Food for People Kicks Off Children's Summer Lunch Program June 24th, 2009 Carson Park, Eureka
Did you know that 49.3 % of Humboldt County's children qualify for the federal Free or Reduced School Lunch Program? Nearly half of our communities' children depend on school meal programs to meet their nutritional needs during the academic year. What do these young people eat, then, during summer months when school is out? In Humboldt County Food for People partners with local park and recreation programs, community centers and volunteers to provide healthy sack lunches at 16 distribution sites throughout the County. Take a look below to learn more about where lunches are offered this summer!
Food for People's 2009 Summer Lunch Sites2009 Summer Lunch Sites
Site |
Location |
City |
Serving Time |
Serving Dates |
Redwood Park |
14th St. and Union St. |
Arcata |
12:30-1:00 |
6/15-8/21 |
Carlotta Summer Day Camp |
300 Wilder Rd. |
Carlotta |
11:30-12:00 |
7/20-7/31 |
Boys and Girls Club |
3117 Prospect Avenue |
Eureka |
11:00-12:00 |
6/22-8/21 |
Camp Sequoia* |
3141 W St. |
Eureka |
12:00-1:00 |
6/22-8/21 |
Carson Park |
Carson St. and H St. |
Eureka |
12:30-1:00 |
6/22-8/21 |
Food for People Inc. |
307 W. 14th Street |
Eureka |
12:00-1:00 |
6/22-8/21 |
John Ryan Youth Center* |
1653 I Street |
Eureka |
12:00-1:00 |
6/22-8/21 |
Salvation Army |
2123 Tydd Street |
Eureka |
12:00-1:00 |
6/22-8/14 |
Serenity Inn |
2109 Broadway Ave. |
Eureka |
12:00-1:00 |
6/22-8/21 |
Excel Summer Day Camp |
2089 Newburg St. |
Fortuna |
11:30-12:30 |
6/15-7/10 |
Fortuna Summer Fun |
5 Park Street |
Fortuna |
12:00-1:00 |
6/15-8/21 |
Loleta Boys and Girls Club |
700 Loleta Drive |
Loleta |
12:00-1:00 |
6/22-8/21 |
Pierson Park |
Gwin and Central (at the gazebo) |
McKinleyville |
12:15-1:00 |
6/15-8/21 |
Orick Healthy Start |
120918 HWY 101 |
Orick |
12:00-12:45 |
6/15-8/21 |
Rio Dell Fireman's Park |
W. Center and Wildwood |
Rio Dell |
12:00-1:00 |
6/22-8/7 |
Willow Creek Community Center |
38882 Highway 299 |
Willow Creek |
12:00-1:00 |
6/15-8/21 |
*All of the sites listed except Camp Sequoia and the John Ryan Youth Center are open to any child under 18 in the community and no enrollment or pre-registration is required. Pre-registration is required for the Camp Sequoia and John Ryan Youth Center sites. For more information, please call Andy Nieto at 445-3166 ext. 309.
****************************************
Thrill of the Grill 2009! June 26th, 11:30 to 1:30, Eureka North Coast Coop
Beef burgers, tofu burgers, chips, drink and fixin's--oh my! On Friday, June 26th, Food for People teams up with the Eureka North Coast Coop for our 4th annual Thrill of the Grill lunchtime fundraiser. $5 buys your choice of Humboldt Grass Fed Beef burger or Tofu Shop tofu burger, plus chips, choice of drink and all the fixin's. All proceeds from this event directly support our Child Nutrition Programs, which include the Backpacks for Kids, Afterschool Snack and Children's Summer Lunch Programs. So, bring your friends (and your appetite!) and head over to the Eureka Coop on June 26th for great grilled food in support of a great local cause. See you there!
****************************************
Help Us Save the Senior Brown Bag Program
June 16th, 2009
Dear Senior Friends and Supporters,
We would like to let everyone know who has been receiving monthly Brown Bags through our Senior Brown Bag Program what could happen to the program as a result of the state budget cuts. As many of you have read in local newspapers, the Governor is proposing huge cuts in social services programs as a result of the state budget crisis. Included in these cuts are many programs like Senior Brown Bag that serve seniors right here in Humboldt County. We have some good news and bad news to share, and we'd like to ask for your help.
