of the nearly one in six Americans who are food insecure, policymakers should engage food banks in public health interventions, leveraging their ability to reach vulnerable populations with diet-sensitive diseases.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 14px/20px "Gotham A", "Gotham B", Arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 10px 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">*Elaine Waxman is a senior fellow in the Income and Benefits Policy Center at the Urban Institute.</em></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-20940331552540440022015-11-11T15:41:00.000-06:002015-11-11T15:41:15.634-06:00Give to the Max Day 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://givemn.org/organization/Secondharvest" target="_blank">Give to the Max 2015</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TOHRwqrhSMxNefWNtke_p-9tfLjgZ55RaPIYarN6NkjbI_-Gaj5FQWU2_bLx6kN8q5J8POcFhjWcOWv_9kq0UOPw4pT49AEmMCczCc4XXtcNpp63ov0a6iq-QMGcwIIHwzO-sJ6hbAc/s1600/bringing+hope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TOHRwqrhSMxNefWNtke_p-9tfLjgZ55RaPIYarN6NkjbI_-Gaj5FQWU2_bLx6kN8q5J8POcFhjWcOWv_9kq0UOPw4pT49AEmMCczCc4XXtcNpp63ov0a6iq-QMGcwIIHwzO-sJ6hbAc/s1600/bringing+hope.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;">Gearing up for Give to the Max Day! Join your fellow supporter of Second Harvest North Central Food Bank during the "Great Minnesota Give Together!" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;">Make your online donation anytime from 12:00am until 11:59pm between Tuesday, November 2nd and Thursday, November 12 for a chance at helping us win an additional $1,000 golden ticket!<strong> </strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;">Simply visit our<strong> Second Harvest North Central Food Bank </strong>page on givemn.org to schedule your gift in advance. All gifts made now through November 11th will automatically transacted on Give to the Max Day November 12th. Schedule your donation right now!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;">Thank you for your generous donation and for helping us help those that we serve.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;">#GTMD15</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeULEqIzXjVmdaymhI0nss-zY7K4tykFQsUfyBw72pGBNJHPm3zDT6spaD_2u1Pg8xfMyCNfhJYzdNXcwdsVowGXCczPRIThQ_-K2WeHQWiXEpPeiTG0x_hqSODNHAnVOX0MBq3-mROk/s1600/give+to+the+max+day+2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeULEqIzXjVmdaymhI0nss-zY7K4tykFQsUfyBw72pGBNJHPm3zDT6spaD_2u1Pg8xfMyCNfhJYzdNXcwdsVowGXCczPRIThQ_-K2WeHQWiXEpPeiTG0x_hqSODNHAnVOX0MBq3-mROk/s320/give+to+the+max+day+2015.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="e2ma-style" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-54764460311119890232015-10-21T15:01:00.003-05:002015-10-21T15:01:41.011-05:00Cub Cares Round Up October 18-31<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCqh_Za1q1jPhMF0kwQYDW5rxkHIZjl1kUrb7alF_P0Drs1IdSrXm5krc4356M09ytXYleThgYAua7HcBeAQH-lD7S78oxshWMQYXa2CvN_AWvlEXUwNvVQx0F08Msj40RUDRyZS4oRI/s1600/Goldy%252BCub_Cares_Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCqh_Za1q1jPhMF0kwQYDW5rxkHIZjl1kUrb7alF_P0Drs1IdSrXm5krc4356M09ytXYleThgYAua7HcBeAQH-lD7S78oxshWMQYXa2CvN_AWvlEXUwNvVQx0F08Msj40RUDRyZS4oRI/s320/Goldy%252BCub_Cares_Post.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">Cub Cares!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">Cub Foods and Gopher Athletics have teamed up this year for Cub Cares, benefiting Second<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Harvest and Minnesota’s Feeding America Food Banks. From October 18-31, customers will be asked to </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">round up </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">their purchase at the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>checkout register to help fight hunger. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">Please help us help others <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ROUND<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>UP <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rEvTlMLkI6K4CFU4KzYN7U49bSUsbMkTauSirmDQr2Hacp5sxxGMwR0qp9wo-VDrryJoNvafqWpy1_xRuFUwxuOqZkKC1Q7fYNJCh-cQX51WRv_TEw_7Ys0jqFBB0QuMdx9AteUlY_4/s1600/CUB+Round+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rEvTlMLkI6K4CFU4KzYN7U49bSUsbMkTauSirmDQr2Hacp5sxxGMwR0qp9wo-VDrryJoNvafqWpy1_xRuFUwxuOqZkKC1Q7fYNJCh-cQX51WRv_TEw_7Ys0jqFBB0QuMdx9AteUlY_4/s320/CUB+Round+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 24pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">your </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;">purchase today</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
</div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none; text-align: center;">
<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 26pt; language: en-US; line-height: 119%; mso-ascii-font-family: Georgia; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Georgia; mso-default-font-family: Georgia; mso-greek-font-family: Georgia; mso-latin-font-family: Georgia; mso-latinext-font-family: Georgia; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-80105394751047897352015-10-21T14:54:00.001-05:002015-10-21T14:57:19.741-05:001 in 5 Children face Hunger and Food Insecurities<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTGdr03cUB4t4U8rRdpgideOlg0jF6XTR9khUmBD-z7arOufzaej0-HISGKWjKmw8Cg8evAkxadK_qljwoY8DFnhDSJt7xy_gZAMg-ooTJ282xd40hYHq_aI8Dt2Sq8cqnZNjnYpYrec/s1600/14%252520Million%252520Children%252520green_jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTGdr03cUB4t4U8rRdpgideOlg0jF6XTR9khUmBD-z7arOufzaej0-HISGKWjKmw8Cg8evAkxadK_qljwoY8DFnhDSJt7xy_gZAMg-ooTJ282xd40hYHq_aI8Dt2Sq8cqnZNjnYpYrec/s320/14%252520Million%252520Children%252520green_jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:rect id="_x0000_s1026" style='position:absolute;
left:-570.3pt;top:15.21pt;width:242.52pt;height:242.52pt;z-index:1;
mso-wrap-distance-left:2.88pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:2.88pt;
mso-wrap-distance-right:2.88pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:2.88pt'
o:preferrelative="t" filled="f" fillcolor="white [7]" stroked="f"
strokecolor="black [0]" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t">
<v:fill color2="white [7]"/>
<v:stroke color2="white [7]">
<o:left v:ext="view" color="black [0]" color2="white [7]"/>
<o:top v:ext="view" color="black [0]" color2="white [7]"/>
<o:right v:ext="view" color="black [0]" color2="white [7]"/>
<o:bottom v:ext="view" color="black [0]" color2="white [7]"/>
<o:column v:ext="view" color="black [0]" color2="white [7]"/>
</v:stroke>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\MARKET~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png"
o:title="2015%20-%20Summer%20Hunger%20-%20Customizable%20Version"/>
<v:shadow color="#eeece1 [4]"/>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
<![if pub]><b:otyEscherText type="OplPo" oty="1" oh="286">
<b:FUserChangedFmt priv="200">True</b:FUserChangedFmt>
<b:FMoved priv="300">True</b:FMoved>
<b:Oid priv="C05">(```````````</b:Oid>
<b:OidAssociated priv="D05">(```````````</b:OidAssociated>
<b:Qtf priv="3404">0</b:Qtf>
