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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2015)
Wednesday, January 21, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Food bank feeds hundreds in Sisters TRAIl uSERS: Representatives to gather in Sisters By Jim Cornelius News Editor Continued from page 3 “In the past, there was a trail-user group facili- tated by the Forest Service in the Sisters Ranger District to bring all the trail groups together to collabo- rate on trail needs,” Racki said. “It’s been nearly two years since we’ve had all the trail-group representa- tives or leaders together,” she said. “The purpose of the group is to share trail information and stewardship messaging.” The Sisters Trail User Group will reconvene Wednesday, January 21, from 5 to 6:15 p.m. at the Sisters Ranger District office at Pine Street and Highway 20 in Sisters. The Forest Service is inviting all interested community trail group leaders from motor- ized and non-motorized trail groups. The meeting will be facilitated by Deschutes National Forest Public Affairs Officer Kassidy Kern. The purpose of the group will be to collaborate, share trail information, and 23 photo provided amy racki is inviting sisters area trail user groups to a meeting this evening at the forest service office in sisters. hopefully serve as a work- ing group for trail steward- ship. The group will dis- cuss long-term goals and objectives of the Sisters Trail User Group during this meeting. In celebra- tion of the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act last year, there will be a short presentation on Wilderness. “I am fairly new to this position and very excited to meet community leaders that are regularly engaged in serving their country through trail volunteerism on public lands,” said Racki. Sisters Kiwanis Food Bank is an essential service for many families in Sisters Country. From folks camping in the woods to working fami- lies that aren’t pulling in enough to keep food on the table through the month, the Kiwanis Food Bank is the difference between the stress of food insecurity and the comfort of knowing there’s something for dinner. Kiwanian Dan Stearns provided food bank data to The Nugget. Approximately 25 per- cent of recipients are camp- ing or homeless (for which there is no clear definition). Approximately 50 percent of the food bank recipients are regulars; they receive food every month. The other 50 percent receive food sporadi- cally or one time only. Stearns said the food bank consistently serves about 100 clients per month. The high was 129 in October. Some are individuals and some are families, so the individual number is higher. “It has been really sta- ble,” he said. “It’s about 100 photo by Jim Cornelius the sisters Kiwanis food Bank is a vital resource for many families in sisters Country. families a month and has been for quite a while.” A typical family of four received 100-125 pounds of food each month. Eligibility for food bank services is determined by household income. Eligibility for the food bank is not veri- fied; the recipient’s signature is accepted as verification. The criteria requires that household income falls below USDA guidelines ($29,000 per year for a family of two. $44,000 per year for a family of four). All the food was paid for by community donations, totaling $126,000 for 2014. According to Stearns, food is purchased locally at Ray’s Food Place at a dis- count and Ray’s donates food not expected to sell. Melvin’s Fir Street Market also sells Kiwanis food at a discount and donates food not expected to sell. The nonprofit NeighborImpact gives Kiwanis food at a nominal (essentially zero) cost. Kiwanis Food Bank is also one of the distribution sites for the Furry Friends Foundation pet food bank. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Kiwanis Food Bank, send checks to P.O. Box 1296, Sisters, OR 97759.