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U.S. Department of Agriculture

Addressing Pasco’s hunger issue

January 5, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

In society’s modern parlance, it’s called “food insecurity.’’ In simple terms, it’s hunger. And, it’s a big problem in Pasco County, particularly in the COVID-19 era.

Christine Bright, Pasco Unit chair for the League of Women Voters, recently gathered officials from five nonprofit agencies for a panel discussion — “Hidden Hunger in Pasco.’’

Key statistical takeaways:

  • Pasco County’s poverty rate for children is about 25%, which is higher than the statewide average of 20%
  • 45% of Pasco households fall under the “ALICE threshold’’ — which means Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. It reflects households that are barely making it, probably one crisis away from financial wipeout
  • Feeding Tampa Bay’s food requests have increased by 360% since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Bright said the League of Women Voters, a nonprofit, nonpartisan political organization, believes that its core mission is to educate and advocate about a community’s important issues.

“Hunger in our community is at the top of that list,’’ Bright said.

There are ongoing solutions — even in these challenging, virus-driven times.

Patti Templeton, executive director of One Community Now, which works to eradicate childhood hunger, said the agency has been implementing a “Pack-A-Sack’’ program for 37 elementary, middle and high schools in Pasco County. The program feeds approximately 1,600 children on weekends.

“Children who struggle with hunger have a lower attention span, a greater absentee rate and other ailments, as well,’’ Templeton said. “We are seeing an impact. Teachers always tell us they see a difference in the kids, especially on Monday mornings. This bridges the gap from the food they get during school to the weekends, where there might not be any food available at their homes.’’

With an acknowledgement that some homes might not have electricity or refrigeration, the sacks usually contain cereal boxes, breakfast bars, canned ravioli, peanut butter, crackers, applesauce, raisins and juice, while carefully avoiding the high-carb fillers, such as cookies or chips.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Promise Foundation continues to implement a weekend backpack program through Pasco schools. Diana Thomas, secretary of the foundation’s board of directors, said it began a decade ago when her daughter (then 7) used her school lunch money to buy food items for classmates who didn’t have money.

“That brought to light the food insecurity that was happening in our county,’’ Thomas said. “We are unaware of that. We were mind-blown when we realized how much hunger was going on with our children.’’

The Thomas Promise backpacks provide about 2,000 meals each weekend.

Helpers need help, too
One Community Now and Thomas Promise both rely heavily on donations, grants and volunteers.

“Fundraising is down, but the need has gone up,’’ Thomas said. “We had to rework the way we do things and figure out creative ways to get food to families, but we are making it work because it needs to work.’’

Templeton said 50% of her agency’s funding comes through private support and it is always seeking new donors. The major fundraising event, the annual Hunger Walk, had to be done virtually and produced $58,000 (compared to $117,000 last season).

“It’s important that we have the resources to do this work,’’ Templeton said. “Of the 46,000 kids (in Pasco schools), we estimate that 5,000 of them are chronically hungry, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Resources are important.’’

That fact is perhaps best known by Steffan Davis of Pasco’s United Way organization and its Operation Feeding Pasco program.

The United Way is heavily dependent on employment because workers are asked to contribute from the paycheck.

“Collections are down across the board,’’ Davis said. “A lot of nonprofits were burdened before COVID-19 and now they are experiencing deficits. The challenges are no different for us. Thankfully, the Pasco County government has been incredibly generous during this emergency.’’

That included an innovative program, funded through a $600,000 federal grant, where 12 struggling Pasco restaurants were kept open to feed food insecure citizens. Partnering with 19 nonprofit agencies, the restaurants served more than 250,000 hot meals.

Ashley Jones, nutrition specialist with Pasco County Schools, said the district’s numbers held steady during COVID-19, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA).

“We had to come up with a way to feed students (with schools going online during the initial virus) and the DOA released some emergency waivers that allowed us to keep on going,’’ Jones said.

Free food was provided at 26 school sites from mid-March through August, accounting for 1.6-million meals.

Those services are vital. The Coalition on Human Needs estimated that 2.5-million Americans have fallen into poverty as a result of COVID-19.

“What you learn is, people who fall into poverty are not necessarily that different than (someone who hasn’t),’’ said Beth Hovind, co-chair of Poverty Action. “The loss of income and resources means not having enough money to meet the needs of the family and that includes food.

“I think we’re learning we have to come up with ways to replace that lost income instead of offering (other services). If the money is scarce, the priorities become rent and utilities, and some of the money to pay that comes from the food fund.’’

There are no easy answers to these issues. But, in Pasco County, Bright said the ongoing conversation and collaboration between nonprofit agencies is helping to create solutions.

“For all of our citizens, particularly school-age children, we realize this is something that must be addressed,’’ Bright said. “If there are unmet needs, we want to figure out a way to help.’’

By Joey Johnston

Published January 06, 2021

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Beth Hovind, Christine Bright, Coalition on Human Needs, Diana Thomas, DOA, League of Women Voters, One Community Now, Operation Feeding Pasco, Pasco County hunger, Pasco County Schools, Pasco County United Way, Patti Templeton, Poverty Action, Steffan Davis, Thomas Promise Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Get suspicious seeds in the mail?

August 18, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

If you’ve received suspicious seeds in the mail, Hillsborough County’s Extension Service will take them off your hands.

The unsolicited seeds, which appear to have come from China, should not be planted or used in any way, according to a news release from Hillsborough County.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working closely with other federal agencies and state departments of agriculture to investigate the deliveries, the news release says.

