Great Plates Delivered Begins Service in Nevada County

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The County of Nevada has launched Great Plates Delivered, a new program to ensure no senior goes hungry in Nevada County during the COVID-19 crisis. Three fresh meals a day will be delivered to those who qualify with the help of three local restaurants, Emily’s Catering, Sergio’s Caffè, and Fudenjüce, fulfilling the 2 purposes of the state-wide plan: help seniors and older adults at high risk from COVID-19 to stay home and stay healthy by delivering three nutritious meals a day; and provide essential economic stimulus to local businesses struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis.

Qualifying Nevada County residents meeting the following criteria are encouraged to apply:

  • 65 or older, or 60-64 years of age and high-risk (Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to COVID-19 or individuals with certain underlying health conditions that place them at high-risk should they contract the virus)
  • Live alone or with one other Great Plates Delivered Program eligible adult
  • Not be currently receiving assistance from any other state or federal nutrition assistance programs (Meals on Wheels, CalFresh)
  • Earn no more that 600% of the federal poverty limit ($74,940 (single) or $101,460 (2-person)) annually.
  • Affirm an inability to prepare or obtain meals for themselves.

Currently the program is scheduled to run until June 10, however it may be extended by FEMA based on demand.  To be screened and placed on an eligibility list, call 211 Connecting Point by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-833-DIAL211 (1-833-342-5211). Eastern County participants will be referred to Sierra Senior services for enrollment. Those who may not qualify but are in need of food assistance are encouraged to call 211 Connecting Point to get connected to additional resources. 

Great Plates Delivered Begins Service in Nevada County

Posted on

The County of Nevada has launched Great Plates Delivered, a new program to ensure no senior goes hungry in Nevada County during the COVID-19 crisis. Three fresh meals a day will be delivered to those who qualify with the help of three local restaurants, Emily’s Catering, Sergio’s Caffè, and Fudenjüce, fulfilling the 2 purposes of the state-wide plan: help seniors and older adults at high risk from COVID-19 to stay home and stay healthy by delivering three nutritious meals a day; and provide essential economic stimulus to local businesses struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 crisis.

Qualifying Nevada County residents meeting the following criteria are encouraged to apply:

  • 65 or older, or 60-64 years of age and high-risk (Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to COVID-19 or individuals with certain underlying health conditions that place them at high-risk should they contract the virus)
  • Live alone or with one other Great Plates Delivered Program eligible adult
  • Not be currently receiving assistance from any other state or federal nutrition assistance programs (Meals on Wheels, CalFresh)
  • Earn no more that 600% of the federal poverty limit ($74,940 (single) or $101,460 (2-person)) annually.
  • Affirm an inability to prepare or obtain meals for themselves.

Currently the program is scheduled to run until June 10, however it may be extended by FEMA based on demand.  To be screened and placed on an eligibility list, call 211 Connecting Point by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-833-DIAL211 (1-833-342-5211). Eastern County participants will be referred to Sierra Senior services for enrollment. Those who may not qualify but are in need of food assistance are encouraged to call 211 Connecting Point to get connected to additional resources. 

New Website Promotes Local Businesses Offering Essential Services

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When the COVID-19 crisis caused California to issue a Shelter in Place Order, some Nevada County residents quickly saw a need for information on local food pickup and delivery options. As businesses changed their service models, these folks took to the web to document the changes and spread the word. A month into the crisis, a group of these innovators have come together to pool resources and create a one-stop shop for COVID-19 business information.

The new website, NevadaCounty.Community-Need.com is your central online resource to find Western Nevada County businesses offering products and services during California’s Shelter in Place order.

The website has detailed information on essential businesses that are offering in-store shopping, in-store pick-up, curbside pick-up, and delivery. In addition, local businesses offering services and products online can create listings on how to book and buy from them directly.

“As folks are receiving their stimulus checks, it’s a great time to make those essential purchases from our local businesses,” says Meri Mohr, Alta Sierra resident, and contributor. Robin Galvan-Davies, CEO of the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce notes, “As, during the PSPS events last fall, we are collaborating to support our small business owners and entrepreneurs during this difficult time.”

