Bringing Knowledge to Life! / Partner Report /
Clare County
225 W Main St., PO Box 439 -CountyBuilding
Harrison, Michigan48625-0439
Phone: 989-539-7805 / E-mail:
Fax:989-539-2791
Web:msue.msu.edu/clare
September 2009
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
Clare residents learn the joy of eating healthy and FRESH
ClareCounty residents of all ages are eating healthier, thanks to the efforts of several local partners.
This was the third year that Senior Project FRESH (the Farm Market Nutrition Education Program)has been offered in Clare County. The Office of Services to the Aging provided MSU Extension with an initial allotment of coupon books.
Along with a donation from a community organization,a Pamida Foundation grant, and assistance from the Clare Gladwin Council on Aging with American Reinvestment Recovery Act money, 243 coupon books, valued at $20 each, were distributed to area seniors for their use at area farm markets.
Nutrition education classes were held at the county’s senior meal sites and senior apartment complexes. Many home visits were also made to seniors who were not able to attend one of the class sites.
Project FRESH gives low-income families the chance to learn about incorporating fruit and vegetables in the diet and gives them coupons that they can use to purchase produce at local farm markets.
A grant from the Allen Foundation of Midland supported the purchase of coupon books for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)-eligible households. About 200 books of coupons were distributed to recipients who also received nutrition information during an educational session.
MSU Extension staff member Ingrid Andersonworked with the Central Michigan District Health Department to organize classes and distribute books.
The total value of Project FRESH and Senior Project FRESH to ClareCounty families and farms is $9,480.
Contact: Ingrid Anderson,
Community Connections
Clare County’s Community Connection/Back to School Day was held Aug. 11, 2009. This event was planned by local community organizations to provide low income people who are homeless or at risk to be homeless with services, food, and resources in the community to help them survive.
MSUExtension-ClareCounty worked with local agencies in the planning and most staff members participated in the occasion, held at the Clare County Fairgrounds.
During the afternoon, Clare County Extension director Michelle Neff and program assistant Ingrid Anderson distributed fruit and vegetable samples as
part of the Grow Your Kids with Fruits and Vegetables Campaign.
MSU Extension office assistant Sarah Ferry shared housing materials, while educator Sharon Jeffery provided housing counseling to families facing difficult situations. Agriculture and natural resourceseducator Kable Thurlow worked withJohn Parker and Jerry Burger of the Enterprise Community to distribute food to participants. The food was purchased from Red Cross and the Mid Michigan Food Bank out of Lansing.
Community Connection—continued
At this event, 1,468 people were served representing 422 households. Local grants enabled Red Cross to deliver two truckloads amounting to 28,000 pounds of food to be distributed.
In addition, 50 free haircuts were given, 83 pairs of shoes, 27 people registered forSafelink phones, and 545 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to children.
More than 20 agencies distributed informational materials and the local health department provided immunizations to more than 30 people. The generosity of 65 volunteers made the day a huge success.
Contact: Sharon Jeffery
Group work camp fixes homes
After three years of planning, Clare County Group Workcamp 2009 became a reality, as 350 volunteers painted and repaired 50 homes during the week of July 19-25.
Group Workcamps are week-long home-repair projects involving volunteers from church youth groups from all over the country. At each workcamp, hundreds of teenagers and adult sponsors come to a community and spend five days repairing homes for elderly, low-income, and disabled residents who are unable to do the work themselves.About 350 volunteers arrived in Clare County on July 19. They gave more than 15,000 hours in free labor to the community–time that is worth more than $100,000.
During Clare County Group Workcamp the volunteers painted homes’ interiors and exteriors, repaired roofs, built ramps, and repaired and replaced porches.
The Clare County Enterprise Community supplied $35,000 to bring the group to the county.
Each camper pays about $480 to attend the camp. Funding enables repairs to be done at no cost to the homeowner.
The camp was housed at Clare Public Schools. United Way and the Volunteer Center of Clare County were co-sponsors of the camp, with assistance and involvement from the Mid Michigan Community Action Agency and several other Clare County organizations.
MSU Extension staff members served on the planning committee and helped in many ways during the week. The Clare County 4-H Program provided a snack one day and held a cooking clinic to teach cooking and did a community service project. Staff also volunteered to be site cheerleaders and encouraged and supported the youth on all the good work they are doing around the county.
Contact: Sharon Jeffery
Michigan Works summer youth program benefits office, student
This past summer, Clare County MSU Extension participated in the Michigan Works Summer Youth Employment Program. Starting in June, Sarah Ferry joined the MSU Extension staff to work in the office for three days a week. Sarah is a college student at Mid Michigan Community College planning on pursuing a job in the health field.
Ferry gainedwork and life skills. She assisted in the office and workedwiththe Extension office staff during Clare County Youth Fair.
Contact: Michelle Neff
MSUExtensionClareCounty Staff
Michelle Neff, County Extension Director
Sharon Jeffery, Family and Consumer Sciences
Kable Thurlow, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Jerry Burger, Community and Economic Development
John Parker, Community and Economic Development
Ed Kerr, Community and Economic Development
Ingrid Anderson, Family Nutrition Program
Sharrol Dundas, Breastfeeding Peer Counselor
Nancy Petree, 4-H Program
Marybeth Denton, Office Manager and Master Gardener Coordinator
Rachel Abram, Office Assistant
Florence Fontaine, Office Assistant
Sarah Ferry, Youth Summer Work, Michigan Works Program.
MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI48824. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.