SNA Food Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, July 13th, 2016
Location:Brighton Center
Welcome and Introductions-Andy Brunsman
Agency Spotlight: Brighton Center-Jenny Wiley
Brighton Center is celebrating 50 years of Service to the community this year and currently offers 42 different types of service to the community. The variety of services offered through Brighton Center helps the agency achieve the goal of service bundling which helps bring families to self-sufficiency.
Brighton Centerintroduced the Farmers Market this year with Zach Price taking the lead as the Mobile Market Manager. The markets have been very successful thus far and the harvest has been plentiful. The mobile markets enable families to purchase fresh food in areas where fresh food is not readily available otherwise.
Approval of last month’s minutes–Approved by Karen Yates-second by Becky Ewing
Updates-- Andy Brunsman
- Silver Grove Outreach
Silver Grove is still a concern for the SNA Food Committee. The grant that was applied for was rejected. Andy Brunsman has agreed to reach out again to the school resource officer to discover alternate plans to provide a mobile pantry to the area with help from local corporate donations.
- Giving Fields Season
Molly and baby are doing well. The harvest has been plentiful thus far and pick-ups are running smoothly.
Old Business
- Safe Food Handling
Thermometers and freezer blankets have been distributed through Freestore Foodbank.
Be Concerned recently received a grant to purchase reusable freezer bags from Uline to distribute to customers. Be Concerned will track the usage of the bags for three months to see if the program is a successful way to encourage safe food handling with the customers they serve. Andy shared that additional freezer blankets may be available by contacting Sarah Celenza at Freestore Foodbank or through Refrigy Ware.
New Business
- Farm and Gardening Training
Training will be scheduled by Andy Brunsman for August or September and focus on harvesting. An email will be sent out once a date has been established.
- Summer Heat and Food Safety discussion
Classes are available on active and passive cold storage as well as safe food handling through the UK co-operative extension offices. The co-operative extension also offers free recipe cards, calendars with tips, freezer bags and food thermometers to participating individuals upon completion of the course.
- Recipe Compilation for common/frequent food pantry items and fresh produce
Several people at the meeting expressed interest in putting together a cookbook for distribution to customers.
- Concerns or areas for future collaboration
Sharing the wealth-the agencies represented at the meeting agree that if they are offered more of an item than they can distribute they will post an alert through the SNA.
John Eldridge has offered Master Provisions will assist with pick up of donated items and has agreed to deliver to a central location for all SNA member agencies to pick up from.
Other Business
Be Concerned will be moving by October and will need volunteers to help with the move, more information will be coming soon!
Attendance
- Jenny Wiley - Brighton Center
- Becky Ewing-United Ministries
- Andrew Brunsman- Be Concerned
- John Eldridge- Master Provisions
- Jill Brown- SNA VISTA
- Troy Garrard-Parish Kitchen
- Brandy Medaugh-Pantry of Hope
- Dennis Daniel – St. Bernard Food Pantry
- Wanda Quinn- St. Johns Outreach
- Crystal Cotrill-NKADD
- Melissa Pilcher-Cooperative Extension
- Karen Yates-Hosea House
- Mary Kaiser-St. Bernard’s Food Pantry
Next Meeting:
September 14th, 2016
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
7 Court Place
Newport, Ky. 41071
Food Committee Goals and Objectives
- Fill the gaps where there is food insecurity.
- Start an outreach in Silver Grove, Ky.
- Hydroponic Gardening as a new resource