The USDA believes at this time that the packages, reportedly sometimes containing other items such as silverware and fidget spinners, are a “brushing scam” where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales, the release adds.

Seeds of unknown origin may constitute agricultural smuggling, be invasive, introduce pathogens or toxins, pose a risk of foodborne illness, or threaten plant and animal health, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The Hillsborough County Extension Service staff will accept the seeds on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Residents who are unable to drop off the seeds during these times can call (813) 744-5519 for additional instructions. The Extension Service is at 5339 County Road 579 in Seffner.

People in possession of unopened packages or packages containing other non-agricultural items should contact the USDA APHIS Anti-Smuggling Hotline at (800) 877-3835 or .

Published August 19, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: China seeds, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Hillsborough County Extension Office, suspicious seeds, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA

Serving up free lunches for kids this summer

July 17, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

School may be out — but Pasco County Schools takes part in a program that provides free lunches to hungry children.

The program serves meals at various cafeterias, and at some pick-up locations, too.

Eight-year-old Harper Greer, of Wesley Chapel, gives a high-five to Ana Santana. On this day, the young girl had lunch with her siblings. (Christine Holtzman)

Megan Sexton, the food program’s coordinator, said Pasco was one of the first counties in Florida to implement mobile feeding.

The idea was to provide youths with a well-rounded meal close to their homes, especially when food is lacking at home or parents are at work.

“Transportation is a huge issue, especially in Zephyrhills, Dade City and some of the rural areas,” Sexton explained. “With these mobile feeding buses, we’re able to go to these communities, stop, let the kids get on the bus and eat.”

The pick-up spots consist of libraries, churches, parks and outside residential communities.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds this program, which had already served 136,000 meals to kids throughout Pasco County as of the first week of July.

Two-year-old Jack Greer, of Wesley Chapel, eagerly tries to open his carton of milk. The youngster and his siblings enjoyed lunch on a recent afternoon outside of the New River Branch Library.

With the help of mobile food buses, this number is only expected to grow.

Six high-mileage school buses that were initially going to be retired, were retrofitted with tables so youths can eat in an air-conditioned space.

However, as the program began to expand in number, six vans were added to help distribute food throughout the county.

The vans don’t offer air-conditioned seating, but there are portable seats and tables, which are shaded by umbrellas.

That’s the setup at the New River Branch Library, in Wesley Chapel, where children recently were taking a lunch break.

It’s a convenient location for Patricia Buskey, and her son, Parker, who live behind the library.

“He loves school lunch, so he wanted to come out,” the mother said, with a chuckle. “He’s been coming almost every day.”

Like other kids, the 7-year-old from New River Elementary had fresh fruit, vegetables, chips and a sandwich.

Patti Collard, of Wesley Chapel, right, watches as her 4-year-old daughter, Isabella, enjoys her lunch.

Children can be selective with their items, placing foods they don’t want in the ‘share bin’ for other kids.

Patricia is glad Parker can get his favorite treats, but she also sees it as an opportunity for less-fortunate children.

“It’s so helpful,” she said. “There’s a lot of kids who need it. I know a lot of kids aren’t eating three meals a day at home.”

The county’s school system has made strides to improve the promotion of its program. This includes sending home flyers with students and advertising the program through social media like Facebook.

The school system also has partnered with the Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger organization to distribute flyers to the public.

Sexton views the program as a way to help impoverished families, without singling them out.

She recalled an instance where a young girl with tears in her eyes hugged her after realizing she didn’t have to worry about how she was going to get lunch for the day.

“It really touches your heart when you realize this goes on right around us every day, and some of us are just oblivious to it,” Sexton noted.

Efforts to get the word out about the program are apparently paying off.

New River Library has benefited from these efforts. This year, it’s serving 60 to 70 kids a day, compared to an average of 20 a day last year, Sexton said.

Still, there are some who find out about the program, while they’re out and about.

That was the case with Patti Collard and daughter, Isabella.

“Actually we were just here at the library getting some books and just happened to walk past,” said Patti, a Wesley Chapel resident. “This is perfect timing.”

The mother noted she was glad there was a healthy selection, as she watched 4-year-old Isabella enjoy her watermelon, grapes and milk.

The lunch program is free for anyone age 18 and younger, and requires no registration. And, it’s open to all youths, whether they attend Pasco schools or not.

That was great news for Christopher Privett, 16, who is home-schooled and comes to the library with his family.

“We’ve been doing it almost every day that we can attend,” Privett said.

He added that he’s not picky, and he does enjoy a free lunch.

Sexton also attributes the program’s success to cafeteria staff who volunteer to work additional hours during the summer.

“Our staff is amazing,” she stated. “They do this all year-long. They have such a passion for these kids.”

The program runs through July 31.

For a list of cafeterias, pick-up sites or food items, call (813) 794-2480, text ‘FoodFL’ to 877-877, or visit SummerFoodPasco.net.

Summer food program
Where: To find a convenient cafeteria or pick-up spot, call (813) 794-2480, text ‘FoodFL’ to 877-877, or visit SummerFoodPasco.net.
When: Monday through Friday until July 31; Times vary by location.
Details: Youth 18 years old and under are offered free summer lunches.

Published July 17, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Christopher Privett, Megan Sexton, New River Branch Library, Pasco County Schools, Patricia Buskey, Patti Collard, Tampa Bay Network to End Hunger, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Fighting child hunger in Pasco, one backpack at a time

November 7, 2018 By Brian Fernandes

When Amber Chancey and her husband, Paul, moved to Wesley Chapel in 2016, the couple had no idea the impact they would have on their new community.