<b:Ohlinfo priv="3A0E">287</b:Ohlinfo>
<b:DxlMax priv="AA04">3079982</b:DxlMax>
<b:DylMax priv="AB04">3079982</b:DylMax>
<b:ISptPictureShape priv="B704">0</b:ISptPictureShape>
</b:otyEscherText>
<b:Filename type="OplFileName" oty="102" oh="287">
<b:SzFileName priv="318">2015%20-%20Summer%20Hunger%20-%20Customizable%20Version.png</b:SzFileName>
</b:Filename>
<![endif]>
</v:rect><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Food insecurity is harmful to all people, but it is particularly devastating to children. Proper nutrition is critical to a child’s development. Not having enough of the right kinds of food can have serious implications for a child’s physical and mental health, academic achievement and future economic prosperity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">In the United States today, 15 million children face hunger. Consequently, one in five kids are facing greater obstacles to reaching their fullest potential. The future of America lies in our children. When hunger threatens the future of a child, it threatens the future of our nation as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; mso-level-font-family: Symbol; mso-level-number-format: bullet; mso-level-size: 12.0pt; mso-level-text: ·; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; direction: ltr; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; unicode-bidi: embed;">·</span><span style="width: 12.75pt;"> </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;"><span dir="ltr"></span>84 percent of client households with children report purchasing the cheapest food available, even if they knew it wasn’t the healthiest option, in an effort to provide enough food for their household.</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">Among Feeding America client households with children, nearly 9 in 10 households (89 percent) are food insecure.</span><span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; mso-pagination: widow-orphan;">
<span lang="en-US" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-arabic-font-family: Arial; mso-armenian-font-family: Arial; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-currency-font-family: Arial; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Arial; mso-default-font-family: Arial; mso-greek-font-family: Arial; mso-hebrew-font-family: Arial; mso-latin-font-family: Arial; mso-latinext-font-family: Arial; mso-ligatures: none;">As a leading charity organization, Feeding America is dedicated to helping solve the child hunger problem. Our network of community food banks serves 12 million children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;">
<span lang="en-US" style="language: en-US; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="file:///C:/Users/MARKET~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.png" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="323" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOHFB087CGNsZLe1PBuMfPG1KuGjcvb-AqdTi-xYAdgp0_axcVwmaHPekQNWYFSOXe7B5Ch0rvvcflg0bea0-LJ6fXzeyI3x8NHVPL-qSb4yfsm_VONL785ShVny9UMCafYSLMP1iQrg/s1600/1%252520in%2525205%252520children%252520infographic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOHFB087CGNsZLe1PBuMfPG1KuGjcvb-AqdTi-xYAdgp0_axcVwmaHPekQNWYFSOXe7B5Ch0rvvcflg0bea0-LJ6fXzeyI3x8NHVPL-qSb4yfsm_VONL785ShVny9UMCafYSLMP1iQrg/s320/1%252520in%2525205%252520children%252520infographic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-i5RdHXlcFRFJeuYOyVV6abgV-Y4e0Gs_MPb3jdv9t0g4vvuDSHx0dIEl77-B9Bi6-Nn-Kx05g-kpgfhIIuVup1XDvcXmYvPu6ZjaqcpACiWMxOsNAmjbAP2FCo1NGLNjHXFZHLfZM0/s1600/1in5Kids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-i5RdHXlcFRFJeuYOyVV6abgV-Y4e0Gs_MPb3jdv9t0g4vvuDSHx0dIEl77-B9Bi6-Nn-Kx05g-kpgfhIIuVup1XDvcXmYvPu6ZjaqcpACiWMxOsNAmjbAP2FCo1NGLNjHXFZHLfZM0/s320/1in5Kids.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-71944344195686701762015-09-29T10:02:00.002-05:002015-09-29T10:02:50.053-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Wv_7A8YjEBOMfTgIPjXFCUzH43I6JB6a3cjQP5xqmCFuHjc9LN5MtAeOTMuR5e8z1gVt25R7wzpdZNZ8bMhGPiRCiwla8cQ3NMEfo-LLQSP0Si6jm-70RZRj0sC4k-USya647M8VWfM/s1600/mayor+adams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Wv_7A8YjEBOMfTgIPjXFCUzH43I6JB6a3cjQP5xqmCFuHjc9LN5MtAeOTMuR5e8z1gVt25R7wzpdZNZ8bMhGPiRCiwla8cQ3NMEfo-LLQSP0Si6jm-70RZRj0sC4k-USya647M8VWfM/s320/mayor+adams.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Many neighbors are suffering in these hard times. In fact, we are expecting to help thousands of people this fall. Thanksgiving and the cooler weather will bring thousands of hungry seniors, men, women and children to the doors of the member agencies that rely on us!<br />
<br />
Thank you Mayor Dale Adams, City of Grand Rapids MN for your commitment to ENDING HUNGER in our community!<br />
<br />Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-33275226402985954332015-09-16T14:21:00.001-05:002015-09-16T14:21:10.478-05:00
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jim Sommers named First Runner-Up
Outstanding Senior Volunteer at the Minnesota State Fair<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Itasca County has had quite a showing among the Minnesota State Fair
Outstanding Senior Volunteer awards, and this year was no exception when Jim
Sommers of rural Cohasset was named 2015 First Runner-Up at the State Fair on September
3, 2015.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sommers joins a group of other
Itasca County volunteers also recognized at the state level, including
Outstanding Seniors Lloyd Adams from Wabana in 2013 and Joan Oja from Pengilly
in 2011, and First Runner-Up Lorraine Linser from Grand Rapids in 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwG7N6vLbN8VHdiu4f2Nnw_epZjnvsSG-l-CRDAvWuvB_xUakS7Bps3FAIBv4gELavi-ljROKh-koElxk4Onqmvj8pRenkTUNJKg0cHX-JHJmbDfWXiE5IMcresypvXVU8KMtuToZKUo/s1600/Jim+Sommers+cropped+resiz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwG7N6vLbN8VHdiu4f2Nnw_epZjnvsSG-l-CRDAvWuvB_xUakS7Bps3FAIBv4gELavi-ljROKh-koElxk4Onqmvj8pRenkTUNJKg0cHX-JHJmbDfWXiE5IMcresypvXVU8KMtuToZKUo/s200/Jim+Sommers+cropped+resiz.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 90%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jim Sommers, 2015 MN State Fair
Outstanding Senior First Runner-Up<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Out
of a pool of nominees from each county in the state, two winners and two
runners-up are honored at an awards ceremony and open house as they are
recognized at the state level for their time and talent to benefit their
community since the age of 65. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwO3a29fAFN2n5suScLoUA4KIKUdDfQZmGvMSYHyuj-7wj-gsmtE2tzUDaU0SBWgEmzR5XOc5ZaiTzF7YzmJVaBAOzBbeSx5xS37zdfd8w2ZXOPS75jn8gji9Fm1tnMhirskQAL6IXYM/s1600/jim+sommers+resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwO3a29fAFN2n5suScLoUA4KIKUdDfQZmGvMSYHyuj-7wj-gsmtE2tzUDaU0SBWgEmzR5XOc5ZaiTzF7YzmJVaBAOzBbeSx5xS37zdfd8w2ZXOPS75jn8gji9Fm1tnMhirskQAL6IXYM/s320/jim+sommers+resize.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 105%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Judges look for diversity of
accomplishments, length of service and commitment to serving others and their
