“LIEAP” SEASON!”

by Margaret Davis, Utility Assistance Coord

Once again, it is time to start thinking about the heating season. Mid Columbia Community Action will be sending out applications to households of seniors and those with disabilities on first of November. If you live in such a household and do not receive an application by the second week of November, it is important to contact either the Hood River or The Dalles office so an application can be sent to you.

December First, (Friday) is the FIRST day we will start scheduling appointments for the general population. It is important that you make your appointment either by visiting the office in your area, or by phone. Remember, availability is limited so schedule your appointment ON THIS DAY.

If you think you may qualify for assistance or have questions about how MCCAC’s assistance programs work, please call one of our offices for information.

Since the early 80’s, our main funding source for home heating continues to be LIEAP, (Low Income Energy Assistance Program). With additional programs such, OEAP (Oregon Energy Assistance Program), OLGA (Oregon Low income Gas Assistance) and Oregon Heat being added more recently.)>>>>

Also available to eligible households, are the other discount programs, PUD (electricity), City of The Dalles (water and sewer), The Dalles Disposal Service and Sunrise Sanitation (garbage collection).

Although most utility funds are depleted during the winter months, there are some funding sources we have year-around to assist with qualified needs of help on past due utility bills or shut off notices.

Remember last December 1, 2005?

Early morning annual line -up for heat assistance appointments.

Notice, it’s snowing!

Child Care Food Program

By Janeal Booren, Food Director

As Director for the Child Care Food Program, one of my responsibilities is coordinating the 35+ daycare homes participating in our program. This program financially assists the Child Care providers to ensure healthy, nutritious meals and snacks will be served.

The fun part of my job is visiting the Child Care homes and sharing interesting meal and snack ideas – “fun food”, such as:.

Fruit Melodies

(A wonderful snack for children and adults)

Decorate a plate for each person using an attractive arrangement of a variety of colorful fruits, sliced into bite size pieces. (oranges, bananas, grapes, kiwi, melon, prunes, apples, pears, etc.) Provide each person with a small container of “fruit dip”. The dip is made using plain or vanilla yogurt mixed with berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.)

From “Kids Cookbook”, for this booklet and more ideas, please contact Janeal at 298-5131.

Chocolate Monkey

This is Melani’s favorite breakfast

In a blender, mix:

1 cup of milk

1 banana

1 Tablespoon of peanut butter

5 to 6 ice cubes

Chocolate (sugar free cocoa mix or chocolate syrup; for a thicker

“shake”, a heaping teaspoon of chocolate instant pudding).

Blend, pour, enjoy

The United States Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation or marital status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET CENTER at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, Rm 326 W. Whitten Building, 14^th and Independence Ave. SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Changes & Updates

Changes in the CAP Team

By Jim Slusher, Executive Director

Recently, we have lost a couple of members of our “CAP team” to the Department of Human Services.

Sally Randall who has worked at the front desk in The Dalles office for the past seven years is leaving and taking a position as a Human Service Specialist I at Dept. of Human Services in The Dalles. We are going to miss Sally a great deal. Her wit, charm and her hard work for us, will surely be missed.

Kathleen Cervantes who was our office manager in Hood River moved with her family into a new house in Gresham and is now working as a case manager for Department of Human Services in Hillsboro. She was with us for five years. We will miss her enthusiasm and good heart she had for all clients.

We wish both ladies the very best.

We know they will do a great job wherever they go!

…More Changes

We want to welcome and introduce two new employees:

Mark Mauser, a former employee was recently hired to fill the new Energy Education/ Weatherization Auditor position. Mark will be providing energy education to households on our long weatherization list, hopefully helping families reduce the amount of energy they use while being able to stay comfortable AND, saving them money.

Moe DesRochers was hired as Hood River Office Manager. Moe has been on the job about three weeks now and is catching on quickly. He is learning all he can about client services and information and referral.

We feel he will be a valuable asset to Community Action.

Community Food Facility

Good News!!! We have finally purchased the former Oregon Pride building at the port (The Dalles) for our Community Food Facility. This allows us to have a building to store extra food for the 13 food sites in our area.

Over the next several months, we will be working to bring the facility up to where we would like it to be-- so stay tuned and watch our progress. Having this facility will allow us to bring more food into our area, which will help feed those families and individuals who need a hand up.

…because no one should go hungry in the Mid Columbia Area

Family Caregiver Facts & Tips

by Linda Carroll

Lifespan Respite Care Coordinator

Connecting Families and Respite Care providers in Hood River and Wasco Counties

What is respite care?

Have you heard the words respite care and wondered what does it mean? If you are caring for someone, maybe a spouse or family member with special health care needs then respite care can be a source of help.

Respite care offers you a short-term break from your care giving responsibilities. Respite is temporary care for families and caregivers of individuals with special needs. Respite supports families who are caring for a loved one who depends on you night and day. The demands of care giving are challenging, who is taking care of you? It is proved that an occasional respite can renew your patience and strength. Respite care is a gift of time for you, the primary caregiver to renew. Remember, breaks don’t have to be long to make a difference.