They did know that they wanted the best education for their children, and they also knew that a healthy, balanced meal played a vital role in this.

Since its founding in 2018, Full Circle Food Outreach has found an advocate in NYE Commercial Advisors — which allows food donations to be dropped off at the company’s office. (Courtesy of Amber Chancey)

Meanwhile, Susan Coffey, a third-grade teacher, and several colleagues at Double Branch Elementary School noticed there were children in classes who were constantly tired, hungry or asking to be allowed to take their school food home.

Double Branch already was collecting food donations to send home to families on a month-to-month basis.

And, when the Chanceys learned about the situation, they began brainstorming on how to better address the needs of hungry children.

That led to the creation of the Full Circle Food Outreach program, which began in February 2018.

“We thought this was an easier, more consistent way to get the food to the kids,” said Amber Chancey, who is the program’s president.

The food outreach works like this: Students either openly express a need, or school staff notices signs — such as a student falling behind academically, or not concentrating in class.

In collaboration with Full Circle Food Outreach, New Tampa Chiropractic was able to collect 80 backpacks worth of nonperishable foods this year. These items are distributed to students in Wesley Chapel schools on Fridays, so they have enough to eat over the weekend.

Once a need is determined, parents must agree to be part of the program, in order to receive a supply of food intended to last through the weekend.

After school on Fridays, each student that is participating receives a food bag with 13 nonperishable items, consisting of two breakfasts, two lunches and snacks.

“We wanted these students to have the same opportunity to benefit from their education,” Chancey said, regarding the intent of Full Circle Food Outreach. “They’re not coming to school hungry, and they’re able to focus.”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), an estimated 6.5 million children live in households with an insufficient food supply, and roughly 16 percent of those homes have children under the age of 6.

Full Circle’s efforts have helped fill that gap at two Wesley Chapel schools, with Double Branch Elementary currently serving 21 students through the program, and Quail Hollow Elementary with 47 students.

One event that helped make this possible was a collaboration between Full Circle and the All Pro Dad organization, in which students’ fathers helped collect food donations on May 4.

The outreach also has received help from the community, when Full Circle hosted a “Stock-the-Pantry” food drive for the entire month of July.

Carmel Friendship Church, which partners with Full Circle Food Outreach, has stacks of nonperishable goodies so Wesley Chapel students won’t go hungry over the weekend while not in school.

Several local businesses volunteered themselves as drop-off locations for food donations, including NYE Commercial Advisors, New Tampa Chiropractic and Injury Center, Carmel Friendship Church, My Gym New Tampa, Faith Baptist Church and Premier Gymnastics.

The GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club also has contributed food and money.

A Stock-the-Pantry party was held at the Country Walk Clubhouse in Wesley Chapel on July 28 to showcase the collected food donations, amounting to a value of more than $2,000.

Open to the public with refreshments, the function also raised an additional $250 from raffle tickets for items such as two Chuy’s Dinner certificates, a girl’s cruiser bike and a two-night stay at a Northwest Florida condo.

According to the foundation, $5 is enough to feed one student for a weekend, and it is striving for the goal of collecting $17,000 for the 2018-2019 school year, allocating some 2,720 food bags.

Chancey wants to provide services to more schools in Pasco County, but because Full Circle is a nonprofit organization, it must depend on community and business contributions to expand its work.

Her objective is not only to ensure that students are well-nourished, but that they learn the importance of charitable work and, eventually, will give back to others.

“Potentially, they’re going to make better grades, that’s going to help them progress and end up in a better place as an adult,” she said.

To enroll a student in the program or to make a donation online, visit FullCircleFoodOutreach.org.

For additional information on the foundation, call Full Circle Food Outreach at (813) 619-8009, or email .

Published November 7, 2018

Filed Under: Local News, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: All Pro Dad, Amber Chancey, Carmel Friendship Church, Chuy's, Country Walk, Double Branch Elementary School, Faith Baptist Church, Full Circle Food Outreach, GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman's Club, My Gym New Tampa, New Tampa Chiropractic and Injury Center, Nye Commercial Advisors, Paul Chancey, Premier Gymnastics, Quail Hollow Elementary School, Susan Coffey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wesley Chapel

Thousands get emergency food assistance in Pasco

November 15, 2017 By Kathy Steele

Thousands of residents from about 14 counties came to the Pasco County Fairgrounds to qualify for emergency assistance in replacing food lost during Hurricane Irma’s power outage.

From Nov. 5 through Nov. 8, Pasco County deputies monitored an orderly progression of vehicles that stacked up in both directions along State Road 52, outside Dade City.

Applicants for the food emergency D-Snap program formed long lines at the Pasco County fairgrounds as they waited to apply for assistance in replacing food lost during Hurricane Irma. (Kathy Steele)

Traffic moved slowly, but the disruptions that seemed to overwhelm similar events in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties didn’t materialize.

The fairgrounds were a change in venue after Pasco County commissioners backed away from an agreement to hold the event at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, on Collier Parkway. They decided that using that would result in traffic gridlock on what already is one of the county’s busiest urban corridors.

The income-based Food for Florida program is administered by the Florida Department of Children & Families in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture. Dozens of four-day events have taken place across the state, starting at 6 a.m., and ending at 7 p.m., each day.

In Pasco, cars and trucks filled the 20 acres of hilly grassland at the fairgrounds that usually sees its busiest traffic at fair time.