community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sommers volunteers primarily as
a driver for older adults who are unable to transport themselves to/from
medical appointments. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 105%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When asked what is rewarding about his volunteer
work, Jim replied, “I like to drive, and l enjoy meeting new people. Some of
the rides are fairly long, and we get to know each other pretty well. The folks
I drive are so grateful for this service, and it makes me feel good to be able
to help them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years, Jim has
logged more than 5,000 volunteer hours, and likely tens-of-thousands of miles
serving Arrowhead Transit, Rapid Transit, Senior Wheels and ElderCircle Adult
Day Stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As quoted in a letter of
recommendation, “Jim’s warm and compassionate personality immediately puts his
passengers at ease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is a great
conversationalist, can always find something in common with clients, and his
sense of humor is a delight to be around.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" unselectable="on"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" unselectable="on"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" unselectable="on"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" unselectable="on"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" unselectable="on"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" unselectable="on"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" unselectable="on"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" unselectable="on"></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmT-HznGNJDnDFfTGBDPakZ14CnUFkjTjG-qS3c5kBOs1BtOyJimlM82e3aN9N-jId6JXeXWVQHvSlV2zPwEP2DFliiKnnfRPIbsmyzFEKPdCbC-Za10oD1xv6hftn49H-fi4TNjP-8k/s1600/lola+jim+and+ron+oleheiser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmT-HznGNJDnDFfTGBDPakZ14CnUFkjTjG-qS3c5kBOs1BtOyJimlM82e3aN9N-jId6JXeXWVQHvSlV2zPwEP2DFliiKnnfRPIbsmyzFEKPdCbC-Za10oD1xv6hftn49H-fi4TNjP-8k/s200/lola+jim+and+ron+oleheiser.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 90%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">Itasca County Outstanding Senior
Lola Seekman, 2015 MN State Fair Outstanding Senior First Runner-Up Jim Sommers
and MN State Fair Board Member Ron Oleheiser<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-23178104649181184182015-09-10T14:16:00.002-05:002015-09-10T14:16:25.970-05:00USDA Awards $8 Million to Support Healthier Foods in Schools
<br />
<h1 style="margin: 0.67em 0in;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">USDA Awards $8
Million to Support Healthier Foods in Schools and Child Care Centers<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<br />
<b>Release No.</b> <br />
0245.15<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<b>Contact:</b> <br />
USDA Office of Communications (202) 720-4623<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today
announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be awarding over
$8 million in grants to help school nutrition professionals better prepare
healthy meals for their students. Approximately $2.6 million dollars in grants
will support implementation of new national professional standards for all
school nutrition employees who manage and operate the <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwOTA5LjQ4ODc4NTIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDkwOS40ODg3ODUyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTQ4MzAxJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&101&&&http://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/national-school-lunch-program-nslp" id="anch_123" target="extWindow" title="Opens in new window."><span style="color: blue;">National School
Lunch</span></a> and <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwOTA5LjQ4ODc4NTIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDkwOS40ODg3ODUyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTQ4MzAxJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&102&&&http://www.fns.usda.gov/sbp/school-breakfast-program-sbp" id="anch_124" target="extWindow" title="Opens in new window."><span style="color: blue;">School Breakfast
Programs</span></a>, and $5.6 million will go to help states expand and enhance food
service training programs and provide nutrition education in school, child
care, and summer meal settings.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xmX7FwoEgblV9INyFNI7XFC7s_evOHZ5Ggl5HItZOllTItPOV88nY_778WctouyNisrFK73S1-lukRBCzvinsU1WZVsHMql9QwscHdaSyPr1mmQzis-YbzjAoBZRap2qx-NTBWu68RU/s1600/_JRP9208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xmX7FwoEgblV9INyFNI7XFC7s_evOHZ5Ggl5HItZOllTItPOV88nY_778WctouyNisrFK73S1-lukRBCzvinsU1WZVsHMql9QwscHdaSyPr1mmQzis-YbzjAoBZRap2qx-NTBWu68RU/s320/_JRP9208.jpg" width="320" /></a>"For the past three years, kids have eaten healthier breakfasts,
lunches and snacks at school thanks to the bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids
Act, which made the first meaningful improvements to the nutrition of foods and
beverages served in cafeterias and sold in vending machines in 30 years. Nearly
all schools are successfully meeting the standards, and these grants part of
our ongoing commitment to give states and schools the additional resources they
need," said Vilsack. "Parents, teachers, principals, and school
nutrition professionals want the best for their children. Together we can make
sure we're giving our kids the healthy start in life they deserve."<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The grants announced today add to the large </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwOTA5LjQ4ODc4NTIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDkwOS40ODg3ODUyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTQ4MzAxJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&103&&&http://blogs.usda.gov/2015/08/17/back-to-school-back-to-healthier-school-meals/" id="anch_125" target="extWindow" title="Opens in new window."><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;">number of resources</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> that USDA provides to help schools serve healthier food options that
meet updated nutrition standards, including </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwOTA5LjQ4ODc4NTIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDkwOS40ODg3ODUyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTQ4MzAxJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&104&&&http://www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/2015/005915" id="anch_126" target="extWindow" title="Opens in new window."><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;">technical assistance</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">, educational materials, and additional reimbursements. More than 95
percent of schools report that they are successfully meeting those nutrition
standards, which were based on recommendations from pediatricians and other
