Nutrition
Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMP) Nutrition Initiatives

River Valley Healthy Communities and Healthy Oxford Hills are participating in an HMP Nutrition Initiatives project to establish broad scale and sustainable community nutrition education initiatives targeted at educating families eligible for or participating in Maine’s Food Supplement Program (FSP) in Oxford County. Since FY 2006, HMP have been selected (using FSP participation rates as criteria) to participate in community based nutrition education initiatives targeted at educating families participating in or eligible for Maine’s FSP.

To see Oxford County’s Report click the link below
http://www.maine-nutrition.org/Projects/OxfordSnapEd.pdf

 
FMI call RVHCC 364.7408

Tuesday Night Food Distribution at River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition

Fresh produce is distributed at the RVHCC office we every
Tuesday evening at 6pm throughout the growing season.

All families in need are required to do is show up. There are no requirements or expectations. Fresh produce is distributed along with cooking demos and taste testing.

Anyone wishing to volunteer or donate produce can contact Sandy Witas to get involved.

Hunger in Maine Why Maine Harvest for Hunger is so important?
 

• 10% of Maine households, representing 141,000 people, are “food insecure” according to the USDA.
• More than 40% of Maine children under the age of 12 show some evidence of hunger.
  19,325 Maine children are hungry.
• Maine ranks 5th in the nation in prevalence of food insecurity.

What You Can Do

1. Contact your local food pantry to find out what is most needed.
2. Dedicate a row or more of your garden space to that vegetable.
3. Harvest ripe, high-quality produce, clean it, estimate the weight of the produce, and deliver it to a local hunger organization.
4. Report your donation total to Barbara Murphy at 743-6329, 1-800-287-1482 (toll free in Maine) or e-mail, barbara.murphy@maine.edu.
5. To enroll in Maine Harvest for Hunger http://umaine.edu/harvest-for-hunger/get-involved/.
6. If you live in the River Valley and have extra produce that you do not have a need for you can contact Sandy Witas at RVHCC, 364.7408 and we will find a place to distribute that to.

Do you have questions about vegetable gardening, garden pests, or preserving your harvest?
Contact your local UMaine Extension county office.
What is Available if You are in Need

• Once the Maine Harvest for Hunger sites begin harvesting, typically, food will be distributed weekly.
  UMaine Cooperative Extension Office in S Paris on Thursdays starting at 6pm

It is encouraged that recipients join in during the dispersing of the produce.
 

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is when a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but may include other farm products. Interested customers purchase a “share” and in return receive a box each week throughout the growing season.
   
• These farms currently participate in the CSA program in Oxford County:
  Alma Farm, Porter
  Lollie Poppa Farm, W Paris
  No View Farm, Bakery, & Greenhouse, Rumford
  Oxford Hills Food Cooperative, Norway
  Roy’s Family Farm, Rumford
  Thurston's Family Farm, Peru
• 
  Wood’s Edge Farm, Albany TWP
  For a complete list of Maine farms http://www.mofga.net
   
• Senior Farm Share—60 years and older; some restrictions apply
  Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-353-3771
• Farmer’s Markets in Oxford County can be found by clicking the link below:
  http://www.getrealmaine.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/farmersMarkets.directory/index.htm

The University of Maine offers a fact sheet in the “Food for ME” newsletter that includes suggestions on how to organize a community garden project, recruit volunteers and establish a garden plot.
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4300.htm

Have questions about container gardening?
http://www.extension.umaine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2762.htm

PO Box 86   |   Rumford, ME   |   04276   |   207-364-7408