By mid-day of Nov. 8, more than 21,000 households had applications processed during the multiday event. About 90 percent qualified for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or the D-Snap program.

Residents came not only from Pasco, but from Collier, Lee, Volusia, Sarasota and Polk counties, too.

One woman, who didn’t want to give her name, drove about two hours from Brevard County.

Staff members from the Florida Department of Children & Families helped direct applicants seeking emergency food assistance at the Pasco County fairgrounds.

Most who came from long distances said they made the trip because food sites in their areas had closed before they realized help was available.

And, on the final day of the program, some said they had just learned they could be eligible.

Teresita Ayala, who lives in Pasco, said her sister-in-law in Tampa told her about the program going on at the fairgrounds.

So, Ayala and her friend, Shawna Stacy, came on the final day.

Ayala has four children.

Power was out for nine days, said Ayala. “So, all our food went to waste.”

Stacy lives with her grandparents, one of whom is diabetic. They had no power for about a week.

They took on extra expenses buying more food, and ice to keep it cool, Stacy said.

Dade City resident William Wilson sat under a canopy, out of the sun. He drove a friend to the fairgrounds to make an application for D-Snap.

“I’m just helping a neighbor,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he receives food stamps so didn’t qualify for D-Snap.

Instead, he and other regular food stamp recipients will get increased monthly allotments for September and October.

Loss of food during the hurricane made it tough, Wilson said.

The last minute decision to pick another site to host the D-Snap event meant adjusting the event’s schedule from an October start to November.

Pasco County commissioners initially agreed to allow the state Department of Children and Families to use the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center. Within about two days of the announcement of the event, there were about 11,000 preregistrations.

The potential for large crowds, and traffic gridlock, on such a busy corridor set off alarms with county officials and county commissioners.

With the recreation center no longer a possibility, the board of directors of the Pasco County Fair Association offered their site for rental. The association also had staff members available to help with parking and other activities.

As the fairgrounds site in Pasco closed, the Department of Children and Families had two remaining sites scheduled to open in Miami-Dade and Broward counties on Nov. 7 through Nov. 9. Those would conclude the in-person statewide signups, and distribution of D-Snap cards.

For additional information on eligibility, visit DCF.state.fl.us/programs/access.signup.

Published November 15, 2017

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Collier Parkway, D-SNAP, Dade City, Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, Florida Department of Children & Families, Food for Florida, Hurricane Irma, Land O' Lakes, Land O' Lakes Recreation Center, Pasco County Commission, Pasco County Fair Association, Pasco County Fairgrounds, Shawna Stacy, State Road 52, Teresita Ayala, U.S. Department of Agriculture, William Wilson

Food relief site at Pasco fairgrounds

October 25, 2017 By Kathy Steele

A federal emergency food relief program found a new location, and set new dates, to aid qualifying residents who lost food during Hurricane Irma.

Applications will be taken Nov. 5 through Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City.

Similar events have been staged in counties in the Tampa Bay area that have drawn tens of thousands of applicants.

The events have been plagued with reports of larger-than- expected crowds, hours-long waits, and traffic gridlock.

Previously, Pasco County commissioners had approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Children and Family Services to allow an emergency food relief program at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, off Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

The department, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is administering the Food for Florida relief program.

Before the Pasco County Commission initially approved the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, they raised concerns about the location because it’s on a busy corridor and at a recreation complex with youth athletic activities. After approving it, they quickly regretted the decision, and on Oct. 16 sent a letter to DCF officials withdrawing from the agreement.

The new site has one feature lacking at the recreation center – 20 acres for parking.

Fair association officials also have years of experience in handling crowds and traffic. Some of their staff will help with parking and other activities.

“We have traffic flow and people flow down to an art,” said Dicky Brown, president of the fair association.

The rental agreement with DCF was finalized on Oct. 18, Brown said.

The agency will have the use of two buildings, including restroom facilities, and an open field for parking.

It’s a major undertaking, and a strain on any community, Brown added. “But, we can get people off (State Road) 52 faster than anywhere because we have 20 acres of parking.”

The search for a new site was a countywide effort among local governments and agencies, including county commissioners, the school district and law enforcement, said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells Jr.

“It’s (fairgrounds) the only location that made sense and everyone worked together,” said Wells, who is on the fair association’s board.

The DCF will have hundreds of employees on site during the four-day program. Law enforcement from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and Dade City will aid in traffic and crowd control.

Residents who come to the site can qualify for food replacement for September and October, based on income and losses suffered during Hurricane Irma.

People who currently receive food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, aren’t eligible. Instead, they will be compensated with extra benefits through the monthly program.

For eligible applicants, Disaster-SNAP, or D-SNAP debit-style cards, will be issued if the applicant lived or worked in one of the 48 declared federal disaster counties from Sept. 5 to Oct. 4.

To speed up the process, DCF officials encourage applicants to preregister at least a day before coming to an application site.

For information, visit Dcf.state.fl.us/programs/access/fff/.

Published October 25, 2017

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Collier Parkway, Dade City, Dicky Brown, Florida Department of Children and Family Services, Hurricane Irma, Land O' Lakes, Land O' Lakes Recreation Center, Mike Wells Jr., Pasco County Fairgrounds, SNAP, State Road 52, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Just in time for school: Healthy snacks

August 9, 2017 By Betsy Crisp

School bells will be ringing soon, and young minds will be gearing up to absorb new lessons.

But, school isn’t the only place where your children can acquire knowledge.