child health experts at the Institute of Medicine.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">In February, </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwOTA5LjQ4ODc4NTIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDkwOS40ODg3ODUyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTQ4MzAxJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&105&&&http://www.fns.usda.gov/pressrelease/fns-0002-15" id="anch_127" target="extWindow" title="Opens in new window."><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;">USDA announced national professional standards</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> for school nutrition employees that went into effect
on July 1, 2015. These standards, which vary according to position and job
requirements, ensure that school nutrition professionals have the training and
skills they need to plan, prepare, purchase, and promote healthy meals. In
addition to several built-in flexibilities intended to facilitate the first
year of implementation and address the challenges faced by smaller school
districts, USDA is providing a total of $2.6 million to 19 state agencies to
develop and enhance existing trainings within their state that will allow
school nutrition professionals to meet these standards. The Professional
Standards Training Grants promote training in nutrition; operations;
administration; and communications and marketing.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">In addition, 19 states received a 2015 Team
Nutrition Training Grant of up to $350,000 – $5.6 million in total – to support
trainings that focus on encouraging healthy eating. Those efforts could
include:</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">using Smarter Lunchrooms strategies that use principles
from behavioral economics to encourage healthy choices,<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">meeting meal pattern requirements for school meals,<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">delivering interactive nutrition education activities,
and<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">providing schools and child care providers with
technical assistance to create and maintain a healthier environment.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Grants activities must be sustainable and
achieve measurable outcomes. For example, the Oregon Department of Education
will use the grant funds to hold 10 Smarter Lunchroom workshops on strategies
for arranging the lunchroom that promote healthy choices. As a result, at least
120 school food authorities and child nutrition program sponsors will receive
training and follow-up assistance. A summary of previous years' grant
activities by state can be found at the </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwOTA5LjQ4ODc4NTIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDkwOS40ODg3ODUyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTQ4MzAxJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&106&&&http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/team-nutrition-training-grants" id="anch_128" target="extWindow" title="Opens in new window."><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Team Nutrition Training Grants website</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">The Team Nutrition Training Grants are
awarded as part of USDA's </span><a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTUwOTA5LjQ4ODc4NTIxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE1MDkwOS40ODg3ODUyMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3NTQ4MzAxJmVtYWlsaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9a2ltQHNlY29uZGhhcnZlc3RuY2ZiLmNvbSZmbD0mZXh0cmE9TXVsdGl2YXJpYXRlSWQ9JiYm&&&107&&&http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/team-nutrition" id="anch_129" target="extWindow" title="Opens in new window."><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Team Nutrition</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
initiative, which provides resources, training, and nutrition education lessons
for schools and child care providers. This year marks the 20th anniversary of
the Team Nutrition initiative. In that time, Team Nutrition has provided nearly
$90 million in grant funds to state agencies that implement USDA Child
Nutrition Programs.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">USDA's Food and Nutrition Service administers
America's nutrition assistance programs including the National School Lunch and
School Breakfast programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer
Food Service Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Together these programs make up the federal nutrition safety net.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<br />
<em>USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint
of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC
20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339
(Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users). </em><o:p></o:p><br />
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-64141271170038205312015-08-28T10:27:00.001-05:002015-08-28T10:27:30.501-05:00Hunger Action Month<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">SECOND HARVEST AND FEEDING AMERICA
NETWORK RAISE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE OF HUNGER THROUGHOUT HUNGER ACTION MONTH<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 24.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grand Rapids, MN <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(August 27, 2015)
– Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, a member of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the </span></span><a href="http://www.feedingamerica.org/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Feeding
America</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><u><span style="color: blue;">®</span></u></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> nationwide
network of food banks, will observe Hunger Action Month<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">TM</span></sup> – a
nationwide initiative designed to mobilize the public to take action on the
issue of hunger and join the movement to help end hunger. Hunger advocates from
north central Minnesota and across the country are working together this
September to shine a light on the issue of hunger in America – including one of
five children in Itasca County. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“There are over 5,100 food insure people, including almost 2,000
children in Itasca County struggling with hunger, and Second Harvest is eager
to rally around Hunger Action Month as we continue our fight to solve this
issue,” said Sue Estee , ED of Second Harvest. “Hunger is an issue that affects
everyone – our child’s classmate, an office coworker or neighbor down the
street. September is an opportunity for all hunger-relief advocates to take
simple steps towards supporting those in need.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starting Tuesday, September 1, the trees at Old Central School in Grand
Rapids will light up orange thanks to Minnesota Power, Lake Country Power, and
the City of Grand Rapids. Second Harvest will commemorate Hunger Action Day®,
