Agency Newsletter - January 2024
Partner Agency Coalition Meeting, January 24th
Please join us for our 2024 kick-off Partner Agency Coalition Meeting on January 24th from 1-2 p.m. We are excited to announce our guest presenter will be Greta Allen from Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger! She will teach us all about the legislative process and how we, as food systems players and citizens, can advocate for change.
Please email Madalene to RSVP at madalene@careandshare.org. As always, participants are entered in a drawing for a gift card at the end of each meeting and winner must be present to win. Please share the invitation with volunteers and staff members as well!
Interested in the LFPA+ Program?
We are looking for New Agencies to Partner with on the Local Food Purchasing Agreement Plus (LFPA+) Program in 2024
Our team is currently planning out the LFPA+ grant for the 2024 growing and harvest seasons! We want to extend this opportunity to more agencies across our service area. We will not be able to partner with every agency interested but hope to do the best we can with the resources we have with this grant.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete the interest form below!
2023 Partner Agency Engagement Feedback Results
Thank you to the 100 Agency Partners that participated in our Partner Agency Engagement Feedback survey that was sent out in November 2023. We’ve taken a look at the results and wanted to share some of the feedback we received with you! Below are just a few things we’ve learned from you.
This information and the rest of the responses will be used to guide how Care and Share will engage with all of you in 2024!
Agency to Neighbor: Produce Washing Reminders
Should our neighbors wash their produce? YES, washing produce is an important step in food safety!
Produce can encounter many viruses and bacteria, as well as pesticides in some cases. Produce has a long journey from the fields to your table — between storage and transportation it can end up making contact with many potential hazards. Although you can find a large variety of soaps and other products made for washing produce, cold water, clean hands, and a soft brush (optional) is all you need to clean it!
Introducing Service Insights on MealConnect!
Service Insights on Meal Connect (SIMC) is a free, all-in-one online universal data collection tool for neighbor intake that will take the place of current paper or database intake processes. Check your email for a PowerPoint with more information about SIMC!
We’ve put together a list of FAQs and other important information over on our blog! Head to the link below to learn more about this new tool and how it can be implemented at your agency.
Click HERE to complete our Service Insights survey if you haven’t already.
Email nadia@careandshare.org if you didn’t get the PowerPoint or if you have any questions.
Learn more about our Cooking Matters program!
Did you know Care and Share has a program that teaches families and individuals how to cook healthy, delicious meals on a budget?
Through our Cooking Matters program, staff at Care and Share collaborate with community organizations that serve families with limited incomes such as schools, recreation centers, and food pantries to bring hands-on cooking and nutrition classes to their community. Our classes are free, participatory, and at each session, participants get to taste test nutritious recipes!
Learn more about Cooking Matters and how you can get involved over on our blog!
FOOD TO MOVE
We have a full pallet of frozen pigs’ head for anyone interested. Is so, please reach out to our Programs Director, Steven Williams, at stevenw@careandshare.org. Pig’s head is most commonly cooked to make brawn, stocks, and soups.
IMPORTANT DATES
Please use the Closure Dates webpage for your reference. We will be closed on the following days in January:
January 30th – 31st — No pick-ups for 5th week inventory and cleaning. Deliveries will run as scheduled.
CURRENT FOOD RECALLS
Click here to view the latest recalls under the Food Recalls tab in the Agency Portal.
AGENCY HOTLINE
Our Agency Hotline is there for you to connect with us when you have training needs or issues with your orders and deliveries. Please contact us at 719-937-4547 or agencies@careandshare.org.