The kitchen in your home can be a great learning space, too.

You can help your children think of it as a laboratory, and cooking can become one big tasty experiment.

Some plastic bags and pipe cleaners can be transformed into fun packaging for your nutritious snacks. (Betsy Crisp)

Depending on their age and ability, they can wash fruits and vegetables, cut them into pieces, and package and label them to have on hand to have as a snack when they get home from school.

While they are learning about food safety and food preparation at home, you can also build on nutrition lessons they get at school.

Keep in mind the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate icon and the guidelines on how much to eat from each food group when you are planning and serving food.

Healthy snacks including fruits and vegetables are an easy way to complete your daily plan to achieve a balanced diet.

Growing young minds and bodies need fuel throughout the day to stay well, grow strong and be ready to learn.

Healthy snacks keep them going between meals.

Plan ahead to prepare the snacks and have them readily available.

This will help your children make the right lifestyle choices now, and also later in life.

The following guidelines will help:

  • Practice preparing the snacks with your children; as they become more proficient they can make them on their own.
  • Teach them to use measuring cups or the proper size of containers, to practice portion control.
  • Don’t overlook food safety. Wash your hands. Wash the dishes and wipe off the counter.

Here are some practical snack ideas:

  • Trail mix. This is one of my favorites because it is so easy to make and doesn’t need refrigeration. Using a mix of whole grain cereals, dried fruits, and nuts will add more fiber to your child’s diet. If you want to go to some extra effort, you can portion and package the trail mix attractively, using snack bags and pipe cleaners to make butterflies.
  • Other easy snacks include hard-cooked eggs, reduced-fat cheese (cheddar, string cheese, etc.) and crackers, and peanut butter on celery, or apple slices, topped with a row of raisins.

Most children (and adults, too) do not consume the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables, so snacks made of these are a good way to fill in those missed servings and also where those interesting container ideas (like canning jars) can come into play.

  • Veggie Dip Sticks: Take a small canning jelly jar (8 oz./1 cup) or plastic container about same size. Pour two tablespoons of low-fat ranch dressing (or hummus) into the bottom, add celery and carrot sticks no taller than the rim, add lid to seal. Store in the refrigerator for three days to four days.
  • Fruit with Yogurt on the bottom: Take a small canning jelly jar (1 cup) or plastic container about same size. Spoon four tablespoons of low-fat yogurt in the bottom, one tablespoon of granola (optional), and add fresh fruit of various shapes and colors almost to the rim, add lid to seal. Store in the refrigerator for three days to four days.

Remember, you can teach your children to make these treats. And, with practice, they can do it on their own.

As with any new food, be aware that some people have food allergies.

The eight most common foods people are allergic to are milk; eggs; peanuts; tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts); fish (such as bass, cod, flounder); shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp); soy; and wheat.

When purchasing food, be sure to read packaging because these eight foods are now included in food allergy labeling, and they account for an estimated 90 percent of allergic reactions.

Betsy Crisp is a Professor Emeritus, for the University of Florida/IFAS Extension — Family & Consumer Services.

Recipes:

Scoops/Dippers: Homemade Pita Chips/Crostini
Ingredients:

3 (7-inch) whole-grain pita breads (or 1 whole grain baguette loaf)

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°F.

Brush both sides of each pita round with oil, cut into wedges on a cutting board using a pizza cutter before putting on the baking sheet. If using baguette, cut into slices and place on the baking sheet in a single layer, and brush both sides with oil.

Bake in the oven until just golden, about 4 minutes per side. Cool before serving.

Use to dip into the hummus. Makes 20 chips.

Cuban Black Bean Hummus (instead of the traditional chickpeas)
Ingredients:

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 Tablespoons tahini (sesame seed paste)

1 clove of garlic, chopped

2 Tablespoons lime/lemon juice

2 Tablespoons cold water

1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin

1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)

4 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley (optional)

Instructions:
Put all the ingredients in the bowl of the food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until smooth. Now taste it. Does it need more lime or lemon juice? More salt or spice? If so, add it and taste again.

Using the spatula, scoop the dip into the serving bowl or lidded container.

Serve right away, or cover and refrigerate up to five days. Makes 8 servings.

Lemon Hummus (Note: requires use of a food processor and parent supervision)
Ingredients:

1 can (16-ounce) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 clove of garlic, peeled

2 Tablespoons olive oil

¼ cup lemon juice (or juice of one lemon plus zest)

3 Tablespoons cold water

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:
Put the steel blade in the food processor. Add the chickpeas and garlic, and turn the processor on. Process until the beans start to break apart and the garlic gets chopped.

Add the oil and lemon juice, and process again. Add the water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, until the hummus reaches the consistency you prefer. Add the salt and pepper, and process until completely smooth.

Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to three days. Makes 1 cup.

Parmesan Yogurt Dip with Veggies
Ingredients:

2 cups plain, low-fat Greek yogurt

1 small clove of garlic, peeled and minced

3 ½ Tablespoons lemon juice (or juice and grated zest of 1 small scrubbed lemon)

1⁄2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

1 bag each: baby carrots and celery sticks (or other vegetables)

Instructions:
Put the yogurt, garlic, lemon juice and Parmesan cheese in a bowl and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to three days. Makes 8 servings.

Published August 9, 2017

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Betsy Crisp, healthy snacks, MyPlate, U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service

Pantry provides food for those in need

May 24, 2017 By B.C. Manion

The Helping Hands Choice Food Pantry at Atonement Lutheran Church of Wesley Chapel began more than a decade ago with a simple goal — to feed the hungry.

