4D Hunger Awareness - Cottage Grove Sentinel November 22, 2017
FOOD for Lane County Programs and Services
FOOD for Lane County’s
hunger relief efforts are focused
on providing food assistance
and increasing self-suffi ciency
for our neighbors living on lim-
ited resources. Our mission of
alleviating 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 orga-
nization. Most are staffed by
volunteers and are great places
to work and volunteer in direct
service.
Food Boxes & Meals
FOOD for Lane County pro-
vides food to 30 emergency
food pantries. Most of the over
8 million pounds of food we
distribute annually is distribut-
ed in food boxes by emergency
food pantries. These pantries
provide a variety of fresh and
shelf-stable groceries to low-in-
come families and individuals.
Getting a food box
A food box is a three- to fi ve-
day supply of nutritionally
balanced groceries. Individuals
and households can get up to 16
food boxes a year.
• See if you meet the USDA’s
eligibility requirements.
• If you have a permanent
residence, you will be asked
for proof of address, such as a
utility bill with your name on it.
• If you do not have proof of
address or you are without a
permanent residence, you can
still get food.
• You do not need to supply
identifi cation, a Social
Security number or proof
of income to get food.
• You can still get a
monthly food box even
if you are receiving other
benefi ts, such as food
stamps or WIC.
Find your local pantry
Emergency food pantries
are open different days
and times. You will be
assigned to the pantry
in your area on the map.
To fi nd your pantry, call
541-343-2822
Helping children get the nutrition they need
by Katie
Courtesy 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. During 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 chil-
dren 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 something 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.”
Nutrition Education
Courtesy of Food for Lane County
FOOD for Lane County’s Nutrition Education Program provides
nutrition education, basic cooking skills and tips on how to stretch
limited food budgets to income-eligible audiences throughout
Lane County. We currently have two education programs: Cooking
Matters and Cooking Matters at the Store.
Cooking Matters
Cooking Matters is a cooking-based nutrition education program.
• Learn how to prepare healthy, tasty meals on a limited budget
• Practice fundamental lessons including knife skills, reading
ingredient labels and cutting up a whole chicken.
• Learn how to make a healthy meal for a family of four on a $10
budget
At the end of each lesson, participants take home ingredients to
practice preparing the recipe taught that day. Classes are taught
by volunteers and administered by FOOD for Lane County in
partnership with Oregon Food Bank and with the support of Share
Our Strength.
Cooking Matters at the Store
Cooking Matters at the Store meets adults at the grocery store for
a learning experience that teachesparticipants how to make posi-
tive changes to their food shopping habits.
Topics include:
• Reading and understanding nutrition fact labels and unit pricing
• Choosing healthy food from every section of the grocery store
• Other ways to stretch a food budget without minimizing quality
If you are interested in scheduling classes or volunteering for the
Nutrition Education Program, contact FFLC Nutrition Education
Program Coordinator Dana Baxter or call (541) 343-2822 Ext.
356.
Turkey Tacos
Recipe by:
Chef John Haddock
Serving Size
Serves 8, 2 tacos per serving
Ingredients
1 medium carrot, small sweet
potato, or small zucchini
¼ medium head lettuce
2 large tomatoes
7 ounces low-fat cheddar
cheese
1 (15½-ounce) can low-sodium
pinto beans
Non-stick cooking spray
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 (15½-ounce) can chopped or
crushed tomatoes, no salt added
1 Tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black
pepper
16 taco shells
Materials
Box grater
Can opener
Colander
Cutting board
Large skillet
Measuring spoons
Sharp knife
Vegetable peeler
Instructions
1. Rinse, peel, and grate carrot,
sweet potato, or zucchini (if
using zucchini, grate but do not
peel). Squeeze dry with paper
towels.
2. Rinse and shred lettuce.
Rinse, core, and chop tomatoes.
3. Grate cheese.
4. In a colander, drain and rinse
beans.
5. Coat a
large skillet
with non-
stick cooking
spray. Heat
over medium
high heat.
Add turkey
and brown.
6. Add grated veggies, beans,
canned tomatoes, chili powder,
garlic powder, oregano, salt,
and black pepper. Stir well.
7. Reduce heat to medium.
Cook until thickened, about 20
minutes.
8. Add 2 Tablespoons cooked
meat mixture to each taco shell.
Top each with 1 Tablespoon
grated cheese, 1 Tablespoon
shredded lettuce, and 1 Table-
spoon fresh tomatoes.
S entinel
Mr. K’s Lock & Key
Auto • Residental • Business
Serving Cottage Grove, Creswell, Elkton, Lorane, & surrounding areas.
Knife Sharpening - (541) 953-9315
(541) 767-0159 • 1443 E. Madison • C.G.
CCB#131872
Chef's Notes
• Top tacos with any of your fa-
vorite veggies, hot sauce, salsa,
low-fat sour cream, or low-fat
plain yogurt.
• Use any type of cooked beans
you like.
• Make soft tacos using corn or
whole wheat tortillas. Or, serve
over brown rice or Confetti
Pepper Cornbread.
• For more heat, add minced
hot peppers to sauce in step 6.
Grove
Grove Medical
Medical Equipment
Equipment
“B UILDING A H EALTHY C OMMUNITY ”
• OXYGEN • SLEEP THERAPY
• WHEEL CHAIRS • HOSPITAL BEDS
• WALK AIDS • SPECIALTY FITTINGS • SALES AND RENTALS
• INSURANCE BILLING FOR SALES AND RENTALS
541-225-5443
grovemedical@outlook.com
Join us on Facebook
148 Gateway Blvd
(Bi Mart Plaza)
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
C ottage G rove
JIM'S
TIRE & AUTO SER VICE
www.cgsentinel.com
@
cgsentinel
@cgsentinel
#cgsentinel
Cottage-Grove-Sentinel
Matt Bjornn ChFC RICP, Agent
1481 Gateway Blvd
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
Bus: 541-942-2623
matt@bjornninsurance.com
302 Hwy 99 • Cottage Grove, OR
541-942-3831
Mon-Fri: 8AM-6pm | Sat: 8am-2pm | Sun: Closed
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
1211999
You Can’t Control the World,
But You Can Control Your Decisions.
Call today to find out how you should approach swings in
the market.
Aaron M Shumway, AAMS®
Financial Advisor
.
1137 E Main
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
541-767-2675
www.edwardjones.com
Member SIPC