April 15, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 8

Page Text

Agriculture (a Wednes: , April 15, 2020 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 5 First state participates in national food assistance program Washington, D.C. — U.S. are able to get it,” Perdue a plan to the Secretary of and other program opera- vidual state-by-state basis, online purchasing pilot; Secretary of Agriculture said in the release. “This is Agriculture for providing tors can continue to feed to serve free meals to chil- Debuting “Meals for Sonny Perdue Thursday an- a challenging time for many these benefits to SNAP and children. This latest action dren in all areas, rather than Kids” interactive site finder nounced the first state, Mich- people right now, and we are non-SNAP households with complements previously-an- only those in areas where at —to help families find meals igan, has been approved to working every day to ensure children who have tempo- nounced flexibilities for the least half of students receive for children while schools operate Pandemic Electronic all Americans have access rarily lost access to free or Child Nutrition programs free or reduced-price meals. are closed; Benefit Transfer (EBT), a to safe, affordable, and nu- reduced-price school meals that: Thursday’s announcement Allowing states to issue new program authorized by tritious food to feed them- due to pandemic-related Allow parents and guard- is the latest in a series of ac- emergency — supplemental the Families First Corona- selves and their families.” school closures. State agen- ians to pick up meals to tions that USDA’s Food and SNAP benefits to increase virus Act, signed by Presi- The state of Michigan will cies may operate Pandemic bring home to their kids; Nutrition Service has taken recipients’ purchasing pow- dent Trump, which provides be the first state to operate EBT when a school is closed Temporarily waive meal to uphold the USDA’s com- er; assistance to families of Pandemic EBT, a supple- for at least five consecutive times requirements to make mitment to “Do Right and Collecting solutions to children eligible for free or mental food — purchasing days during a public health it easier to pick up multi- Feed Everyone” during this feeding children impacted reduced-price meals deal- benefit to current SNAP emergency designation dur- ple-days’ worth of meals at national emergency. Other through feedingkids@usda. ing with school closures, the participants and as a new ing which the school would ‘once; actions include: gov; and USDA stated in a release. EBT benefit to other eligible otherwise be in session. Allow meals be served in Launching a new corona- Providing administrative "During these unprec- households to offset the cost The implementation of non-congregate settings to virus webpage to proactive- flexibilities in the Supple- edented times in the United of meals that would have Pandemic EBT is in line support social distancing; ly inform the public about mental Nutrition Assistance States, President Trump otherwise been consumed at with USDA’s commitment Waive the requirement USDA’s efforts to keep chil- Program (SNAP) and the has authorized a whole of school. For the 2019-2020 to keep Americans safe, se- that afterschool meals and dren and families fed; Special Supplemental Nu- America approach to tack- school year, Michigan had cure, and healthy during this snacks served through cer- Providing one million trition Program for Women, ling the coronavirus, and by nearly 750,000 children eli- national emergency and to tain programs be accompa- meals a week through pub- Infants, and Children (WIC) authorizing pandemic EBT gible for free-and reduced- keep kids fed when schools nied by educational activi- ic-private partnership Meals to allow for social distanc- in the state of Michigan, we priced lunch. are closed. USDA is work- ties to minimize exposure to to You; ing. are able to ensure the Ameri- Under FFCRA, _ states ing with states and local au- the novel coronavirus; and Increasing access to online These actions and more cans who need food the most have the option to submit thorities to ensure schools Allow states, on an indi- purchasing by expanding the are part of USDA’s focus on service during the CO- Giving overlooked canned foods new life VID-19 outbreak. To learn more about FNS’s response to COVID-19, visit https:// By Kristy Spalding, OSU tries. blend in with the other in- Tf those tips are still un- ply, make sure you're add- Extension Service www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/ “First, think about the gredients. For those who are palatable, consider smaller ing not only healthy versions pandemic/covid-19. Not all Oklahomans were foods and recipes you do not a fan of fruit cocktail or bites. Brown said when the of foods with a long shelf able to get to grocery stores like. Then, consider how you other canned fruits, consider food is cut into small pieces, USDA’s Food and Nu- to stock up on favorite foods can incorporate these less- blending the ingredients into it is easier to swallow more life, but foods you actually trition Service (FNS) ad- in preparation for home liked foods into new dishes a smoothie along with a ba- quickly. She urged caution enjoy,” Brown said. “Emer- ministers 15 nutrition as- quarantines ahead of COV- with other ingredients you nana, fruit juice and ice. to not swallow too much at gency foods should bring sistance programs that ID-19. Budgets and opportu- prefer,” Brown said. “Find- Brown said another way to atime. leverage American’s