Carl Haberland came up with the idea.

“He had this dream that he was supposed to feed people in need,” said Carla Haberland, who has led the church’s food pantry efforts since her husband’s death in 2011.

Members of the Giraffe Club at Academy at the Lakes, in Land O’ Lakes, made gift bags for Mother’s Day for moms who come by the Helping Hands Choice Food Pantry in Wesley Chapel. From left are Deborah Szarko, club sponsor, and club officers, Luke Magnusson, Adalynn Williams and Luna Cummings. (B.C. Manion)

“It started out with a Christmas Eve dinner, between services, for the community, and baskets of food,” she recalled.

That was in 2006.

When the church began feeding the hungry, it still had a day care, so it had limited amount of space, Haberland said.

But, when the day care closed, the Helping Hands food pantry opened, distributing food every Wednesday to those in need.

“It started out with like 10, 20 families,” the food pantry director said.

“It didn’t take long to figure out that we couldn’t afford to keep buying the food at Save-A-Lot,” she said.

The pantry signed up with what was then Suncoast Harvest in Land O’ Lakes. There is no longer a food bank there and the organization is now called Feeding Tampa Bay.

The church also signed up to receive foods for the pantry from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Now, it has nearly 1,200 registered, active families, and on any given week, between 270 to 330 families show up to pick up food.

“USDA requires a form. For us to give you USDA, there’s certain criteria. You have to live in Pasco County,” Haberland said, noting there are five ways to qualify for USDA assistance.

The pantry is organized somewhat like a store.

Carla Haberland, the director of Helping Hands Choice Food Pantry at Atonement Lutheran Church, said the work can be quite demanding, but is also extremely rewarding.

It opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 2 p.m., but people begin lining up long before opening.

Around 8 a.m., Helping Hands opens its doors to let people register or check in. People get numbers, and some leave and return, while others stay and wait outside.

Haberland thinks the people who are driving by and see the large line of people in need — are touched by what they see and prompted to help.

Besides the USDA, the pantry gets food from Feeding Tampa Bay, through donations from local stores, from local organizations and from individual contributors.

There’s also about 40 regular volunteers, who handle all sorts of chores. They pick up food items, sort them, store them, stock the shopping tables, work the distribution lines and do other miscellaneous tasks.

It’s an operation that truly requires many helping hands.

Besides the regular crew, there are others who come in for special occasions.

For instance, officers from the Giraffe Club were at the pantry recently, handing out Mother’s Day gift bags to moms visiting the pantry. Each gift bag was hand-decorated by Giraffe Club members and stocked with goodies to pamper the ladies.

While she has a steady crew of volunteers, Haberland said she always makes room for kids who want to volunteer and can always use more volunteers with muscle.

It’s a big job
The pantry distributes nearly 10,000 pounds of food each week. Items doled out weekly vary, based on what comes in.

One recent week, the USDA tables were stocked with grape juice, milk, cereal, canned peaches and orange juice.

Volunteers Barbara Packer, Marina Buff and Joanne Greseth say they enjoy volunteering at Helping Hands Choice Food Pantry because helping to feed the hungry is important work.

Other tables had bread, chips, salad dressings, canned goods, desserts and produce.

There’s a meat counter, too.

On this particular week, each family received a package of lunchmeat and one meat item.

As people make their way around the tables, volunteers let them know if they can take one item or two, depending on what’s available.

Usually fresh produce is scarce, but on this Wednesday, there was a large supply of romaine lettuce.

That’s because the pantry received an unexpected contribution, Haberland said.

“I had a call Sunday evening, at 5 o’clock, from a trucker, saying, ‘I’m at the rest area, northbound, on (Interstate) 75, I have five cases of romaine lettuce. Can you run and pick it up?’” she said.

And, because of that, Land O’ Lakes volunteer Barbara Packer said, “everybody is going to get a lettuce or a salad, and they’ll probably get one other (fresh vegetable) choice.”

Volume dictates how many choices a family will have, Packer said, “but at least they make the choices. They can make the decisions for their families.”

Besides providing food, the pantry provides something else that matters, Packer noted.

“The neat thing is the fact that we’re kind and positive, and smiling, with our families,” Packer said.

That’s particularly important, she added, “because so many times everybody is saying ‘No’ to them in so many other phases of their life.”

Marina Buff, who lives in San Antonio, has been a Helping Hands volunteer for several years.

“It’s just such an important thing. It needs to be done. There are too many people without food,” Buff said.

Packer agreed: “They just need the basics. They’re kind of the forgotten people.”

It’s true that the volunteers help the pantry, but the pantry helps them, too, Haberland said.

It gives them an opportunity to be needed, and it feels good to do something for someone else, she said.

Haberland said the blessings the pantry receives come in many forms.

The romaine lettuce is just one example, she said.

“Somebody else, from Flying J, a trucker, had 750 pounds of mashed potatoes.”

Plus, she added, “I know that my car will hold 68 king-size bed pillows. I know that, because Target donated like three pallets of bed pillows one week.”

There’s no such as a typical day or week at the pantry, Haberland said.

“It’s like you’re on call 24/7,” she said.

There are times when she gets tired, she acknowledged, and she wonders to herself: “What are you doing this for?”

Then, she said, “You think of the people — and there’s nothing that touches you more.

“You’ll get a new family that comes through and by the time they get around to the meat counter, they’re crying. They are so overwhelmed with the help that they get,” she said.

