West End News: December 19

In the middle of this busy holiday season, it’s a good idea to stop a moment and think about the many hard working people who are struggling to make ends meet in this difficult economy.
 
In northeastern Minnesota, there are many food shelves and non-profit groups that provide healthy, nutritious food to families. The Silver Bay Area Food Shelf is located at 99 Edison Boulevard #26, and is open form 8 am to 4 pm every weekday, except on holidays.  In Cook County, the Grand Marais Food Shelf is located in the lower level of the
First Congregational Church, located at 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue West.  It’s open on Mondays, 3 - 5pm and the first Wednesday of each month from 5 – 7 pm.
 
Both of the local food shelves are affiliated with the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth.  Second Harvest rescues food - that would otherwise go to waste - then redistributes it to hungry people.  They are responsible for providing more than 4 million meals a year in northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
 
In our region, 15% of the population lives in poverty. 12% of our population is “food insecure” or at risk for going hungry.  16% of our children are food insecure.  30% of those receiving food from a food shelf are children. Since the great recession of 2008, food shelf use has increased by 70%.  The number of seniors using a food shelf has quadrupled since 2008. 
 
Although, all the traditional indicators say economic recovery is well under way, food shelf use is not declining.  I doubt that this is news to most Americans, who have seen their wages stagnate or decline over the last ten years, as the recovery’s benefits have gone almost exclusively to the very wealthy.
 
Both local food shelves accept donations of food and cash.  Second Harvest also accepts cash donations.  $1 donated to Second Harvest buys $5 worth of food.  Such is the power of volunteers and careful program management. You can find the contact info for the food shelves or Second Harvest online or in the phone book.  As always, you can contact WTIP for full information.
 
We’ve certainly had our share of natural disasters in the last 20 years, including windstorms, forest fires and floods.  There is no doubt that we will face similar challenges in the future.  When a large-scale disaster strikes, police, fire fighters and rescues squads quickly become overwhelmed.  Typically, the first response to a disaster comes from neighbors helping each other.
 
Community Emergency Response Team training, known as CERT training, is designed to prepare regular community members to react effectively in a crisis.  CERT training is not fire fighter or first aid training.  It includes topics like disaster preparedness, disaster psychology, basic fire suppression, hazardous materials safety, simple search and rescue, and basic medical triage.
 
CERT training will be offered in both Silver Bay and Grand Marais this January. The classes start on January 11^th and include six sessions ending early in February.  If you are interested, call BJ Kohlstedt at 218-226-4444.  Or contact WTIP to get full contact information.
 
For the first time in many years, there is more snow on the North Shore than there is back here in the woods.  Although we “only” have about 20 inches of snow on the ground here at Sawbill, it is plenty to put us in the holiday spirit.  The trees are heavily loaded with snow and the creeks are just narrow meanderings of dark water through great pillows of fluffy snow.  This makes a hike or ski in the woods a magical experience.
 
For WTIP, this is Bill Hansen, wishing you Happy Holidays from the West End News.