agri- people comfort and peace of nities likely feel even more ing a way to hide food in disguise the flavor of a not- Or alternate between tak- cultural abundance to ensure mind, not more stress.” constrained now with an- recipe is a great way to help so-favorite food is to pre- ing a bite of the less-desired children and low-income in- nounced business closures. ensure you make the most of pare it with other foods with food with a food that is more For additional informa- dividuals and families have Barbara Brown, Oklaho- what already is on the pantry strong flavors of their own. well liked. Be sure to have a tion, contact Kristy Spald- nutritious food to eat. FNS ma State University Exten- shelf.” Foods can be sautéed with beverage to help wash down ing, Beckham and Washita also co-develops the Dietary sion food specialist, said it For example, many flavored oil and garlic, for the food, she said. Guidelines for Americans, Counties’ FCS Extension is possible consumers will canned vegetables mix well example. Add some salsa or “Probably the best take- which provide science-based have to get creative with into soups and stews. She away from this experience Educator, at 580-660-0592 nutrition recommendations low-sodium soy sauce, lem- what is still on their shelves said those underappreciated on juice or ketchup to create is the next time you restock or kristy.spalding@okstate. and serve as the cornerstone or available from food pan- flavors and textures easily a completely new dish. your emergency food sup- edu. of federal nutrition policy. Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Clergy urge governor to protect grocery workers By Carla Hinton, The Davies wrote in a recent let- grocery workers’ families, “For much of our daily rou- that we had thought to be have shopped for individuals Oklahoman ter emailed to Stitt. Davies, medical testing for the coro- tines in the past we haven’t unimportant in our society at increased risk of contract- The stockers working to senior minister of First Uni- navirus should they need it, really thought much about are turning out to be some ing the coronavirus. replenish store shelves. tarian Church of Oklahoma treatment for COVID-19 if those folks who have been of the most important people He said the religious lead- The cashiers at the check- City, wrote on behalf of 40 necessary and greater access there day in and day out - folks like grocery work- ers realized that the people out line. Oklahoma clergy and reli- to personal protective equip- serving us in the grocery in- ers,” he said. “We’ve had working in the stores “are The deli and bakery crew. gious sisters affiliated with ment. dustry. This has really called arguments over the years just as exposed to the CO- They each play an integral Voices Organized in Civic “Our organization repre- that to our attention and about what should be the VID-19 as anybody.” role in the day-to-day opera- Engagement. sents thousands of families we're pretty grateful that “They do it, risking them- minimum wage and what’s a tions of local grocery stores. The group, also known across Oklahoma, and many they’re putting their lives living wage and then we get selves, at lower wage levels, Clergy from across the as VOICE, is a coalition of of our loved ones are work- on the line for us. “Some of to this thing and we realize generally speaking, and I state are urging Gov. Kev- more than two dozen metro- ing tirelessly in stores to them might be working part- that pharmacies and grocery think that it’s important to in Stitt to designate these area congregations and non- keep our supply chains func- time jobs without the benefit stores and take-out shops are draw attention to their work grocery workers as first re- profits. In her letter, Davies tioning,” she wrote. “We of good health care and this the things that are keeping us to both express our apprecia- sponders, hoping that this said giving grocery workers would love to tell them that might provide more support alive. These are the people tion for it and to honor what recognition will help them in the first responders’ desig- our governor honors their for them.” going to work every day, not they are doing in the midst more ways than one during nation would recognize the courage and their service at The Rev. Jeremy Bas- able to be safe at home so- of all that.” the COVID-19 crisis. workers for the “vital role” this time.” sett, senior pastor of Wesley cial distancing.” The minister said he was “They are literally risk- they are playing in the cur- A spokesman from Stitt’s United Methodist Church, Bassett said many of the pleased on Friday when ing their lives to be with the rent emergency but also help office was unavailable for said he supported VOICE’s clergy trying to draw at- stores like Walmart an- public every day, ensuring draw down federal funds that comment. letter to Stitt because it high- tention to grocery workers’ nounced plans to limit the that families across Okla- would keep more money cir- The Rev. Tim Luschen, a lights an important issue. plight have been grocery number of people allowed homa can have access to culating in Oklahoma. She VOICE leader who serves as “T think what this particu- shopping for themselves, inside at one time to mini- the food they need in order said the federal dollars could pastor of St. Charles Borro- lar pandemic has helped us older adults in their congre- mize exposure to COV- to survive,” the Rey. Diana be used for childcare for meo Catholic Church, said, understand is that people gations or their members ID-19.