Announcing UDSA Housing Preservation Grant Award

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A Housing Preservation Grant made this door safer and more accessible.

(As announced in Mount Shasta Area Newspapers, Wednesday, January 24th, 2018.)

Low-to-moderate income residents of Siskiyou County who need assistance with home repairs can apply for a Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) through Great Northern Services (GNS) to address issues of health and safety in their homes.

The USDA Rural Development recently awarded GNS $46,000 in funding to continue their HPG program. The funds can be used on home repair projects typically costing less than $10,000 and can cover up to half the project’s cost—reducing the economic burden or even eliminating it altogether if work can be done in conjunction with GNS’s free Weatherization program.

“This is a great opportunity for homeowners experiencing health and safety hazards,” says GNS Program Manager, Rod Merys.  “Many HPG funded projects would not be possible otherwise—they fall outside of other program boundaries but they are too costly for low-income families to afford on their own.”

All Siskiyou County homeowners who meet income eligibility guidelines may apply. Income limits depend on the number of household members and verification will be a part of the application process. The upper income limit for a family of four is $47,900 per year.  For more specifics on the HPG program or to request an application, please contact GNS Housing Preservation Grant Manager Rod Merys at (530) 938-4115 ext. 112.

Outpouring of Support

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A letter to the editor published in the Mt. Shasta Area Newspapers, Dec 6, 2017.

Dear Editor,

On Tuesday, November 28, 124 nonprofits in Shasta and Siskiyou Counties raised over $1,000,000 to support our communities through the North State Giving Tuesday event. We would like to thank Shasta Regional Community Foundation, who facilitated the event through a shared donation website, workshops, and incentives. Great Northern Services’ (GNS’) staff is determined to speak for our hungry kids, to ask the community to help us feed the children when and where they most need it – in school, during the summer, and at home over holiday breaks. GNS is facilitating a countywide Community Food Project designed to address Siskiyou County’s status as having one of the highest food insecurity (lack of regular access) rates on the west coast. Our children suffer from the second highest food insecurity rate in California. Our Giving Tuesday campaign focused on supporting child nutrition programs, and the positive response has been overwhelming. Supporters nearly doubled their giving over last year. The outpouring of support is extremely encouraging, and I would like to express thanks to those who donated, called, emailed and otherwise demonstrated their commitment. We look forward to 2018 and beyond as the time when working together as a community cultivates Siskiyou County as a healthy and prosperous place to live.

Sincerely,

Heather Solus, Community Services Director

Heather Solus, Community Services Director

Jeremy Porteous, Warehouse Manager

Job opportunity: Rewarding, good benefits, four day workweek

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Weatherization Technician

Job Summary
Responsible for diagnostic testing and installation of appropriate measures in clients’ homes for the Weatherization Department’s program. Also responsible in maintaining excellent service for the clients of the Weatherization Department, while consistently producing quality weatherization work.

Knowledge, Skill and Experience

  • Good knowledge of general construction principles and methods;
  • Accurately perform routine mathematical computations;
  • Capacity to keep highly accurate records;
  • Ability to interact with a wide variety of clients in their homes in a courteous manner.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
  • Excellent ability to read and comprehend federal regulations and contracts;
  • Good oral and written communication skills for effective human relation/communication techniques. Have the ability to read, write and speak English at a level appropriate for the position;
  • Read a map;
  • Follow oral and written directions;
  • Be available to stay overnight on out-of-town assignments, work on weekends and overtime as needed;
  • Must possess a valid California Driver license; be insurable and have/maintain a good driving record; possess and maintain a dependable personal transportation throughout the course of employment.

Benefits
Pay will be based on experience. GNS offers excellent benefits including: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, AFLAC, Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Fitness Plan, Holiday pay and generous Paid Time Off. GNS also operates on a state approved alternate work week (4/10 hour shifts) Monday thru Thursday.

 

Send your resume today, attention Human Resources.
email: info@gnservices.org | fax: 530-938-1040
mail: Great Northern Services, 310 Boles St., Weed, CA 96067

 

Multi-media conference center open for business

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The new Great Northern Services Community Room, a state-of-the-art multi-media conference center, is open and ready to serve the county-wide community.

Located in the heart of the GNS building at 310 Boles Street in Weed, the center is designed to be used by organizations and businesses in Siskiyou County for seminars, annual meetings, workshops, conferences, and more.

Mike Solano, whose business donated generously to the project, stopped by to check it out once the Community Room was up and running. His first impression produced a huge smile.

