FamilyWorks is at the Wallingford Farmer’s Market!

It’s official– the Wallingford Farmer’s Market is in full swing. You can pick up everything you need for a complete, delicious meal (along with caramels and ice cream for dessert!). Snap peas, edible flowers, cherries, green garlic, crisp apples, pasta, pastries, Patty Pan quesadillas, oh my! The farmers are friendly, the shoppers are happy, the children are playful–there’s no reason to not come visit the market! All of your non-food desires can be satisfied, too: Cascade Bicycles will answer all your cycling questions and give you great maps, the shops inside of the Wallingford Center offer 10% off deals if you show them your produce, and of course, you can chat with the lovely people from FamilyWorks!

You won’t miss our pretty purple tent. Stop by and pick up a calendar, or ask us how to get involved. When you support the farmers, you support the food bank. Yesterday, 67 pounds of produce was collected from farmers to donate to the FamilyWorks Food Bank! Thanks!

A Million Meals for Haiti

Want to help Haiti with a family-friendly (kids ages 10+) volunteer experience? Join The Salvation Army as they pack a million meals to send to a tent city in Haiti.

Here is some more info from the website:

WHAT: A fun event packing a million meals that will feed displaced individuals living in a tent city operated by The Salvation Army in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Since the Jan. 12 disaster, The Salvation Army has already packed, shipped and distributed 10 million meals to the country.

Currently, The Salvation Army is distributing approximately one million meals per week in Haiti. To meet the constant demand for food, “Million Meals for Haiti” events are being organized around the United States in partnership with Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) and Numana– a non-profit organization (www.numanainc.com) that produces dried, non-perishable meals to be distributed to areas of hunger worldwide. To date, The Salvation Army “Million Meals for Haiti” events have occurred in Los Angeles, Chicago, Kansas City, San Francisco and other cities.

WHO: At least 2000 volunteers are needed to make Seattle’s event successful. It takes a team of 12 to assemble and package the food so come alone or bring others to form your own team….Tell your family, friends, colleagues, community clubs, church, etc! Volunteers need to be at least 10-years-old.

WHERE: Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Pl., Seattle, WA 98101

WHEN: Sat. May 29, 12 – 8 PM Sun. May 30, 10 AM – 8 PM

HOW: For more information including volunteer registration, please visit www.salvationarmynw.org/haiti

We’d love to hear if you get a group together!

The Food Bank Diet

One group in Toronto is asking a powerful and thought-provoking question: “Does a single person on social assistance receive enough income to live with health and dignity?”

Social assistance in Ontario is comparable to DSHS here in Washington State. Basically, if you are in financial need, you may qualify for Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support, which would help provide money for food and housing, employment assistance, and health care. But is it enough assistance? Do The Math is a campaign hosted by The Stop Community Food Centre located in Toronto that is battling this issue. They believe that there really is not enough assistance for people to live with health and dignity. See for yourself- check out their website and follow the “Take the Survey” link to see what financial alterations to your lifestyle you would need to make.

Read this article and tell us what you think. Could you live on a Food Bank diet? Can one trip to the food bank fill you up for the week?

Phinney Neighborhood Association – Winter Festival and Crafts Fair

Phinney Neighborhood Association – Winter Festival and Crafts Fair.

All canned goods collected on Sunday are donated to the FamilyWorks Food Bank.  Hope to see you there!

Nation & World | More families going without enough food | Seattle Times Newspaper

Nation & World | More families going without enough food | Seattle Times Newspaper.

Did you see this article in which more families are going without enough food?  This is not news to us.  We have seen the rise in families using our food bank.  But we live in such a generous community that we have been able to meet the need.  We hope that soon the ecomony picks up, people find jobs and are able to meet their finaincial needs.  Until then, we will remain open to help those who need it.

Edible School Gardens

Speaking of Edible Gardens, here’s an article about what Australia’s Sunshine Coast is doing to teach children food security.

Edible School Gardens.

Twittering from the Tractor: CNN.com

Twitter continues to spread, giving a new perspective on food, crops, and food security issues, as farmers use the internet access of smartphones and the simplicity of Twitter to connect with each other and us – their consumers. Speaking of Twitter, are you following FamilyWorks yet? Check us out on Twitter – and consider joining the Tuesday night TweetUps with the farmers to learn more about how your bread gets to your shelf – or to FamilyWorks’ shelves!

 

Twittering from the tractor: smartphones sprout on the farm – CNN.com.

Interview with Michael Pollan |AlterNet

Here’s a fascinating interview with Michael Pollan (author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma) on everything from picky eaters to the reformation of the American food industry. Definitely worth the read!

Michael Pollan: We Are Headed Toward a Breakdown in Our Food System | Environment | AlterNet.

Bringing the People Behind Our Food to Life

In part 1, Ken Meter, of Crossroads Resource Center, defines what constitutes a strong local food economy, and how farming has evolved since the 1930’s. Meter, a consultant who specializes in helping strengthen local communities, says more people want to know where their food comes from, and how it’s produced. Industrialization of the food system, and the problems of food safety, and a long list of other problems has reinvigorated communities across America to evaluate how they may build and promote their own local food economies. The benefits can be substantial to the local environment, local economy, and culture.

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Chefs Changing Lives with Food – NYTimes.com

Highly-trained chefs are giving up high-paying careers serving the wealthy in order to work in shelters and addiction programs, teaching the skills of the kitchen and of life to people who need it most. This reminds FamilyWorks of our local version: FareStart. Check it out and support the recovery, job skills training, and delicious food they have to offer!

 

 

 

 

American Album – Finding Purpose in Serving the Needy, Not Just Haute Cuisine – NYTimes.com.