El programa de Asistencia Alimentaria, a SNAP, es una manera en que las familias con ingreso económico limitado pueden comrar comida saludable. El Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria provee dinero por medio de una tarjeta EBT (Transferencia electrónica) para comprar comida. La Tarjeta EBT también permite la compra de semilias y plantas para cultivar alimentos.

The Nonprofit Management Academy is a series of ten classes to build skills for nonprofit employees or board members. The theme of this 10 class series is “Building Resilient Organizations.”

Jasper County Extension and RSVP -Retired Senior Volunteer Program – provide many services throughout the year. Among those services is the Tax Assistance program. Volunteers help low-income and elderly taxpayers prepare their tax returns – and it’s all free! The Tax Assistance program runs from January until April 15.

The RSVP mission: To impact and benefit citizens of all ages in Jasper County by utilizing the experience and wisdom of volunteers who are age 55 and above.

Region 13 video – CIRAS has helped Harvest Innovations grow and expand their business in Indianola, Iowa.

As the Missouri River flood waters slowly begin to recede, western Iowa manufacturers continue to deal with major ongoing challenges such as transportation logistics and workforce issues.

As this disaster continues and the region moves into the recovery process, CIRAS acts as the collective voice for Iowa manufacturers by identifying industry challenges, providing guidance and conveying industry needs to local, state and federal agencies and organizations providing support and resources.

Iowa State University Extension provides a number of programs in the Perry area to help build bridges between the Perry community and their growing Hispanic population. Programs like Family Storyteller, the Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth Ages 10-14, Las Posadas, and a number of cultural events provide education and activities bringing together the people of Perry.

In communities across the country, people are working together through cooperatives to get the things they need – cooperatives bring people together to improve their quality of life and financial well-being.

ISU Extension recently offered two sessions in Region 7 to help local leaders explore the process. Presenter Kim Anderson-Heller, Vezeto leadership consultant, helped participants think about the needs of their boards, how to find new members, and qualities they should have. “Success without a successor is failure. You always need to be thinking about who is going to fill your shoes,” she said.

Participant Amy Doolittle, a recent college graduate, said she attended the sessions to learn more about civic engagement. The first step, according to Anderson-Heller, is to get involved in something you love and care about, and then connect with others who have the same passion. “It’s all about relationships,” she added.

Pick A Better Snack and ACT is a nine session program that brings nutrition educators into kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms. They share nutrition and health lesson, lead a literacy activity and introduce students to one new fruit or vegetable each session, and allow them to try it.

The messages taught are centered on the food pyramid, understanding the importance of each of the food groups, recognizing the value of daily exercise, and deciphering between all the time foods and sometimes foods. ISU Extension then provides classroom teachers with various activities and ideas to reinforce what is being taught in other parts of the school day.

ISU Extension hosted a meal for recovery volunteers and a “How to be an Effective Listener” session on May 31, 2011 in Mapleton, Iowa.

Learn how prevention programs are helping communities in southern Iowa. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a program designed to empower family caregivers with valuable tools as they care for ill or aging family members. The Mentoring Program in Appanoose County matches mentors with youth needing a positive influence. Tobacco prevention in Monroe County encourages youth to learn about the negative effects of tobacco. Parents and youth ages 10-14 learn how to better communicate, along with the potential conflicts faced in the teen years. Parents with children under the age of three learn valuable parenting skills in the NEST program.