which will be held Thursday, September 3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hunger Action Day is an opportunity for the country to learn more about
how hunger affects their community. Second Harvest will hold its annual Donor
Brunch and a Kids Pack Volunteer Day will take place on Monday, September 28<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every month, Second Harvest provides food for approximately 17,000
people in the seven county region served by the food bank. Over 2,200 commodity
food boxes are distributed to low income seniors, over 2,000 school children
receive Kids Packs of food to take home for the weekend and about 1,000
families are served at the Second Harvest Food Shelf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our area, 12% of the population is food
insecure and one in five children are at risk of hunger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Domestic hunger affects every community in our nation, preventing
millions of families, seniors and children from thriving,” said Matt Knott,
president of Feeding America. “This September we all are given a chance to come
together and make a difference for those facing hunger."</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second Harvest is one of 200 member Feeding America food banks, which
serves every county in the United States and provides over 3 billion meals each
year to Americans in need.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To learn more about Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month please visit </span></span><a href="http://www.hungeractionmonth.org/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.hungeractionmonth.org</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">###<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About Second Harvest</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Second Harvest North Central Food Bank serves 115 hunger relief
agencies in Koochiching, Itasca, Cass, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs and
Kanabec counties. In 2014, 4.8 million pounds of food and grocery products were
distributed through those agencies. For more information regarding Second
Harvest North Central Food Bank, visit </span><a href="http://www.secondharvestncfb.com/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">www.secondharvestncfb.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> or call
218.326.4420.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About Feeding America</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Feeding
America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight
against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46
million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities
across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security
among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and
advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals,
charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate.
Volunteer. Advocate. Educate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together
we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or
follow us on Twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-10400561134792896862015-07-20T11:25:00.002-05:002015-07-20T11:25:19.237-05:00Second Harvest North Central Food Bank and Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Announce Sixth Annual Food Shelf Challenge Grant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKFmUtPl2E7lo2exwTSWyEUXb5LI1lgT-gmXuaOTJyvUKocPmmZSiA6OTLZuWpxJHyX41X1ZqQnlMqJmrQ4tMYIlflFUVhpl0msBT95_aeiRFQrBJCiO6cvcZ44kbN8gWwtHZX9f8MeM/s1600/Landin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKFmUtPl2E7lo2exwTSWyEUXb5LI1lgT-gmXuaOTJyvUKocPmmZSiA6OTLZuWpxJHyX41X1ZqQnlMqJmrQ4tMYIlflFUVhpl0msBT95_aeiRFQrBJCiO6cvcZ44kbN8gWwtHZX9f8MeM/s320/Landin.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
Summer is the hungriest time of the year for low-income children. In fact 1,230 local kids living in the Grand Rapids area relied on food from Second Harvest’s Food Shelf in June. Research shows that children consume up to 50 percent of their total daily calories at school during the school year. Without that food, many low income families struggle to fill that gap. That puts a lot of pressure on food shelves to keep up with the high demand during the summer months.<br />
<br />Second Harvest and Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless announce the Sixth Annual $150,000 Food Shelf Challenge Grant. Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless will proportionally match donations to Second Harvest Food Shelf during the month of July, up to $5,000. The more funds the Food Shelf raises in July, the larger the matching grant from Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless will be. <br />
<br />Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless believes this approach to hunger alleviation is effective because it brings communities together to solve a growing concern across Minnesota. The $150,000 Challenge will power a statewide initiative that leverages Open Your Heart funding to bring additional dollars to food shelves. Since 1986, Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless has targeted millions of dollars to strategically fight hunger in Minnesota. Open Your Heart funds the purchase and transfer of more than one million pounds of fresh produce, meat and dairy products every year through Hunger Solutions Minnesota.<br />
<br />Hard working families turn to the food shelf when they really need to. According to Desiree, a local mom who visited last month, “It really hurts your pride when you’re not able to feed your family, so you use whatever resources are available. With the help we get from the Food Shelf it makes a difference to get by and have one less thing to worry about. I don’t think a lot of people could feed their families without it.”<br />
<br />It’s not just kids who are hungry in the summer. The Food Shelf helps seniors struggling to get by on low fixed incomes, disabled adults trying to maintain independence, and working people whose paychecks don’t stretch far enough to make ends meet. <br />
<br />Any donation made in July will help Second Harvest maximize the Open Your Heart July Challenge Grant and provide more food for hungry kids, seniors, and our struggling friends and neighbors.<br />For more information visit: <a href="http://www.secondharvestncfb.com/">www.secondharvestncfb.com</a>.<br />
<br />ABOUT SECOND HARVEST NORTH CENTRAL FOOD BANK<br />Second Harvest North Central Food Bank serves 115 hunger relief agencies in Koochiching, Itasca, Cass, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties. Second Harvest distributed 4.8 million pounds of food and grocery products were distributed through our partner agencies in 2014. For more information regarding Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, visit <a href="http://www.secondharvestncfb.com/">www.secondharvestncfb.com</a> or call 218.326.4420.<br />
<br />
