Great Northern Corporation would like to thank the community for their generosity this season that helped to brighten the lives of Siskiyou County families. Food boxes were assembled and delivered to grateful families by GNC employees in lieu of an office Christmas Party.

Employee donations were added to those of the Fabulous Foxes in Red Chapter of the Red Hat Society, Seven Suns Coffee, Mt. Shasta Supermarket, General Produce and Rays Food Place in Mt. Shasta to provide several meals for each family. GNC is the USDA food commodity distributor for  Siskyou County.

Manager, Dennis Baldini has indicated that he has seen an increase in need in our area with the rise in unemployment and high gas prices.

Learn more about GNC Food Program.

Yreka, CA — The Trail family of Yreka describes themselves as “low to no tech” and “zero waste” when it comes to dry farming and raising meat goats for breeding in rural Siskiyou County.

Parents Anna and Marc home school their daughter, Dominique, under the Golden Eagle Charter School program. At age 13 she is a sophomore with a grade point average of 3.96. Her formally approved high school project found a natural segue to the food commodities distribution services of Great Northern Corporation (GNC).

“Dominique wanted to do a project that helped our family business and link it to community service. Although not a requirement, she was raised to keep ‘the big picture’ in mind and saw a way that she could give back to an organization that had helped us over the years,” said her mom.

After losing a prize buck to a urinary problem, the family discovered that nutrition could have been the main health issue. Dominique proposed growing a number of test plots for feed that included wheat, alfalfa, rye grass and other legume hays that could then be used for the breeding stock. At the same time, she “dry farmed” potatoes, onions and other vegetables with the goal to donate them to GNC’s food program.

Marc’s health issues have required the family to become self-sufficient and by choice they lead a simple and modest life that is rich with family ties and a desire to share what they can with others.

The Trails have received food from GNC’s program over the past 10 years and recently observed the increase in numbers of people who needed assistance, and that quantities and quality were not meeting local needs. Dominique wondered why all the helpers were always seniors. “Where are the kids to help with this program?” she asked.