The bad news is that the Senior Brown Bag Program has been slated for complete elimination as part of the proposed cuts. Food for People has sponsored this program for the past twenty-two years and knows what a difference it makes in the lives of low income seniors who are struggling to get by on Social Security or SSI income. We've been able to serve an average of 600 seniors a month at sixteen sites countywide during this time and have been grateful for the support provided by wonderful volunteers who help with all aspects of the program, including delivery of the Brown Bags to homebound seniors. It's made it possible for us to stretch limited resources to serve as many seniors as possible.
That's why we need your help. The Senior Brown Bag Program has been threatened with elimination on two other occasions over the past six years, and both times we were able to convince the Legislature and the Governor to reverse their decision and save the program, thanks to all the letters you wrote. Both times, Legislators told us that they received a record number of letters from people like you explaining what a difference the program makes in the lives of seniors, especially in their ability to maintain health and independence. And we need to make the same case for saving the program one more time.
Included at the end of this letter is contact information so you can let the Governor know how you feel. Please make your voice heard and help us keep the funding required for the Senior Brown Bag Program!
Now for some good news!! We are very grateful to the Sisters of Orange Foundation, which is part of St. Joseph's Health System, for providing special funding to help keep the Senior Brown Bag Program operating this year! The funds they have provided, combined with funding provided locally by the Berth Russ Lytel Foundation, will make it possible for us to continue services to all of you who are now receiving the Brown Bag. But the funds the Sisters have so generously provided are for one year only, which is why contacting the Governor to convince him of the need to maintain funding for this program now and into the future is so important.
If you would like to send a letter to the Governor, please send it to:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
If you prefer, you can fax your letter to 916-445-4633, or you can call 916-445-2841 and leave a message. You can also send your thoughts via email to governor@governor.ca.gov.
We know that our local Representatives, Senator Patricia Wiggins and Assembly Member Wes Chesbro support the program, but it's important to send them copies of your letters so that they can keep track of the responses. They can be contacted at:
Senator Patricia Wiggins
710 E. Street Suite 150
Eureka, CA 95501
Fax: 707-445-6511 Phone: 707-445-3375 Email Senator.Wiggins@senate.ca.gov
Assembly Member Wes Chesbro
710 E Street Suite 150
Eureka, CA 95501
Fax: 707-445-6607 Phone: 707-445-7014 Email Assemblymember.Chesbro@assembly.ca.gov
Thank you for helping us get the word out to the Governor and our local Representatives!!!
****************************************
Learn More About Food Stamps
Eligibility Guidelines
The GROSS monthly income limits are as follows:
Household of 1 : $1,127
Household of 2 : $1,517
Household of 3 : $1,907
Household of 4 : $2,297
*Add $390 for each additional person
Asset Guidelines *The sum of a household's cash on hand and bank accounts can total no more than $2,000. If a household member is 60 years old or better, or permanently disabled, the limit is $3,000. Folks receiving SSI are not eligible for Food Stamps.
Did you know?
More than 10,000 Humboldt County residents are currently enrolled in the Food Stamp Program, representing 46% of total Humboldt County folks eligible for the program, and they spend approximately one million dollars each month at local grocery stores and farmers' markets.
That leaves more than 12,000 Humboldt County residents who are eligible for the program but not participating in it (representing 54% of total residents eligible).
Humboldt County misses out on more than $14 million in yearly federal funds due to underutilization of the Food Stamp Program. Food for People is working to enroll the remaining 54% of Humboldt County folks eligible for the Food Stamp Program.
For further questions about the Food Stamp Program & to find out how to sign up contact:
Deborah Waxman 445-3166 x. 308 dwaxman@foodforpeople.org
Kate O'Brien 445-3166 x. 305 kobrien@foodforpeople.org
****************************************
Food for People's Hot New Merchandise
Food for People has new merchandise available!For a suggested$12 donation,you could have your very own Food for People kitchen/ cleaning apron. Executive Director Anne Holcomb models hers in the FFP kitchen--fabulous.
or
you could show your Food for People fashion flair with a forest green Food for People tote bag--just like FFP Operations Manager Chris Wisner. ($8 suggested donation)
Give us a call at 445-3166 to get your Food for People tote bag and apron!