ABOUT OPEN YOUR HEART TO THE HUNGRY AND HOMELESS<br />Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless has 29 years of experience as the only grant provider in Minnesota focused solely on alleviating hunger and homelessness. Open Your Heart helps food and shelter providers of all sizes get the resources they need to serve more people, including mattresses, freezers, fresh produce and roof repairs. They also support homeless students by providing school supplies, activity fees, gym shoes, tutoring materials and other essentials that help them engage fully in school. For more information: <a href="http://www.oyh.org/">http://www.oyh.org/</a><br />
<br />###Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-32477470369318081802015-07-15T12:15:00.001-05:002015-07-15T12:15:39.027-05:00Consider Donating Your Excess Produce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcgj12jkD8QhQCVn_JwnyjSoRJEnZON4PiWpqv3o51Ef59DQQm8vCBb-leEZp9OWGQtLHDA17kG50Sv8IexfCZpnX9TNiK47ocezqruA69_ulWh8zz8eoYI8lgZ9bdohvbRbDrjx9-Ec/s1600/IMG_3664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcgj12jkD8QhQCVn_JwnyjSoRJEnZON4PiWpqv3o51Ef59DQQm8vCBb-leEZp9OWGQtLHDA17kG50Sv8IexfCZpnX9TNiK47ocezqruA69_ulWh8zz8eoYI8lgZ9bdohvbRbDrjx9-Ec/s320/IMG_3664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are or know a backyard gardener blessed with the sun,
soil, rain and luck to give you more produce than you can use, please consider
sharing it with your local food shelf. People who use food shelves are our
neighbors who have fallen on hard times. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food shelves will gladly accept produce from both organic
and non-organic gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not worry if
your apples have some harmless blemishes, if the tomatoes are not yet perfectly
red (they will ripen even after they are harvested) or if your red peppers are
still green. If you would feed the produce to your family, it is perfect for
the food shelf. Food that is spoiled, damaged, has insect holes, or burst skin
should be put into your compost pile instead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Produce can be dropped off at Second Harvest Food Bank,
Monday through Thursday from 8am – 5pm and Friday from 8am – 12pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Morning drop offs are preferable as we can
then give the perishables out that day. For more information, call Second
Harvest Food Bank at 326-4420 ext. 25.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Earlier this week, Second Harvest Food Shelf customers left
with not only food from the shelves, but with a variety of garden plants
including tomato, cabbage, Swiss chard, purple cabbage, celery, and a variety
of herbs to grow at home. Thank you to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Beier's
Greenhouse</b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Grand Rapids
Greenhouse</b> for their donation of plants that will help people experience
growing and producing some of their own fresh and healthy food. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-76342085676212973672015-07-08T14:30:00.001-05:002015-07-08T14:30:18.137-05:00Farm to Foodshelf Grant Helps Farmers Make a Big Difference in the Fight to End Hunger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBE8wuHTPDkFQ2Aa3y75sdklmeZOUlkRY8CUNXG2sc5iRI8aHyrmgjJfmA38P0voUN98sQO6Dw4G6xRMm7EvfFv8UfW8mGcRFuF2ijrs2vu-SkxMt7opUs6O_Kh1_nwwLfEqRqmHQfvk/s1600/Farmers-Markets-Local-Produce-Benefits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBE8wuHTPDkFQ2Aa3y75sdklmeZOUlkRY8CUNXG2sc5iRI8aHyrmgjJfmA38P0voUN98sQO6Dw4G6xRMm7EvfFv8UfW8mGcRFuF2ijrs2vu-SkxMt7opUs6O_Kh1_nwwLfEqRqmHQfvk/s320/Farmers-Markets-Local-Produce-Benefits.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The six Feeding America food banks serving Minnesota are part of a surplus produce program with local farmers, Share Fresh Minnesota, which moves millions of pounds of excess produce out of the fields and delivers it to neighbors in need statewide. With the growing season in Minnesota upon us, we are excited to once again, promote the “Farm to Foodshelf” grant - an opportunity for farmers to donate excess produce to area food shelves this harvest season, thus helping to end hunger in our community. Made possible through a State of Minnesota grant, there are funds available for Minnesota growers to help offset harvesting and packaging costs for donating produce that would otherwise go unharvested or be discarded.<br />
<br />
Through Farm to Foodshelf, we will collect and distribute more than 5 million pounds of fresh food in the first grant year, and in the coming harvest season we have the opportunity to collect and distribute even more food to our hungry neighbors. We want to thank the Minnesota growers who participated in the first year, and joined us in the fight to end hunger.<br />
<br />
If you are a Minnesota agricultural producer or processor, you can donate through this program. Produce must be “surplus that would otherwise go unharvested or discarded.” Edible and commonly used produce such as potatoes, sweet corn, cabbage, cantaloupe, onions, carrots, squash and others are welcome. Food must meet safety standards and be fit for human consumption.<br />
<br />
Consider donating! For more information about how to participate, reimbursements for harvest and packaging for transfer, how donated excess produce gets from a farm to a food bank or food shelf and more, please call 877.547.0245 or email <a href="mailto:produce@2harvest.org">produce@2harvest.org</a>. <br />
<br />
Farm to Foodshelf is funded by the State of Minnesota.Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-23769124536782645722015-07-07T11:28:00.002-05:002015-07-08T14:10:02.296-05:00A Day with Jess - Beast of Burden Challenge<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDiPe4uV90SgFg1dKudCASqNBmlEce2QlsX-R-51SLSQlmp3JL-uFYgSDSROmeShZWLKGKKzR3pE9j_HL6-0lUArg5z_7qfQR-pbYuZsm6PDZ7F91qiyAj_TNSJ7G4xAZW7WQASQIyw4/s1600/Jess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDiPe4uV90SgFg1dKudCASqNBmlEce2QlsX-R-51SLSQlmp3JL-uFYgSDSROmeShZWLKGKKzR3pE9j_HL6-0lUArg5z_7qfQR-pbYuZsm6PDZ7F91qiyAj_TNSJ7G4xAZW7WQASQIyw4/s320/Jess.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second
Harvest North Central Food Bank recently received a visit from Jess Kurti, who
is volunteering at all 200 Feeding America member food banks. She’s also
running marathons in each state, but we got her to slow down long enough to
tell us more about what she calls the Beast of Burden Challenge:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“My goal is
to raise awareness about the existence and importance of food banking in the
fight to end hunger. I aim to highlight the wide array of programs food banks
provide. And emphasize how easily any individual can get involved in ending
hunger,” states Jess.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In
addition, I would like to engage the running community about the importance of
alleviating hunger. I’ve discovered that marathons and food banks have a
surprising amount in common. No one knows the importance of nutrition for
health, development, and performance more than a runner! (And a hunger fighter,
of course.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention, the absolute
necessity of thousands of volunteers. No race would be remotely successful
without the passion and dedication of so many volunteers. And operating a food
