Summer Hunger Could Increase for Northland Families...

Summer hunger could increase for Northland families already struggling
Northern Lakes Food Bank
6/2/2009

Typically when school ends for the year, thousands of Northland children face a long summer without a consistent source of balanced, nutritious meals – their free and reduced school breakfast and lunch. This year could be especially difficult as families continue to struggle throughout our region.

“Already this year, use at NE MN and NW WI 35 food shelves has increased 32% by children,” said Shaye Moris, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank’s executive director. “Families have been hit hard by the economic downturn and many programs have seen record demand for food or other services. Summer could be really difficult.”

Each month in our region over 4,300 children receive food or meals from the food bank, a local food shelf, soup kitchen or youth program. Again, that’s a 32% increase from just a year ago.
Many local food shelves, soup kitchens and youth programs in the Northland strive to combat childhood hunger year-round, but encounter obstacles as the demand for food increases during the summer months.

The Damiano Center which operates a Kids Café© meal program has seen a big jump in the number of children coming for meals. “As recently as a couple of years ago, we prepared for 250 to 300 people at lunch; this summer we’re expecting 400 at each meal,” said Damiano Executive Director David Benson. “This is particularly challenging as we enter the summer months, which always bring higher numbers. Many people experience greater need this time of year.”
To ensure no children go without meals this summer, Moris states that the food bank, its 140 member agencies, and Northland families need the support of the region.

“The community can make a difference,” Moris states. “Financial assistance allows the rescue of food and the feeding of families—volunteer support ensures the operation of our programs. The irony is that childhood hunger is a solvable problem. Our food bank’s goal and the goal of our agencies is to provide nutritious food so children do not have to skip or reduce the size of their meals to ensure their families have enough food to eat.”

As the region’s only food bank, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank rescues
2.9 million pounds of nationally and regionally donated food for distribution to 140 regional non-profit programs located throughout its northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin service region annually. Over 1 million pounds of food (enough food for 800,000 meals) is rescued and distributed by the food bank to children in our region each year.

For more information contact Shaye Moris, (218) 727-5653, ext. 113 or email shaye@northernlakesfoodbank.org. Our Marketing Coordinator, Deanna Corry, can also be contacted at (218) 727-5653, ext. 118 or email deanna@northernlakesfoodbank.org.

This press release courtesy of BusinessNorth.com

Spring Cleaning is in the Air

The City of Eveleth's Spring 2009 Clean-up is in full swing!

If you have household appliances or rubbish, furniture, old tires, old batteries, etc. that need to be disposed of, the City Garage will be accepting these items from April 20, to May 15. The hours for the drop off are 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Extended hours, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday, will be offered from April 27 through May 8, 2009.

Have yard waste to dispose of? The City Garage will accept yard waste until October 30, 2009.

There are options for those who need assistance transporting items to the garage. For further information check out the notice provided in your April utility bill or call 744-7504.

Keep in mind fees may be waived for those with limited income.

2009 City of Eveleth Patrick/Urho Community Kinship Days Set

Eveleth Horizons is excited to coordinate this year's PUCK Days events on March 13 - 15, 2009.

Please join us for a planning session at the Roosevelt Bar on Wednesday, January 21 at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend and bring ideas of events that you would be interested in hosting/sponsoring and ways you may be able to assist in promoting this wonderful citywide celebration.

Need further information or have an activity to be placed on the PUCK Days schedule?
eepeterson2003@yahoo.com or 290-7790

"Weak economy puts more kids in line for free meals, report says"

This report courtesy of CNN.com

"The sagging economy is taking a bite out of federal school-meal subsidies as more students take advantage of free or low-price breakfasts and lunches, nutritionists say in a report released Thursday. About 425,000 more students are participating in the National School Lunch Program, a group reports.The School Nutrition Association surveyed more than 130 school nutrition directors from 38 states to produce its report, "Saved by the Lunch Bell: As Economy Sinks, School Nutrition Program Participation Rises."

The nonprofit organization said that about 425,000 more students are participating in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program in 2008-09 than in the previous school year.

That represents an average increase of 2.5 percent from 2007-08, the report says.
These numbers hold true despite a slight decline in the number of students enrolled in public schools this school year, according to the study.

More than three-quarters of the districts surveyed reported a rise in the number of students eating free meals under the U.S. Department of Agriculture program, the report says.
Many of the school district employees who monitor the food programs complain that the federal subsidies fall far short of the rising costs.

According to the association, the estimated average cost to prepare a school meal is $2.90, but the federal reimbursement is $2.57.

School lunch programs are experiencing a potential loss of at least $4.5 million per school day, based on 30 million school lunches provided, the group says.

The good news, according to association President Katie Wilson, is that "this year, when hunger is more common, more students are able to eat a balanced, nutritious meal at school."

Meals served under the USDA programs must meet nutrition guidelines based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. For lunches, that means no more than 30 percent of calories can come from fat and fewer than 10 percent from saturated fat.

2008 United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-Off Classic

October 18, 2008

6:00 p.m.
Eveleth Hippodrome

FIRST EVER Women's college game to be held at the Hippodrome!

Bemidji State -vs- University of Wisconsin

For more information, please email us at info@ushockeyhallmuseum.com.