So, that question that Haberland sometimes asks herself? It always has the same answer.

“Obviously, we’re supposed to be doing this,” the pantry director said.

Pantry wish list
What’s on the Helping Hands’ wish list?

A remodeling project has created the need for Helping Hands Choice Food Pantry to replace its walk-in cooler. The freezer/cooler combination that it needs will cost $30,000. Anyone who wants to help the pantry meet this need should call Carla Haberland at (813) 973-2211.

Published May 24, 2017

Filed Under: Local News, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: Academy at the Lakes, Atonement Lutheran Church of Wesley Chapel, Barbara Packer, Carl Haberland, Carla Haberland, Feeding Tampa Bay, Flying J, Giraffe Club, Helping Hands Choice Food Pantry, Land O' Lakes, Marina Buff, Save-A-Lot, Suncoast Harvest, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA

‘Waste Not, Want Not’ – Reducing food waste

April 19, 2017 By Betsy Crisp

As we prepare to celebrate Earth Day — on April 22 —I thought I’d share some facts about how much food the average American family wastes each year, and then focus on how we can reduce food waste.

Depending on what figures you look at, the average family of four in the United States wastes from about $1,350 to $2,275 every year.

When broken down by components, it turns out that fresh fruits and vegetables are the food we waste most, making up 22 percent of the food we throw away.

Trying to cut down on that waste is not a new effort.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been offering advice on this topic to consumers since World War 1.

One campaign poster offered these keys to making the most of our food:

  • Buy it with thought
  • Cook it with care
  • Serve just enough
  • Save what will keep
  • Eat what would spoil
  • Remember: homegrown is best
  • Don’t waste it

These principles still hold true today.

The Environmental Protection Agency also offers tips for reducing food waste on its website.

My personal favorite is “Be Creative: If safe and healthy, use the edible parts of food you normally would not eat.”

Looking to try a new kind of coleslaw? How about using watermelon rind in your recipe? (Courtesy of National Watermelon Promotion Board)

 

The EPA offers examples of using stale bread to make your own croutons and to sauté beet tops for a delicious side dish.

Besides avoiding waste, tips like that can help you stretch your food dollars.

When it comes to vegetables, for instance, most of us only consume the most common, or best known, part of the plant.

But, many vegetables have a secondary — usually lesser known and overlooked, but edible — part that I refer to as the “unusual edibles.”

If you buy your produce at the grocery store, these parts of the plant often have already been removed and discarded before packaging. But, if you grow your own produce, you can easily take advantage of these lesser-known options for consumption.

Although many of these secondary parts are edible, the flavor and texture may be an acquired taste.

For example, there are many species of cabbage and all the leaves are edible, but the leaves of some species are too strong for most people’s liking.

Edible leaves and stems of the sweet potato are eaten in many parts of the world, but some are very bitter.

Since there is such a great variety of plant species, the flavors of their parts also vary greatly.  Some parts need to be cooked to improve their edibility, but some leaves may be eaten fresh. Use care: Some leaves can be mildly poisonous.

The rind from a watermelon can be used to make tasty pickles.

Here are just a few examples of the most common vegetables with edible parts that might surprise you: Besides eating the parts of the beets, carrots and radishes we are familiar with, the leaves of those plants are also edible.

We generally eat the flower parts of broccoli and cauliflower, but we can also eat the stems and leaves.

We commonly eat stalks of celery, but the lesser-known edible parts are the leaves and seeds.

And, as watermelon comes into season, I am reminded of my personal favorite – watermelon rinds can be made into pickles (see recipe).

My grandmother, like many who survived the Great Depression, did so by being “thrifty.” She was a great cook, and taught my mother and me to “waste not, want not” by saving all the vegetable scraps such as celery leaves, onion skins and so on, to make stock for soup. Soups are a great way to reduce food waste and stretch your food dollars.

It’s never too early to learn how to be better consumers of Mother Nature’s bounty.

At camp one summer, we taught Pasco County youth about “upcycling” and highlighted some of these principles by having a sampling of “unusual edibles” — including pickled watermelon rinds. They also learned how to plant and grow more produce from kitchen scraps, including fruit and vegetable tops and seeds.

Betsy Crisp is a Professor Emeritus, UF/IFAS Extension – Family & Consumer Sciences

RECIPE #1

Easy-to-Make Watermelon Rind Refrigerator Pickles

Ingredients:
4 cups water
1 tablespoon coarse/kosher salt
2 cups peeled watermelon rind, cut into 1 x 1/2 x 2 inch pieces, leaving a thin layer of pink
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 allspice berry (whole allspice)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
4 peppercorns
4 whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon pickling spice
1 long slice of fresh gingerroot, preferred (but 1 tsp ground ginger to a 1/2-inch piece of fresh)
1/4 teaspoon celery seeds

Instructions:

  1. In large pot, bring water and salt to boil over medium high heat.
  2. Add pieces of rind and boil until tender (about 5 minutes).
  3. Place in colander to strain liquids from rinds.
  4. Transfer rinds to a large metal bowl.
  5. In saucepan, combine remaining ingredients.
  6. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
  7. Simmer for 15 minutes, until slightly reduced.
  8. Pour over watermelon rinds in bowl.
  9. Place plate over top to keep rinds submerged in liquid.
  • Cover and refrigerate for one day to improve flavor.
  • Transfer to a glass canning jar (one quart or two pint jars) and keep sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 4 cups = 1 quart / 2 pints

Note: These are not processed in a boiling water bath canner and not intended to be stored on the shelf. They must be kept in the refrigerator.

