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March 13, 2008 issue

Help the Hunger and Health Coalition Meet the 2008 Feinstein Challenge

Story by Kathleen McFadden

For the second consecutive year, the Hunger and Health Coalition is participating in the Feinstein Challenge, an annual fundraiser that occurs during March and April. During this period, the more donations the Hunger and Health Coalition receives, the larger the donation the agency will receive from the Feinstein Foundation located in Rhode Island.

Donations can include cash, checks and food items.

Staff at the Hunger and Health Coalition hope the Feinstein Challenge—www.feinsteinfoundation.org—will raise much-needed food and funds.

According to Executive Director Compton Fortuna, the Hunger and Health Coalition desperately needs donations of money and food to support the food assistance programs that serve low-income residents of Watauga and Avery counties.

Changes in the economy, including stagnant wages and rising prices for necessities such as gasoline, heating fuel and food, have resulted in an escalation in families seeking assistance. Compared to February 2007, the Hunger and Health Coalition has seen a 22 percent increase in the distribution of food boxes and a 49 percent increase in the distribution of prepared meals.

Food assistance program services available at the Hunger and Health Coalition include the following:

• Food Pantry – providing boxes of perishable and nonperishable items monthly to those in need

• Food Recovery Program – providing prepared meals daily

• Market Program – providing fresh fruits, vegetables, deli items and bread daily

• Healthy Start Program – providing nutritious, kid-friendly snack foods to young children in four Head Start programs

• Snacks for Scholars Program – providing nutritious snacks to school-age children

The majority of food the Hunger and Health Coalition distributes is purchased from the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwestern North Carolina located in Winston-Salem. However, the amount of food available from the Food Bank has been declining for many months because of a variety of factors. This declining availability has made it necessary for the Hunger and Health Coalition to seek additional resources for food.

The next time you’re in the grocery store, think about the many hungry people in the High Country who turn to the Hunger and Health Coalition for help and add some nonperishable items to your cart. Then drop them by the Hunger and Health Coalition at 141 Heath Center Drive in Boone. Alternatively, send a check to the same address.

For more info, call 828-262-1628.

March is National Nutrition Month

Hunger and Health Coalition Nutrition Fair March 25

Improving the nutritional knowledge of the people it serves is an important goal of the Hunger and Health Coalition, so the agency offers nutritional information and healthy recipes to its clients throughout the year.

In observance of National Nutrition Month, the Hunger and Health Coalition is hosting a Nutrition Fair at the Hunger and Health Coalition on Tuesday, March 25, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

The event will feature opportunities for nutrition education, demonstrations of healthy preparation of foods, free recipes and samples, a blood pressure check and a raffle.

The Hunger and Health Coalition philosophy is that even those struggling on a limited budget can help their families make healthier choices if they are informed.

For more info about National Nutrition Month, click to www.eatright.org.

For more info about the Nutrition Fair at the Hunger and Health Coalition, call 828-262-1628, email hungerc@bellsouth.net or click to www.hungercoalition.com.