“We are focused on getting this information out to people fast,” says Marni Marshall, Director of the Grass Valley Downtown Association, “so we are tracking feedback and will continue to develop the interface and the content.” The new site fills an important gap in information during the COVID-19 crisis. “Our 211 program connects community members to a wide array of low or no-cost services provided by local nonprofits and government agencies. This list gives us an additional tool in our toolkit to help people connect to local businesses that are providing essential services,” says Connecting Point communications manager Heather Heckler. “We appreciate the collaborative effort.”

This web directory is the result of a collaboration between the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Grass Valley Downtown Association, 211 Connecting Point, and the purveyors and patrons who contributed to Nevada County’s Curbside for Covid list, born from the Virtual Shop & Support Local Facebook Group. These organizations were receiving numerous requests for information, and many community members contributed to early development efforts, including Meri Mohr, Andreas Groos, Gary & Lisa Frankel, and Todd Wahoske and Jesse Locks of NC GV FOOD.

Local IT Services firm R&B Communications continues to develop the site pro-bono as a gift to the community. “We’ve been helping many businesses make changes to their websites and service strategies through shelter-at-home, and we’re honored to be able to use our team’s skills to support our community,” said R&B’s Chief Business Development Officer, Jacob Griscom. Volunteers administer the site, approving & validating submissions, and providing user support. Email info.nevadacounty@community-needs.com for more information.

Take Charge of Your Diabetes with Upcoming Class

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Connecting Point is hosting a free workshop to help Nevada County residents prioritize their long-term health.

The Diabetes Self-Management workshop is for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes and their caregivers. Get proactive, take control of your health, and gain valuable tools to make more informed health decisions. You’ll leave this six-week class with a better understanding of the human body, learn about risk factors for diabetes, and gain tools for self-care, symptom management, exercise, and meal planning.

Diabetes Self-Management classes are on Tuesdays, February 11th through March 17th from 2:00-4:00 pm at Connecting Point, 208 Sutton Way in Grass Valley.

All Connecting Point classes are free and open to the public. Diabetes Self-Management is offered in partnership with Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital with assistance from the Nevada County Public Health Department.

For more information or to register, call Karen at 530-274-5601 or register online at connectingpoint.org/events.

Census 2020: Gearing Up for a Complete Count

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Be Counted California!Every decade since 1790, the United States has attempted to count the country’s population. This nation-wide head-count plays an extraordinarily important role in shaping our communities for years to come.

Why the Census Matters

The next Census will take place in April 2020. There is a lot on the line, including funding for essential safety net programs and representation in Congress. Census data is used to:

  • Draw Congressional districts (not to mention school districts!)
  • Distribute billions of federal dollars to states
  • Inform the decisions of government, businesses, and non-profits

An undercount could cost California more than $1.5 billion across all Federal programs. These are dollars that fund housing, education, healthcare, roads, and emergency services in Nevada County.

The Challenge

It is vital to the future of our community to ensure that every person in Nevada County is counted. Connecting Point and the County of Nevada are collaborating to “get out the count,” with the goal of achieving a complete count for Census 2020. That means counting every person living in Nevada County. There are significant barriers to meeting this goal:

  • The 2020 Census will be the first to rely heavily on online responses. Internet access is limited in many areas of our county.
  • S. Census Bureau outreach will not go to P.O. Boxes. Many residents may not receive information about the Census.
  • There is widespread mistrust of the government and potential for misinformation about the Census in our community. People may choose not to participate, even though Census data is protected.

The State of California estimates that there are 48,370 “hard-to-count” individuals living in Nevada County (learn more about the Hard-to-Count Index here).