bank without volunteers would be next to impossible.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeKlpSGbDYSueQeWJHwbuO1TdjiwHTaosb37yluh3_PcspjiI23pvAA7jz7A3huTrUSBENyoPOrW7ON42qdxkeLNI93I7Vh-W9My220pqX9C95uq7ydjdzmcXsjz2JmhWyrUo-lxwm44/s1600/IMG_3665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeKlpSGbDYSueQeWJHwbuO1TdjiwHTaosb37yluh3_PcspjiI23pvAA7jz7A3huTrUSBENyoPOrW7ON42qdxkeLNI93I7Vh-W9My220pqX9C95uq7ydjdzmcXsjz2JmhWyrUo-lxwm44/s320/IMG_3665.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To this end,
Jess came to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>northern Minnesota to run
Grandma’s Marathon and then to visit our food bank in Grand Rapids as part of <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her quest to run a marathon in every state and
to volunteer at every food bank in the Feeding America network. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She spent the day here doing a host of
different volunteer activities which included repacking cereal and potatoes in
the warehouse, watering donated tomato plants, and helping to wait on customers
at our on-site food shelf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Working
directly with clients and the other food shelf volunteers to put food into the
hands of people struggling to keep themselves and their families feed was a
real highlight for Jess.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0qYCDPj6wRI-7Lrvf2xOcsPE2mQtkPpAdwyLoYogf093rtuewtpvAjgAZRFDLJ5S_3Tp6QII9_KW8b-rvw8kD8SflsXLDB6vio5Op1rbgo_EUN12-GQF-_ejnXiPPDoOxttab6ZWizA/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_0qYCDPj6wRI-7Lrvf2xOcsPE2mQtkPpAdwyLoYogf093rtuewtpvAjgAZRFDLJ5S_3Tp6QII9_KW8b-rvw8kD8SflsXLDB6vio5Op1rbgo_EUN12-GQF-_ejnXiPPDoOxttab6ZWizA/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="255" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jess and her
Beast of Burden Challenge is an example of what one motivated person can do to
help fight hunger in this nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are a million good causes, but she found her passion was tied to people facing
hunger and food insecurity, and she is crossing the nation to help out and get
a close-up view of what is being done throughout the Feeding America network of
food banks to combat hunger in our nation.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jess is a
warm-hearted and spirited one-woman show who found her own unique way to make a
difference and get others involved in the fight against hunger. It was a
pleasure and inspiration to have her here working beside us and also a very
good day for her. Happy and safe travels for the rest of the journey, Jess, and
congrats on all your accomplishments so far!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ellen Christmas, Program Manager</span></span></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-49067073371361473562015-05-26T10:00:00.002-05:002015-05-26T10:00:52.602-05:00Map the Meal Gap 2015 Study Indicates Food Insecurity Hits Close to Home
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">According to Study, 20% of Children in north central Minnesota Struggle
with Hunger</span></b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GRAND RAPIDS, MN –
May 06, 2015</b> – Second Harvest North Central Food Bank announced the release
of the annual Map the Meal Gap study, which details the startling rate of food
insecurity experienced by people in the seven country north central Minnesota
region. Map the Meal Gap 2015 results reveal that overall food insecurity is
highest in Koochiching County, where 13% of the population is food insecure and
in Cass County, where 23.5% of children are food insecure.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“At Second Harvest we are constantly working to provide
up to date solutions for all of the communities that we serve in our seven
county region,” said Sue Estee, Executive Director at Second Harvest North
Central Food Bank. “Findings from Map the Meal Gap 2015 helps hunger-relief
organizations like ours better quantify the economic issues that so many of our
neighbors deal with. We have continued to see an increase in demand at our
member agencies and this study substantiates it. We now know more and more
people are struggling to put food on their tables.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take, for instance, Jenny a wife and mother of three
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past she has only needed
help from the food shelf during the winter months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both she and her husband work, but her job is
seasonal. Her husband is currently on disability/workman’s comp due injuries
that occurred while on the job. He is taking in less pay and they have a lot of
medical bills to pay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family uses a
lot of food from their garden in the summer and they live off the land when
they can afford to hunt and fish. They cook whole foods because they are
cheaper to buy and turn to the food shelf when there is not enough money to buy
groceries. Right now is one of those times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“The kids know when we have to cut back and try to help and don’t
complain, but I know how much this means to us and totally appreciate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days I don’t know what we would do without
it (food shelf) being here,” said Jenny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Other local key findings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>24,870
people in north central Minnesota are food insecure,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>9,430 of
those are children under the age of 18<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">•<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The number
of food insecure people continues to rise every year – the economy has not yet
recovered for low-income households<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Map the Meal Gap 2015 is based on an analysis of statistics
collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Census Bureau, and the
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2013, the most recent year for which data is
available. The study, commissioned by Feeding America, is a detailed analysis
of the nation’s food insecurity. An interactive map is available that allows
viewers to explore the issue of hunger in north central Minnesota and across
the country. The map can be found at <u>map.feedingamerica.org. </u>Second
Harvest encourages you to look at the map and see how your county rates. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*Food insecurity is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
measure of lack of access at times to enough food for an active, healthy life
for all household members. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">About Second
Harvest <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second
Harvest North Central Food Bank serves 115 hunger relief agencies in
Koochiching, Itasca, Cass, Aitkin, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties.