Respite care providers are compassionate caregivers who step in and give you a break, time to yourself. Respite helps you stay healthy and supports family stability and well-being. It provides a social opportunity for you and for your loved one. You don’t have to have any special circumstances to feel overwhelmed. By using respite care, you will be reducing stress and enhancing your family life. Respite care can make a difference in your life.

Respite comes in many forms such as – In or out of home care; center based day care, community recreation and activities, short-term care facility stay.

Lifespan respite Care, a program of the Oregon Department of Human Services, is one of many programs administered by the local Mid Columbia

Community Action Council, (many of you know as the CAP office). The Mid Columbia Council of Governments contracts with Lifespan to help provide some funding for respite care, and other related services to qualified family caregivers of someone aged 60 and older in our area.

This caregiver program is called the National Family Caregiver Support Program. Many family caregivers in our area are currently using or have received this valuable support service. As your Lifespan Respite Care Coordinator I have seen first hand how many area family caregivers reap the benefit and support of respite care and its positive impact on their lives. It’s a good thing. >>>

On a personal note, I have first hand experience with the responsibilities of being a devoted family caregiver and a recipient of respite care over the years. Respite has been a very important part of my family life. It allows me to be a better caregiver. It has given me a break from the 24 hour care of my son who just happened to be born with multiple disabilities.

Respite has given my husband and me time to ourselves, time to spend with other family members and friends, time to be a little less worry free about the care giving responsibilities we have day in day out. I have used respite care to go out for dinner, attend a special occasion or see a movie, to shop and to visit family and friends out of state. Sometimes I use respite care to have some time to myself at home. A time to get some things done that I cannot complete while attending our son, things as simple as sewing or writing a letter or other things I need to concentrate on.

After having a few hours away from my care I know I am a better caregiver. It helps reduce the stress and responsibility of providing care that is always there waiting for me. I value respite care and make it a routine part of my life.

FYI

(For Your Information)

Look what else you can do with Alka Seltzer!

Clean a toilet: Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action does the cleaning.

Clean a vase: To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.

Polish jewelry: Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.

Clean a thermos bottle: fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets and let soak for an hour, or longer, if necessary.

Unclog a drain: Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

Our Library

By Barbara McNab

Well, it looks like one of my favorite winter night activities is in jeopardy. I always looked forward to my Wednesday night at the library. 7:00 pm would find me wondering through the book and audio tape shelves seeking the best “read” for the coming week. The library hours have been changed and I, for one find it difficult to coordinate their time with “my” time.

A little bit of information gleaned from The Dalles library:

For decades the City of The Dalles and Wasco County have combined city and county general funds to operate the library. Since 1997, reductions in revenues have resulted in a reduction in the hours of operation and the number of new books purchased. The county Court has determined that it can no longer sustain its share of library funding. As of July 1st, hours at the Dalles-Wasco County Library were reduced by half (to 20 hours per week) and funds for news books reduced by 75%.

I can’t tell you how to vote, but I know how I am voting!

Present Library Hours:

· Tuesday & Wednesday – 1:00 to 6:00

· Friday & Saturday – 10:00 – 3:00

Library Services to Children and families:

· Library programs for children and families

· Online homework help (on line live help 24 hours a day

· Bilingual books and story hours

Half a Year of Reflection

By Corenne Stewart

The end of September marks my six-month anniversary as case manager/intake worker for Mid-Columbia Community Action Council. As the days shorten and leaves begin their turn, I find myself reflecting on the many lessons I’ve learned here. First of all, I was right: people can change. Not only that -- people want to make their lives better. We offer them a fresh slate, a few tools, and they walk out somehow different than when they came in. At least I believe they do.

These past months I’ve been privy to many stories of hardship and trauma. Medical issues; home sales; job layoffs; domestic violence; drug abuse; extended prison stays all leave their mark. People open their hearts and share their darkest secrets. I try to honor that trust, at the same time holding them accountable. It’s an interesting tightrope we walk here, a semi-blurred line between acceptance and expectation. In almost all cases, people are trying to do their best. When they come up short, it’s because the timing was off.

The positives are many. This summer, two of our Hamilton Transitional Housing tenants moved on to their own homes, their own lives. A baby girl was born to loving parents. Several people struggling with homelessness found a roof and refuge there. And those are just the obvious changes.

As we enter fall and winter, colder nights and shorter days will affect us all. My wish for people: hope, joy and the will and strength to endure; the recognition this upcoming season is far from a dead one. Fall brings winter, and winter – spring. October is bulb-planting time, and new, tight buds will replace the absent green of trees.

REMEMBER

If you are interested in applying for Heat Assistance,

it is very important that you contact us ON

December 1^st either in person or by phone.