February 26, 2010

The Northfield High School Boys Basketball Team kick-start the 2010 CAC Minnesota FoodShare Campaign with a contribution of $3,148. Every year for eighteen years, the team members have solicited gifts in their “Free Throws for Food” effort. Seeking sponsorship for each successful free-throw made in a marathon shooting contest team members have cumulatively raised $54,921. We’re always proud of their participation and grateful for their gift.

The Northfield Skating School is organizing a December skate drive to help expand Northfield’s rental skate supply and meet its mission of increasing the community’s access to ice activities. Figure and hockey skates of all sizes are welcome. The drive will continue through the month of December.

Drop box locations:

- Northfield Ice Arena, 1280 Bollenbacher Drive (Pro Shop Window)

- Goodbye Blue Monday Coffee House, 314 Division St. (Entrance hallway)

- Carleton College ACT Office (Sayles-Hill main floor)

- St. Olaf College SGA Office (107 Buntrock Commons)

- Culver’s (Hwy 3)

The Community Action Center is so grateful to Big Woods CSA, Bridgewater Produce, Greenvale Garden, Lorence’s Berry Farm, Open Hands CSA and numerous individual gardens for all the wonderful, fresh, nutritious produce that they have donated this summer.  In July and August the CAC Food Shelf received and distributed over 6,000 pounds of locally grown produce and more continues to arrive daily.  The families receiving fresh produce are so thrilled with the wonderful assortment to choose from and very thankful for the opportunity to serve their families nutritious food.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TO: Northfield News

FROM: Northfield Community Action Center

1651 Jefferson Parkway, Suite HS 200

Northfield, MN 55057

Attention: Jim Blaha

507-664-3552

DATE: July 6, 2009

The Northfield Community Action Center is seeking nominations for election to its Board of Directors. You may nominate yourself or someone else by writing a letter describing your skills, background, and interest in serving on the Board.

Inquiries may be directed to Jim Blaha, Executive Director of the Community Action Center at 664-3550. Letters of nomination may be sent to Jim Blaha at 1650 Jefferson Parkway, HS 200, Northfield 55057. Nominations should be received by August 1, 2009.

The process of applying for medical assistance (M.A.) can be overwhelming and confusing. The CAC will help you fill out the necessary applications and get connected with the right program to get you the assistance you need. Pregnant women, people over 65, people under 21, and people who are blind or disabled are eligible for M.A.

M.A. will help pay for:

• *  Treatment of chronic illness (diabetes, cancer, etc.)
• *  Prescription costs
• *  Prenatal care for pregnant women
• *  Check-ups for children under one year old
• *  Emergency hospital visits
• *  Medical Assistance for children (under age 21) of  
•     undocumented persons
• *  And more…

If you have other medical needs, CAC can help you find the appropriate resources and refer you to an organization that is familiar with your needs. If you need help applying for Medical Assistance, please make an appointment with the CAC and bring your social security number, pay stubs for the last 30 days, bank statements, car titles, and documentation of any assets.

Spanish interpreters are available.

Judy Bickel, representing the Northfield Community Action Center (CAC) and Don Kimber were recognized and honored for their outstanding work in helping to reduce hunger in Northfield at the recent MN FoodShare Campaign celebration luncheon and awards ceremony hosted by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. Mike Max from WCCO Radio presented Don’s award, and Sue Kainz, Minnesota FoodShare’s March Campaign coordinator presented the CAC’s award.

Having nominated Don for the award, Northfield Community Action Center (CAC) Program Director Judy Bickel explained, “Don is a World War II Merchant Marine veteran who has served his country and his home town all of his life in many different ways. The CAC is very fortunate that when Don retired in 2003 at age 75, he chose to become a weekly volunteer at the CAC Food Shelf. Everyone that has had the opportunity to work along side Don quickly realizes that he has a heart of gold and true compassion for every individual that comes to the CAC Food Shelf. In addition to helping distribute food and stock shelves every Tuesday, Don also picks up food donations from Target two or three times a week and often helps serve food at the CAC’s Thursday Table dining program. Don continues to say that he gets more out of helping others than he gives and his completely committed to helping feed our hungry friends and neighbors in the community. Don Kimber is a real life hero.”

Minnesota FoodShare announced that the 2009 March Campaign raised 12,020,197 pounds of food and dollars combined. “The results are especially exciting given our current economic climate,” said Sue Kainz, Minnesota FoodShare’s March Campaign coordinator. The March Campaign began in response to the tough economic times of the early 1980’s and it has continued to grow. As more Minnesotans turn to their local food shelves for support, more of their neighbors are giving what they can to help.”

The Northfield CAC was recognized at the awards ceremony for conducting the fourteenth most successful food drive in the state, raising over 130,000 dollars and pounds. Almost 300 food shelves in the state participated in the March FoodShare campaign. “I am thrilled with the response from our local community,” said Bickel. “Northfield is a compassionate community and people here seem to understand that there are people struggling to put food on their tables. More than four hundred households are receiving food at the CAC Food Shelf each month. The money raised during the March FoodShare Campaign enables the CAC to continue distributing a great array of nutritious food to those in need.”

Money Troubles?

Would you like to know more about:

· Budgeting to Save?
· Paying off your Bills?
· Building Good Credit?
· Tips for Taxes and Protection            from Scams?

Come to the FREE two-session basic money management class at the CAC for to learn ways to budget your money and improve your financial situation. The goal of the Money Management Program is to help people discover ways in which they can build their assets. These sessions help students establish a good credit score that can help get better interest rates, better insurance rates, and even a better apartment! In addition to classroom learning, participants will discuss their own resourceful ideas such as gardening or sharing items.

For those who come to class ready to learn and to do the work, huge changes are possible. Through this program, people have opened their own bank accounts, improved their credit scores, and started “put and take” accounts to help them save for anything from making payments to buying Christmas presents.

Money Management classes are offered
three more times this year:
        * May 28^th and June 4^th (in Spanish)
        * August 6^th and 20^th
        * November 12^th and 19^th
All classes are on Thursday’s from 6:00 pm- 8:30 pm. Participants are invited to join us for a meal beforehand at Thursday’s Table. Refreshments are served during class. For more information or to sign up for classes, contact Sharon Vangsness at (507) 664-3560.