2D Hunger Awareness - Cottage Grove Sentinel November 25, 2015
Everyone can play a role
Courtsey of Food For Lane
County
Envisioning a hunger-free Lane
County means we must build
partnerships across the public
and private sectors. No other
organization or individual can
do more to help put food on the
table for people in need than
our partnerships with our com-
munity and our government.
FOOD for Lane County works
with elected offi cials to share
information on the impact of
food insecurity in their com-
munities and to support policy
solutions to put our neighbors
in need on the road to healthy,
hunger-free lives.
Your voice can and will make
a difference. Help us build a
powerful movement to elimi-
nate hunger in Lane County
and to advocate for programs
and policies that bring relief to
individuals and families strug-
gling to get by.
FOOD for Lane County’s hun-
ger relief efforts are focused on
providing food assistance and
increasing self-suffi ciency for
our neighbors living on limited
resources. Our mission of al-
leviating hunger by creating
access to food is accomplished
with tremendous support from
our community and through a
variety of innovative programs.
We continually work to develop
programs and services that
respond to the unique needs
of special populations, and we
work to ensure that these ser-
vices are delivered with respect
and compassion.
The entire food banking system
is built on partnerships and
collaboration. While FOOD for
Lane County administers many
of its own programs, we rely on
our network of approved part-
ner agencies to distribute the
majority of the food we collect.
All FFLC Partner Agencies are
their own, independent, non-
profi t or religious organization.
Most are staffed by volunteers
and are great places to work
and volunteer in direct service.
Current issues
Federal issues
Child Nutrition
Reauthorization While there
are many challenges facing our
country, we need to be sure that
solving the issue of childhood
hunger is a top priority. Forty
nine percent of children en-
rolled in Oregon public schools
qualify for free and reduced
priced meals. Please encourage
your members of Congress to
do all that they can to ensure
all of our nation’s children have
access to healthy, nutritious
food so that they can thrive.
State issues
Oregon Hunger Response
Fund Food banks across
Oregon depend on the State’s
contribution to fi ghting hunger,
The Oregon Hunger Response
Fund. FOOD for Lane County
uses our portion of this fund
to help with food drives and
building our relationships with
grocers for the Fresh Alliance
Program. This incredible pro-
is changing its name to
gram enables us to offer more
variety and to get fresh, healthy
foods into the emergency food
system. Please thank and en-
courage your state legislators to
continue to support the Oregon
Hunger Response Fund.
JIM'S
TIRE & AUTO SER VICE
302 Pacific Hwy S, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 ∙ 541-946-3943
Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm | Sat: 8am-2pm | Sun: Closed
Our victories
Oregon Crop Donation Tax
Credit, 2014
In April, 2014 Governor
Kitzhaber signed the Crop
Donation Tax Credit into Law.
This bill reinstated and in-
creased a tax credit for farmers
based on the wholesale value
of surplus crops donated to
food banks and other chari-
table institutions. Farmers can
receive a 15% tax credit based
on the wholesale value of their
donated products, and can carry
the credit forward for up to
three years.
Please help us encourage farm-
ers to utilize the credit, and
help bring more healthy pro-
duce to those struggling with
hunger in our community.
Douglas G. Maddess, DMD
Helping children get the nutrition they need
by Katie
Courtsey of Food For Lane County
During the school year, Jennifer works in the kitchen at Harrison
Elementary in Cottage Grove.
This summer she also worked for FOOD for Lane County as a
Summer Food Program site supervisor, serving free lunches to
children and teens.
When Jennifer was younger she needed our Summer Food
lunches.
“My mom was a single parent and worked two jobs. She worked
really hard, but it was still a struggle to put food on the table. Dur-
ing the summer I was responsible for taking care of my brother.
We used the FOOD for Lane
County free lunch program
every day that we could.
We relied on that program. I
don’t know what we would
have done without it.”
Our Summer Food Program
is one way we are helping
children get the nutrition
they need during the summer
when they are at higher risk
of hunger. Too many children
live in low-income working
families struggling to make
ends meet. More than one in
four (25.3%) Lane County
children live in food insecure
households, and more than
half (53.4%) of all Lane
County children qualify for free lunches during the school year.
Jennifer sees childhood hunger at school and is helping to make a
difference.
“I know a lot of kids only get one meal a day. That’s a scary thing
to think about. With this program I can reach a lot more people,
and that makes me very happy. I enjoy being involved in some-
thing that’s worthwhile. It makes me feel really good about life.
Jennifer loves being a mom. It’s the most important job she has.
“I hope my kids can be successful and happy in their life. I hope
they don’t have to struggle like I did. I will go without a meal
before my kids go without. I’ll make sure they have something to
eat because that’s what you do as a mom. That’s what you do as a
parent.”
Family & General Dentistry
914 South 4th Street
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
541-942-1559
“Brightening Lives One Smile at a Time”
www.douglasgmaddessdmd.com
Grove
Grove Medical
Medical Equipment
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541-225-5443
grovemedical@outlook.com
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148 Gateway Blvd
(Bi Mart Plaza)
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Helping
our
commu
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SOUTH LANE
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FIRE & RESCUE
The Only Emergency Medical
Transport Service
in South Lane County
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Call 541-942-4493 for information
FOR EMERGENCY DIAL 911
CORNER OF 7TH & MAIN ST
in the Heart of Cottage Grove
Serving South Lane County.
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