A Wealth of Ideas
for the Picking:
Sponsor a day at a food closet
Grow an extra row of fruits and vegetables
Open your yard to gleaning
Create some simple, low cost recipes
Volunteer as a vegetable and fruit docent
Encourage use of School Breakfast and Summer Food Programs.
Grow an extra row of fruits and vegetables. When you plan your summer and winter garden, grow an extra row or two that can be harvested and donated throughout the year to a food closet. Fresh fruit and vegetables are a treat worth sharing!
Open your yard to gleaning. Have extra fruit or vegetables in your yard? The 4-H youth program has a team of Junior Garden Gleaners who will pick your produce and provide it to organizations in need. To arrange for the volunteer gleaners, contact Paul or Mark Doerner at (916) 652-0584 or June Stewart at the 4-H office at (530) 889-7386.
Create simple, low cost recipes. Many clients at food closets need a little help with food preparation. Providing a recipe with easy-to-read instructions, a limited number of ingredients, and simple cooking instructions would be most appreciated. UCCE is coordinating the development of a cookbook for distribution at area food banks, closets and shelters. Submit recipes to mejacoby@ucdavis.edu.
Volunteer as a Vegetable and Fruit Docent. Parents of young children and local farmers are encouraged to arrange for monthly classroom visits to feature a fruit or vegetable. Talk about the cycle of the particular fruit or vegetable--from planting and harvesting to eating. Encourage the food service department to feature that particular fruit or vegetable on the monthly school lunch menu.
Encourage use of USDA's School Breakfast and Summer Service Programs. During the school year, nutritious meals are available through the National School Lunch program. Also available but underutilized is the School Breakfast Program which provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free breaksfasts to children each school day. The Summer Food Service Program helps children get the nutrition they need to learn, play, and grow throughout the summer months when they are out of school. Check with your local school to determine whether they offer these programs--if not, request that the school district provide them.
Other ideas? Placer County's Food Policy Council welcomes additional ideas for involving the community in addressing the hunger issues in our County. To offer an idea or share a success story, contact a UCCE Program Representative at 530-889-7385.