What’s Next

Connecting Point is currently reaching out to community organizations, faith-based groups, local agencies, businesses and others who work closely with demographic populations considered least likely to respond. These include:

  • Latinos
  • Immigrants and Refugees
  • Farm-workers
  • People with disabilities
  • Seniors
  • Children ages 0-5
  • Veterans
  • People with low/no broadband access
  • Households with limited English proficiency

Achieving a complete count requires us to work together to find the best ways to reach our hard-to-count neighbors. If you serve any of the above “hard-to-count” populations, we want to hear from you. Please contact Heather Heckler by email or by phone at 530-274-5601 to let us know if you’d like to be involved.

The Census begins April 1st. LET’S MAKE NEVADA COUNTY COUNT!

Learn more about the 2020 Census and Nevada County’s Complete Count.

It’s Market Money Time

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Double Your CalFresh Dollars

The CalFresh Market Money program is back for another season of fresh fruits and veggies straight from your local farmers.

CalFresh participants who spend 10 EBT dollars on market tokens can get 10 more tokens free at all participating markets, all season long.

Participating Markets

THE MARKET AT GRASS VALLEY
Pine Creek Shopping Center (Raley’s), 650 Freeman Lane
Tuesdays, June 4th through September 24th
8:00 am to 12;00 pm

THE MARKET AT GRASS VALLEY
Corner of South Auburn & Neal Street, Grass Valley
June 6th through September 26th
4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

NEVADA CITY FARMERS’ MARKET
Union Street, Nevada City
June 1st through November 23rd
8:30 am to 1:00 pm

How It Works

If you are already a CalFresh participant, getting your market match is simple. Just follow these three easy steps:

  1. Come out to the Connecting Point booth at any of the participating farmers’ markets.
  2. Show us your EBT card and photo ID. We’ll match your EBT tokens up to $10.
  3. Use your market tokens to buy fruits and veggies from participating farm stands.

If you are interested in applying for CalFresh benefits, you can learn more at Nevada County’s CalFresh website or begin your online application at C4Yourself.

Free Summer Lunches for Kids

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Silhouette of a tree against a blue background. A picnic table is underneath. The text reads "Kids Summer Lunch program."Local kids may be out of school, but they’re not out on their own this summer. Community groups are coming together to ensure children have access to food and fun activities while they’re on break.

The Department of Education, in partnership with Nevada County Public Health and the Nevada County Library are providing free lunches at four sites in Nevada County. The Food Bank of Nevada County is providing free lunches at apartment complexes throughout Grass Valley. Here are the details:

Department of Education Lunches

The California Department of Education is funding a free summer lunch program for children throughout the state, including three sites in Western Nevada County and one in Eastern Nevada County.

Free summer lunches are for kids ages 0-18 and 19-21 year olds with a mental or physical disability and an IEP. Lunch must be eaten on site.

Want to take the bus to lunch? Check out Gold Country Stage’s Summer Youth Pass and call 211 for help planning your trip.

Locations

Grass Valley Library

207 Mill Street, Grass Valley
Monday through Friday, June 10-August 13 (NO MEALS ON JULY 4th)
Lunch served from 12:00-12:30 pm
Activities from 12:30-1:00 pm

Lyman Gilmore Middle School

10837 Rough and Ready Hwy, Grass Valley
Monday through Friday, June 11-August 9 (NO MEALS ON JULY 4th)
Lunch served from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm outside near the basketball courts.

Meadow Park

10115 Donner Trail Road, Truckee (behind Plumas Bank)
Monday through Friday, July 8-August 2 (NO MEALS ON JULY 4th)
Lunch served from 12:15 to 12:45 pm
Activities from 12:45-1:15 pm

Memorial Park

350 Race Street, Grass Valley
Monday through Friday, June 17-August 9 (NO MEALS JULY 1st-5th)
Lunch served from 12:00 to 12:30 pm between the pool and the new playground

Food Bank Lunches

The Food Bank of Nevada County is also offering free summer lunches for kids, Monday through Friday, June 10-August 2. Lunches are served at six different apartment complexes in Grass Valley.

Summer lunches are open to all kids (you don’t need to live in the apartments to participate). See the Food Bank’s Summer Lunches flyer for details. From more information, call 530-272-3796.