Fundraiser to Support Fresh Food Purchases

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News on Fresh Exchange from KNA member Traci Manning:

It’s that time of year again. The birds are singing, the sun is flirting (the weeds are growing…) and the Farmers Markets are opening!

I’m still involved with Fresh Exchange, a program to raise funds from our community to match food stamps spent at the farmers market. We add to the buying power of our neighbors spending food stamps at the market – dollar for dollar up to $5 per week. They turn around and buy produce from our local farmers to put fruits and veges on their family’s table and support the local economy and food system. More info? http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/programs-and-services/snap-participants/

We started two years ago with the opening of King Portland Farmers market. Last year, an amazing group of volunteers worked to create the program at Buckman Portland Farmers Market. The two programs funded an amazing $26,000 in food for our neighbors. A great testament to the generosity of our community. This year, we join forces as Fresh Exchange and serve both markets.

Please join me to celebrate, eat, drink, and be merry at Old Town Pizza on MLK, 5201 NE MLK @ Sumner). Monday, May 16, 5:00 – 8:00 pm. They are a great, local, community and sustainability minded partner/local business.

They’ve got great food, drink, and a big play area for little ones. AND, they donate 30% of everything you spend IF you present the voucher below (or know someone there who’s carrying around a stack of them…).

You can print the voucher by clicking here:
Fresh Exchange OTP Fundraiser 2011

Love to see you there,

Traci

but if you can’t make it, you can still donate here: http://www.portlandfarmersmarket.org/programs-and-services/snap-participants/

Fresh Exchange is a program of the fabulous Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods and Southeast Uplift, with generous, unflagging support of Portland Farmers Market.

Really long Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/updates.php?id=112783382095824&sent=1&e=0#!/event.php?eid=203923659647215

Kids Cook at the Market

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From Portland Farmers Market:

Portland Farmers Market Expands its Kids Cook at the Market Program for 2011

Returning season sponsor The International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Portland is teaming up with Portland Farmers Market again this year to offer Kids Cook at the Market, the Market’s deliciously fun cooking program for young chefs-in-training. The program is expanding in 2011 to include “bite-sized” drop-in classes at three neighborhood markets: Buckman, King and Northwest Portland Farmers Markets.

“We’re thrilled to be back at Portland Farmers Market this year, both as a season sponsor and with the Kids Cook program,” said Ken Rubin, Academic Director of The International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Portland. “We are passionate teaching about local food and how to cook it, and the Kids Cook program is a great way to cultivate young chefs and an appreciation for our local bounty.”

Bite Size Kids Cook
Beginning in May 2011, kids can get cookin’ with seasonal produce and recipes at the new Bite Size Kids Cook classes at the Buckman, King and Northwest neighborhood markets. These drop-in cooking classes for children will take place once a month at each location during market hours.

All Bite Size Kids Cook classes, which are made possible by the generous support of season sponsor COUNTRY Financial, are free of charge and open to kids of all ages (though recipes and equipment are geared toward age seven and up).

2011 Bite Size Kids Cook schedule:
MAY
Featured Ingredient: Rockin’ Radishes
King Market: May 29

JUNE
Featured Ingredient: Groovy Greens
King Market: June 19

JULY
Featured Ingredient: Booyah Berries
King Market: July 31

AUGUST
Featured Ingredient: Sassy Summer Squash
King Market: August 28

SEPTEMBER
Featured Ingredient: Terrific Tomatoes
King Market: September 25

King Portland Farmers Market
Sundays from May 1 to October 30
(27 markets)
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
NE 7th at Wygant between Alberta and Prescott

Portland Farmers Market is generously supported by community partners the Art Institute of Portland, Country Financial and Dave’s Killer Bread.

King School Students Work on History/Gardening Project

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Second and third grade students from the King School SUN afterschool program are participating in a partnership with the Emerson Street Garden to learn gardening while working with neighborhood elders to help transform a vacant neighborhood lot into a community asset.

Sixth through eighth graders are partnering with artist Joe Sneed and students from da Vinci Middle school in a five day-a-week class on N/NE History, Art and Culture. They are collecting stories of local neighborhood history from local residents and incorporating these stories into a design for an archway entrance to the garden.

Eight grade students in the King School Technology and Design course will be working with engineers from the Portland Water Bureau to develop a learning center to be built at the garden to be used for educational opportunities and workshops into the future. The Technology and Design course is part of the International Baccalaureate program at King School.

If you would like to get involved contact Joe Sneed at joe.b.sneed@gmail.com or call 503.995.2632

The Sweat It Up 5K Registration Is Now Open!

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Join Step It Up, Inc. as they host the annual Sweat It Up 5K on June 25, 2011. Join them for food, fun, games, and a 5K run/walk around the Irvington and King neighborhoods. Sign-up for the Sweat It Up run/walk, enter to win some great prizes, and enjoy a free breakfast!

Who: You!
What: Sweat It Up 5K
When: June 25, 2011, 9:00 – Noon
Where: Irving Park, NE 7th and Fremont, Portland, Oregon
Why: A benefit for Step It Up, Inc. and a fun community event!

Register Now!

If you would like to form a team and get 10% off your Sweat It Up Package or Deluxe Package, and be eligible for the largest team prize, please email at events@stepitupinc.org.
The Sweat It Up 5K is a benefit for Step It Up, Inc., a Portland based nonprofit that provides youth with career knowledge, experiential learning, and continuous support to help them transform their futures.