SOME OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL STORIES.
Feeding Hope: Jocelyn’s Story
“One day at a time. We’re going to be okay.”
Jocelyn expressed hope for the future as she and her husband waited in line for a drive-thru Mobile Market distribution. This was their first time at a Mobile Market event.
Jocelyn’s hope didn’t come without concerns, though. An employee in the facilities department at a local university, she was worried she’d lose her job soon due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the department was planning to lay off several people at the end of the month. A layoff would not only mean a dramatic decrease in family income but also loss of medical insurance. After a cancer diagnosis in 2017, Jocelyn still needs regular check-ups. Without insurance, she wasn’t sure she could continue to visit her doctor.
“I’m very thankful for the people behind this. Thank you very much for being generous and having a big heart.”
Even with her current job, Jocelyn was already concerned about her family’s finances. “When it comes to budget, it’s really tight,” she said. Increased food prices in grocery stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic made it harder to afford the food her family needs. “We have to think about what is really important and what are necessities.”
Still, Jocelyn had a positive attitude. Knowing that she could get food, especially produce, to cook meals for her family lifted her spirits. “Don’t lose hope. It’s not going to help us. In life, there’s ups and downs,” she said. She was grateful for everyone who supported the Mobile Market distribution for helping make this particular “down” time a little bit easier. “I’m very thankful for the people behind this. Thank you very much for being generous and having a big heart.”
Why I support Second Harvest: A donor’s story – February 23
Nothing is more important than having food on the table. To state the obvious, food—like shelter—is something without which we cannot survive. Second Harvest thus quite literally provides a lifeline for those whom my wife and I cannot feed directly. And it has done so for the nearly 40 years that we have supported Second Harvest. During this period we have seen not even a hint that their mission is diminishing in importance. On the contrary, the organization seems to be throwing out more and more lifelines to those in our midst who are in danger of sinking.
Your guide to making tasty vegetable broth – February 16
Despite our best efforts to reduce food waste, it can sometimes be impossible to make it through a recipe without throwing away a carrot top or two. While it doesn’t feel like much at the time, you’d be surprised by how quickly the waste piles up. But fear not! You can easily transform those leftover vegetable scraps into delicious, homemade vegetable broth in just over an hour.
Kids Cooking Camps – February 9
Three times a year, we offer kids cooking camps that help support our programming year-round. These camps meet for two-hour sessions, Monday through Thursday, and are designed for kids ages 8-12. We pick a different theme for each camp so it’s always a new experience for our return campers. The kids get to eat what they make and take home cookbooks to recreate the recipes in their own kitchens.
Spending time in the kitchen is such a valuable tool for children as they develop their motor skills, social skills, confidence, and learn to problem solve. They practice basic skills like math and reading, too. We also focus on sharing nutrition knowledge through activities, discussions, and best of all, tasting how good nutritious foods like whole grains and vegetables can taste.
Feeding Eastern Washington and North Idaho
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