Chisholm, MN

     HarvestHouse Community                     Food Distribution:   During our January 19th Horizons Training session, the subject of Harvest House was brought to our attention by Mrs. Burnett.  The third Saturday of each month, they hold a food distribution service in a warehouse behind the Family Video Store in the Graysher Shopping Center, Hibbing MN.  She mentioned their need for volunteers to help unload the semi and to distribute the food.            I decided to check it out on the 3rd Saturday in February partially out of curiosity. I arrived a bit before 6:30 for the truck unloading/sorting crew. This crew works from 6:30 till about 9:30 or until all is set up. About 60 people helped sort the food after it was unloaded by a forklift. We bagged onions, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and other veggies into plastic bags, stacked cans of soup, packs of mushrooms, cartons of milk, and boxes of lettuce on the length of tables set up.  Once everything was sorted, the volunteers were called into the unloading area for instruction.  Twelve or more of us volunteered to help cart out the food to the vehicles, while the others would distribute the food to those in attendance.  The distribution ended around 12:30 or so and cleanup till past 1:00.  When they say “for each share bring 3 large boxes” they mean it.            All are welcome to partake in this act of generosity and many communities are represented.  I had a great time working with a large group of new friends. A large number us were there to volunteer for the first time.  I was surprised to find out that the distribution has been running since last summer.The next distribution is slated for Saturday, March 15, 2008. Shares are $15.00 donationThe tentative timetable is:6:30 - Helpers welcome to unload truck and sort food.8:30 - Distribute food11:30 - Clean upStay to help as long as you wish.Questions - Call 218-263-4971 Pastor John or Athena

Submitted by: Gus Cronberg

Just to let you know the schedule of the committees: Youth Involvement Group: will meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the Month (next meeting March 11th), contact Gus Cronberg 218-254-29601 or Marketa, Sadie and/or Kelsey Anderson 218-245-7628  Horizon Team: will meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the Month (next March 18th) @ 5:00pm @ the Range Center; contact Lynne Johnson for more info @ 218-996-1256 Community Awareness: will meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month (next meeting March 18th) @ 6:00pm @ the Range Center; contact Karen Amistadi @ 218-969-1310 or Suzy Pocket-Fesnick @ 218-254-5538  Any questions you have, please feel free to contact any of the above listed contacts! 

Chisholm Dial-A-Ride Day
Every Wednesday

Pick ups start at 10:30am

This service, within the city limits of Chisholm, can take you from your door to any where you need to go in Chisholm such as medical appointments, pharmacy or grocery store

Returns start at 11:30

Make arrangements for your pick up by calling: 1-800-862-0175 or check out the AEOA Website and or Northland Rides for more information and options.

Kyle with AEOA was our guest speaker last night at the Community Awareness Meeting to introduce us to a new program being offered called, Rural Rides.

Rural Rides is a program avaialable for “Employment Related Appointments”.  Persons seeking this program need to be under the 150% of poverty.  They work 1-on-1 with a Transportation Advocate to:
*Look at their particular sitation & needs
*Look at options
*Create a “Transportation Plan” (most efficiect & cost effective way) which may include but not limited to:
~Arrowhead Transit 
~Taxi Vouchers
~Reimbursable Volunteer Drivers
~ Dial-A-Ride
~ Work Buddy

For more information please contact Kyle at 218-748-2274 and/or Marcia 218-748-7566.

There will be a training/work group for those involved on the community awareness committee and on the youth involvement committee. If anyone is interested in coming to the training please contact any one of the following people: Lynne Johnson @ 996-1256, Suzy Pocket-Fesnick @ 254-5538, Karen Amistadi @ 969-1310, Gus Cronberg @ 254-2960 or Marketa,Sadie or Kelsey Anderson @ 254-7628, To R.S.V.P. 

The training will be held at the Range Center on Fri. Jan. 18th 2008 from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. If you would like more information on Horizon’s or the training. Please call any of the above people and they would be happy to answer any questions.

The Youth Involvement meeting that was scheduled for Jan. 8th is going to be postponed until later in the month. When we have chosen a date I will let everyone know. Thank You and sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.