Extension > Family > Health and Nutrition > For Professionals > For Partners
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Featured Partner |
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West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. |
West Central CAP works to reduce the effects of poverty through a number of programs, from Head Start to fuel assistance. West Central CAP understands how important relationship is in all these efforts. They have a deep understanding of the communities they serve.
Jill Fyre, the family sufficiency coordinator, shares her experience partnering with Extension: “Working with the University of Minnesota Extension Service has been a wonderful partnership. Together, we share a mission: to reach out to households struggling to meet their basic food needs with potential resources and education in healthy and budget-friendly meal preparation. Extension staff have entertained with food preparation and sampling during mobile food drops, taught Cooking Smart cooking classes that West Central hosts, and created recipes, curricula, and great outreach materials for our shared work in SNAP Outreach and Education.”
What makes West Central CAP really stand out is their ability to envision possibility. “What if we...” is so often the beginning of a conversation with the folks at West Central CAP.
“Cooking Smart” is one of those innovative, “What if we...” programs. The idea came from realizing that some of the Head Start families would benefit from learning how to cook on a budget. Jill found a church to partner with and arranged for child care. A small grant provided groceries. Parents came with their kids, CNE’s provided great cooking tips and fun ways to discuss making food healthy, and then everyone ate together. It was like a party!
Jill tells of a successful connection: “During one of the Cooking Smart classes, we had an older woman who was developmentally delayed and lived by herself. She was eager to learn new skills. When we shared that part of the menu would be making fresh salsa from scratch, she exclaimed, ‘Wouldn’t my family be impressed if I brought THAT to the next family dinner!’ As the class went on, she started sharing about the financial struggles she’d been having. West Central staff helped her fill out an application for SNAP, and got her information on a couple of local food shelves. Extension staff talked with her about how to safely store things she could get in bulk and some recipes that use inexpensive ingredients. At the end of the class, we sent her home with extra supplies and leftovers. It was a really wonderful experience for everyone involved.”
For more information, visit West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc.
Contact Health and Nutrition
Central Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Margaret Haggenmiller, St. Cloud Regional Program Coordinator, 320-234-0436, mjh@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
East Metro Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Dakota County — Sharmyn Phipps, 651-480-7724
Ramsey County — Greg Sorensen, 651-704-2068
Scott County — Gloria Wolf, 952-492-5389
Ross Safford, Family Development Program Coordinator, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
East Central Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Kam Schroeder, Mora Regional Program Coordinator, 320-679-8478, olso1302@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Program Coordinator, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Heartland Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Stephanie Hakes, Brainerd Regional Program Coordinator, 320-632-0161, hakes006@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Red River Valley Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Karen Myszkowski, Crookston Regional Program Coordinator, 218-281-8688, myszk005@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Pine to Prairie Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Ronda Gripentrog, Moorhead Regional Program Coordinator, 218-643-5481, gripe002@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
North Prairie Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Jodi Gravning, Morris Regional Program Coordinator, 320-589-1711, grav0129@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Southwest Prairie Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Bonnie Ludeman, Marshall Regional Program Coordinator, 507-337-2821, ludem001@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Riverbend Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Andrea Kronbach, Mankato Regional Program Coordinator, 507-389-6978, kronb007@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Homestead Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Jan Beyer, Rochester Regional Program Coordinator, 507-457-6440, beyer027@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Northeast Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Jodi Nordlund, Grand Rapids Regional Program Coordinator, 218-327-5965, nordl058@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
West Metro Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Anoka County — Cindy Gerdes, Andover Regional Program Coordinator, 763-767-3873, gerde031@umn.edu
Hennepin and Carver Counties — Fay McLain, Andover Regional Program Coordinator, 612-624-4827 or 612-596-2117, mclai001@umn.edu
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
East Metro Region
Please contact either of the program coordinators below to find out more about Simply Good Eating in your county or region. You can also search our staff directory.
Dakota County — Sharmyn Phipps, 651-480-7724
Ramsey County — Greg Sorensen, 651-704-2068
Scott County — Gloria Wolf, 952-492-5389
Ross Safford, Family Development Outreach Specialist, 612-625-7070, saffo001@umn.edu
Click on your county or region on the map below to contact a regional Simply Good Eating program or contact Health and Nutrition to learn about other opportunities to partner.
Related Resources
Active Living and Healthy Eating on a Budget — Short video that shows healthy choices are possible even with a limited budget. English | Spanish | Hmong | Somali
Nutrition for the Underserved: The Implications — Results from focus groups with limited resource individuals. Highlights implications for four different cultural groups.
Healthy Eating — Support your health at every stage of life with the foods you eat.
Active Living — Keep your body moving daily in big and small ways to maintain or improve your health.
Home Cooking — Find simple tasty recipes that fit your budget and tips on preparing and storing food.
Smart Shopping — Learn to make smart food choices on a limited budget.
Other Resources
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Food Assistance Programs — Minnesota Department of Human Services — Learn how to apply for food assistance and other food support.
Find Hunger and Food Resources— Hunger Solutions Minnesota — Find a food shelf, Meals on Wheels, Summer Food Service Program, food support office, or WIC program near you.
Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Program — Minnesota Department of Health — Supplemental food program for pregnant women, infants and children. Find an office near you: English | Spanish | Hmong | Somali
Bridge to Benefits Minnesota — Children's Defense Fund — Learn about support programs and tax credits; see if you are eligible. English | Spanish