RECIPE #2
Watermelon Rind Slaw

Ingredients:

Dressing
1/4 cup fat-free, plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
1 1/2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
2 teaspoons olive oil
dash salt and pepper (to taste)

Slaw
4 cups grated watermelon rind (with fruit and green peel removed)
1 cup carrot, grated
1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple, diced

Instructions: 

  1. In a small bowl, blend dressing thoroughly and set aside.
  2. Place watermelon rind on several layers of paper towels to soak up excess fluid.
  3. In a medium-sized bowl, add dressing, rind, carrot and pineapple. Toss to thoroughly coat.

Makes 4 servings (1 cup each)

Watermelon facts
About 85 percent of watermelons are purchased in fresh form by consumers. Although there is some watermelon production in virtually all states, about three-fourths of all watermelons grown in the U.S. are grown in Florida, California, Texas, Georgia and Indiana. On an average, per person basis, we eat more than 15 pounds of fresh watermelon each year. While many people are just accustomed to eating the juicy flesh of the watermelon, both the seeds and the rind are edible, too.
For recipes, nutrition and other information, visit the National Watermelon Promotion Board at Watermelon.org.

Published April 19, 2017

 

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Betsy Crisp, Earth Day, National Watermelon Promotion Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture, watermelon recipes

Pollinator gardens attract bees and other wildlife

September 21, 2016 By Nicole Pinson

Obviously, pollinators are important.

An estimated one-third of the food we eat comes from plants pollinated by animals.

Bees, wasps, flies and hummingbirds are vital pollinators.

Calamint resembles rosemary and has tiny white flowers. The leaves have a sweet, minty fragrance. (Photos courtesy of Nicole Pinson)
Calamint resembles rosemary and has tiny white flowers. The leaves have a sweet, minty fragrance.
(Photos courtesy of Nicole Pinson)

Scientists have found that it takes eight or more visits by a bee to a watermelon flower to produce a single watermelon.

So, please consider planting a pollinator garden to increase populations of these beneficial insects.

Similar to butterfly gardens, pollinator gardens incorporate the use of plants, such as host and nectar plants, that attract butterflies. However, they differ in that selected plants also attract other pollinators such as native bees, flies and hummingbirds.

Bees need nectar and pollen, both of which are provided by flowers. Nectar serves as the primary source of carbohydrates for bees, and pollen is essential to brood production, young bee development and hive growth. Interestingly, all pollen is not created equal, and “pollen from different floral sources has different quantities of each component” (Ellis, et al, 2013).

Recognizing that pollinators are important, local Lutz Girl Scout Troop No. 360 worked in partnership with the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County to plant a pollinator demonstration garden at the extension office while earning their Silver Awards.

Girl Scout Troop No. 360 planted a pollinator demonstration garden.
Girl Scout Troop No. 360 planted a pollinator demonstration garden.

Silver Awards encourage the cadettes to design their own community project and understand how they impact their community. Obtaining the award requires completing an approved cause and issue service project that is at least 50 volunteer hours.

The purpose of this project is to teach youth and their families about the importance of pollinators, and the relationship between plants and pollinators. This project promotes Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM principles, especially with regard to reducing stormwater runoff, attracting wildlife, reducing pollinator risk when using pesticides, and beautifying our community while preserving and conserving resources such as water.

In addition to planting the pollinator garden, the Girl Scouts wrote newspaper articles and press releases, installed micro-irrigation, created a pollinator display and provided docent tours to the public.

The tiny, white flowers of frogfruit attract many different pollinators. The plant also serves as a larval host plant for white peacock butterflies.
The tiny, white flowers of frogfruit attract many different pollinators. The plant also serves as a larval host plant for white peacock butterflies.

The Girl Scouts learned that there are many plants that attract pollinators. Examples of great Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM plants include buttonsage lantana Lantana involucrata, blanket flower Gaillardia pulchella, pink swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata, frogfruit Phyla nodiflora, rayless sunflower Helianthus radula, calamint Calamintha ashei, and white top aster Oclemena reticulata.

Pollinators are important because they help increase fruit set, quality and size, and these benefits can also translate to economic impacts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2014 estimated bee pollinated commodities accounted for $20 billion in annual U.S. agricultural production. Pollinator gardens are unique and these gardens can teach residents and youth how to attract pollinators to their landscapes, while reducing negative environmental impacts associated with landscape management practices.

You can visit the extension office to learn about plants that attract pollinators. The extension office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors can tour the pollinator garden, along with the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden and the perennial garden, for free.

Children and their parents can check out pollinator backpacks that contain insect and flower sketch plates, field identification cards, magnifying lenses and books. There is something new to see each time you visit the gardens, and we hope you are inspired to create a pollinator garden of your own.

Sources for this column:

  • Sanford, M. and J. Ellis. (2016). Beekeeping: Watermelon Production. IFAS Publication Number ENY-154. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/aa/aa09100.pdf.
  • Ellis, A., J. Ellis, M. O’Malley and C. Nalen. (2013). The Benefits of Pollen to Honey Bees. IFAS Publication Number ENY-152. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in868.

For additional information, contact or (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.

Nicole Pinson is an Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County. The author gratefully acknowledges Lynn Barber for contributing to this article. Barber is a Florida-Friendly LandscapingTM Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County.

Revised September 22, 2016

Filed Under: Nature Notes Tagged With: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Lutz Girl Scout Troop 360, Nicole Pinson, U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension

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