Thanks in part to a grant from the Leadership Siskiyou Alumni Grant program of the Shasta Regional Community Foundation, a series of cooking classes supported by GNC in partnership with Shasta Head Start Siskiyou are now available for viewing. Copies of the DVD will be available at the Family Resource Centers, and can be viewed by clicking here.
We are pleased and proud to announce that our 2012 Annual Report is now available for your review
Great Northern Corporation (GNC) announces a current shift in their Weatherization Program funding for Siskiyou County applicants to one that can only serve dwellings that are able to heat 51% of their home by electricity. Dwellings that do not have any electric heat or only able to heat a small portion of the home with electric heat will become eligible later in the calendar year when additional funding sources become available.
Currently, Weatherization services can go to individual homes, mobile homes, entire duplexes, triplexes and apartment complexes. Because of the funding sources, GNC looks specifically to multi-unit housing complexes since only a percentage of the tenants have to income qualify for the program in order to have the entire complex weatherized. According to GNC Weatherization Manager, Brandy Caporaso, “In the next few months GNC staff will be in the field to visit properties that are likely candidates for weatherization services. If property managers or owners feel that their tenants would qualify, we encourage them to give us a call so that we can help coordinate the application process. ”
The services are completely free and the process is simple and straight forward. Once an application has been received and approved, the Weatherization Department will contact the occupant to set up a time for an assessor to come and inspect the home. He will determine what is needed to make it more energy efficient. The types of items generally provided are ceiling and flooring insulation, weather-stripping, pipe wrap, solid core doors and double pane windows. GNC can also replace qualified older model refrigerators and repair or replace broken heaters. Once all the supplies have been ordered, the GNC state certified crew will perform all the services. In addition, all of the old items that have been replaced are hauled away. The final step is that the assessor sets up a time to come and review the work performed. With any program for which GNC performs the service, the funding agency may also request to review the work.
Great Northern Corporation (GNC) is seeking donations to establish a Diaper Bank program to serve families in need in the Weed area with the longer term goal to expand to serve county wide. Specifically, donors may drop off any NEW cloth or disposable diapers in all sizes to the GNC offices at 780 S. Davis Avenue in Weed.
“This is a particular passion of mine,” says GNC program manager Crystal Aston. “We see families all the time through our many programs who are struggling to make ends meet to the point that children’s basic needs are often compromised. For many families, spending roughly $40-$60 a month on diapers is a daunting challenge. Some parents are forced to forgo employment or educational opportunities since many daycare programs will not accept children without a supply of disposable diapers.”
According to the National Diaper Bank network, diaper need is a silent crisis in the United States. The federal government makes very little provision to provide diapers to those in need. Federal benefits such as Food Stamps and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) cannot be spent on diapers. Diapers are a basic need for children, as essential to their health and well-being as food and shelter. Families unable to afford diapers are forced to choose between a range of undesirable alternatives that can severely impact the health and well-being of both their child and their household. Many families report that they cut back on basics such as food, utilities or child care in order to purchase diapers for their children.
GNC is a hub for food distribution in Siskiyou County – many residents are already familiar with Food Banks. Through this new Diaper Bank program, GNC hopes to find a way to raise awareness and find solutions to this problem in our rural county where according to the US Census, an estimated 24% of families here are living at or below the poverty line.
Drop off donations at GNC offices on Mon – Thursday between 9 AM and 4 PM or call GNC Program Manager, Crystal Aston at 938-4115 ext 126. Information about GNC and their programs and services is available on the web at gnc.corp.org.
Great Northern Corporation (GNC) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Siskiyou Food Assistance (SFA) who has relocated to the office building at 780 S. Davis Avenue in Weed. The building is also home to the Weed Library on School Hill.
“With the close of the New Life Thrift Store in downtown Weed, we saw an opportunity to consolidate emergency food distribution for our area by inviting SFA to move into our offices”, says GNC Executive Director Bonnie Kubowitz. “We are happy to have them.”
Beginning on April 10th, SFA will provide emergency food to area residents on Wednesdays from 11 AM – 3 PM. Recipients will need to show proof of residency, income and ID for each member of the household needing food. Examples of proof might be medical cards, social security cards, driver’s license, veteran card or prison ID.
“I am grateful for this convenient location, to STAGE and downtown Weed, and for the natural fit near GNC’s Community Food Programs hub,” says Denise Broomfield, Executive Director of Siskiyou Food Assistance.
SFA seeks to meet the food needs of families in crisis, or help those with low income by offering temporary food assistance. All donations are gratefully accepted – from non-perishables or fresh foods from local gardens to volunteers to staff the distribution site or organize a food drive or cash donations. Contact SFA at (530) 408-6115 or email runforfood.weed@gmail.com.
For more information about SFA, visit their website at http://www.siskiyoufoodassistance.org/
To contact GNC Community Food Programs, email rcasterline@gnccorp.org or leave a phone message at 530-938-4115 ext 116.
Applications are in the mail to those who called to request one this calendar year.
You may download and print the instructions and the application packet in English or Spanish. To avoid delays, pay careful attention to the instructions when completing and applying for assistance.
2013 Instruction Packet – English
2013 Application Packet – English
Please note that the WEED EMERGENCY Food Bank distribution times and dates have changed. EMERGENCY Food will now be available for pick up inside the upstairs GNC offices at 780 S. Davis Avenue on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 1 PM – 2 PM only.
The EMERGENCY Food Bank distribution is intended for those in dire need, and may be used up to two times per year per recipient.
This EMERGENCY Food Bank distribution is different from the USDA COMMODITIES distribution which will continue every other month throughout the county. View the 2013 GNC USDA Commodities Schedule
2013 Commodities distribution schedule
Recipients must sign in to self-certify that they are a resident of the area where they are picking up food and that they meet the income guidelines for the program.
When picking up food for another individual, a signed USDA issued form is required.
GNC is pleased to announce a successful grant application to USDA Rural Development in the form of a Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) to assist elderly and low-mod income residents throughout the county with home repairs.
The $45,000 grant will target projects typically ranging from $3,000 – $5,000. Applications will be available from GNC after the first of the year (January 2013) and will be processed on a first come – first served basis to income eligible, owner occupied residences.
“This is a great opportunity to leverage GNC’s Weatherization program funding as well as granting new projects in areas of the county that don’t have Housing Rehabilitation program funds,” says GNC Program Manager, Rod Merys. “Roof repair, repairs to heating sources, window replacements or repairs, handicapped accessibility, and health and safety issues are some examples of eligible grant projects.” Merys added.
: L to R Bonnie Kubowitz, GNC Executive Director; Kevin DeMers, USDA RuraL Development Area Specialist; Larry Luce, GNC Housing Rehabilitation Program Manager; Rod Merys, GNC HPG Program Manager; Brandy Caporaso, GNC Program Manager
Any residence that is owner occupied and falls into the income eligibility guidelines (roughly $28,000 – $46,000 annual income for a family of 4) may apply. Income verification will be part of the application process. For more specifics on the HPG program and to obtain an application, please contact GNC Program Manager, Rod Merys at 938-4115 ext 12 or Larry Luce at 938-4115 ext 22.