In 2014, 4.8 million pounds of food and grocery products were distributed
through those agencies. For more information regarding Second Harvest North
Central Food Bank, visit </span></span><a href="http://www.secondharvestncfb.com/"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.secondharvestncfb.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> or call 218.326.4420.</span>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-86400329774309368922015-04-21T15:20:00.001-05:002015-04-21T15:20:20.611-05:00That’s a Wrap!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5qoNnKxrzbZMsL3KTrZ6AOdPeE-f7xCMAJi3cFy1sGuYcgXfmUbT2ge-snpx_nzqhQr2IiYn0cBM4i89VAZhdax-KyLNhK5HIMQwVBm-Ai2fCL-TGC7mf6hMwWThu09nTuilLcWr1Zs/s1600/Interact+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5qoNnKxrzbZMsL3KTrZ6AOdPeE-f7xCMAJi3cFy1sGuYcgXfmUbT2ge-snpx_nzqhQr2IiYn0cBM4i89VAZhdax-KyLNhK5HIMQwVBm-Ai2fCL-TGC7mf6hMwWThu09nTuilLcWr1Zs/s1600/Interact+1.jpg" height="320" width="311" /></a></div>
The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign has come to an end and thanks to the overwhelming support of the community; Second Harvest surpassed their goal of $60,000, raising $62,444.86! The March Campaign ended strong with over $40,000 came in within the last couple weeks of the campaign. <br />
<br />
“We are so fortunate to have such a caring community that steps up in times of need. We were worried we weren’t going to reach our goal. This is will now help us keep the shelves stocked into the busy, summer months. I want to personally thank each and every donor for their support. Every dollar makes a difference,” said Sue Estee, Executive Director of Second Harvest.<br />
<br />
Interact Club hosted a school-wide food and fund drive at the Grand Rapids High School to help stock the shelves at the Second Harvest Food Shelf resulting in 312 pounds of food and $759.00 to count for the FoodShare March Campaign. Left to right are: Interact Club members Elle Igo, Ciara Dornhecker, Eric Northard, Club Advisor and Kohl Mattson.Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768478454318455200.post-23694324196935897962015-04-13T09:45:00.002-05:002015-04-13T09:45:39.818-05:00FOOD SHELF DRIVE AT GRAND CASINO COLLECTS MORE THAN 5 TONS OF FOOD FOR LOCAL CHARITIES<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbqDSSHxdOHz_zfJbeYeLruZ9yyssiUJxQiDCQKzaGJfEZf7oV7DU19Vgv_TQKsEa-OvEQIwLbBrIThb2eaio2_I0TRB4J8Zh3xAuxJdpfxH2NZBQWI2b1FRk_Qy8NxUU9tVWaQ0i0Wc/s1600/Grand+Casino.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbqDSSHxdOHz_zfJbeYeLruZ9yyssiUJxQiDCQKzaGJfEZf7oV7DU19Vgv_TQKsEa-OvEQIwLbBrIThb2eaio2_I0TRB4J8Zh3xAuxJdpfxH2NZBQWI2b1FRk_Qy8NxUU9tVWaQ0i0Wc/s1600/Grand+Casino.JPG" height="279" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Casino also makes $10,000 donation to area food banks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Onamia, MN And Hinckley, MN – In an effort to restock area food shelves, Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley held a massive food drive at each casino Tuesday, March 24 through Thursday, March 26. <br /><br />For every non-perishable food item guests brought in – up to 3 – they received $5 in Grand Play™ and a charitable dining ticket good at any of the casinos’ restaurants. In turn, Grand Casinos donated 10 percent of their entire bill. Second Harvest North Central Food Bank and Family Pathways each are receiving a $5,000 donation from Grand Casino.<br /><br />“Food shelves need help all year, but during March donations make an even bigger impact due the annual FoodShare Campaign,” said Sue Estee, Director of Second Harvest North Central Food Bank. “The support from Grand Casino helps us feed the increasing number of hungry children, low income seniors and struggling families who seek help from us now and into the summer months when donations typically dwindle.”<br /><br />Participation in the food drive had literally “tons” of participation, as guests donated more than 5 tons of non-perishable food items.<br /><br />“I’m not surprised that our guests got involved in our giving effort. They always help with our charity connections,” said Heidi Hamers, Corporate Vice President of Marketing for Grand Casino. “We are pleased to help facilitate an event and donate to Second Harvest North Central Food Bank and Family Pathways. Hunger relief organizations are always in need of food donations this time of year.”<br /><br />Shuttle busses full of more than 5,000 pounds of canned goods made deliveries to Garrison Area Care Givers, in Garrison, Minn., Mille Lacs Lake Division of Indian Works on the Mille Lacs Reservation, Family Pathways Onamia Food Shelf and 5,230 pounds was brought to the Family Pathways in Hinckley, Minn. <br /><br />“Grand Casino Hinckley and Grand Casino Mille Lacs continue to be a wonderful partner for Family Pathways in both communities,” said Kathy Wills, Director Basic Life Services for the organization. “They are reaching out to us several times a year to help those in our communities that are struggling. We appreciate all of their continued efforts and creative ways they have come up with to help out. Thank you is not enough to say back to their customers!”<br /><br />About Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley <br />Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley owned by Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, are two of Minnesota’s premier entertainment facilities, offering gaming, accommodations, dining, conference and banquet facilities, live entertainment and the Grand Harmony Spa and Grand National Golf Club at Grand Casino Hinckley. Grand Casino Mille Lacs is located on Highway 169, 90 minutes north of the Twin Cities and two hours southwest of Duluth; Grand Casino Hinckley is located on I-35, 75 minutes north of the Twin Cities and 65 minutes south of Duluth. The casinos directly employ more than 3,000 people and cover more than 4,000 people with their insurance plan. The Mille Lacs Band taxes these entities at 100 percent and utilizes the revenues to provide health care, education, and other programs and services to Mille Lacs Band members. <br /><br />###Feed the Needhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15558959589547925827noreply@blogger.com0