“This space is just vibrant – it gives you the sense you have the power to succeed,” he said.

The Community Room seats up to 24 people at two long conference tables. An optional visual divider is available to partition off half the room for smaller meetings.

Broadband Wi-Fi enhances both video conferencing and media presentation possibilities on the large computer monitor mounted at one end of the room. USB and HDMI data ports and power outlets at each of the conference tables complete the high-tech communication opportunities for groups who use the facility.

The center also will serve as the main gallery for the recently launched Great Northern Student Art Project. Eight pieces of art are already on display and executive director Bonnie Kubowitz said ultimately about 20 pieces of student art will be displayed at all times.

“Community use of our new conference center will ensure a high level of exposure for and interest in the students’ art,” she explained. “This will be an ongoing fundraising project for participating school art programs as well as a rotating art display for the community.”

Solano said the new Community Room reflects what he believes to be at the core of Great Northern’s work – prioritizing the needs of others.

“And the non-profits that will use this space are all doing similar work – working and building partnerships for the sake of others,” he added.

Solano donated the dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator in the small kitchen area that allows refreshment service to be managed apart from the work area. He said he is able to fulfill his commitment to support nonprofit events and projects across the county thanks to the strong community support his businesses receive from people who shop locally.

The new Community Room itself was made possible by the generosity of the McConnell Foundation, Kubowitz said.

“When we moved into this building after our offices were destroyed in the Boles Fire, we wanted to make sure future renovations somehow benefitted the entire community. McConnell allowed us to realize that dream. We are grateful to them for their generosity and shared vision, and to Mike Solano for continuing to support us from within the community,” she said.

Not-for-profit organizations, agencies, and entities may reserve and use the Community Room free of charge; for-profit entities will be charged a nominal user fee. Fill out the Online Application to reserve.

For more information about reservations or about participation in the Student Art Project, call Great Northern’s office manager Angela Nathan at 530-938-4115, ext 111.

Free fresh produce at local “Tailgate Parties”

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Siskiyou County residents who income qualify are invited to come choose free, fresh produce for their households at the biggest tailgate parties the county community has likely ever seen.

Thanks to a California Foodlink program locally administered by Great Northern Services, a semi-truck full of fresh produce and a limited amount of bread and pastries will be delivered for free distribution at Tailgate Produce Parties in four Siskiyou County cities every month from May through October.

GNS Program Coordinator Heather Solus said the program is “an exciting opportunity to get fresh fruits and vegetables to our community directly from farmers and food producers. Fresh fruits and vegetables are key to healthy eating, but are not always accessible to people, particularly if the food budget is tight.”

“Donate, Don’t Dump”

The fresh produce headed to Siskiyou County is donated by farmers and growers throughout California, according to www.foodlink.org.

Working with the California Department of Social Services, Foodlink started a “Donate, Don’t Dump” program in the mid-1990s, asking growers to donate rather than discard any excess perishable food they were producing. The website states that Foodlink now receives between 10 and 12 million pounds of food each year from growers and packing houses throughout California who donate to the program.

Foodlink gets the donated food to the people who need it, partnering with local organizations and food banks in the communities served.

Contact: For more information about the Tailgate Produce Party program, please call Heather Solus at 938-4115, ext. 128.

Apply now for the 2017 season of Mt. Shasta Fresh.

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Enrollment in this season’s Mt. Shasta Fresh program will open Monday, May 8 and run through Friday, May 19, 2017.

Mt. Shasta Fresh makes free fresh fruits and vegetables available monthly to income eligible Mount Shasta City residents during the summer months. Made possible by the city’s Community Development Block Grant funding, the program is administered and managed by Great Northern Services.

“The word has spread by word of mouth,” GNS program coordinator Heather Solus said. “Since enrollment is first come, first served, we are strongly advising people to enroll promptly this year.”

She emphasized that income limits for participation are higher than people might expect, and working families are often eligible. A family of four with an annual income of up to $47,100, for instance, qualifies for enrollment.

Mt. Shasta Fresh provides the free produce to participating households through the Farmer’s Market from June through September. Distribution locations will be announced to enrollees before the program begins.

This year people participants will be able to pick out their own produce rather than receiving it pre-bagged, Heather said. “We’re doing it ‘market style’ so people have more choice and there’s less waste.”

Mount Shasta City Finance Director Muriel Terrell said the city is “very pleased” to be able to provide the program again this year.

“It’s truly satisfying to be able to get nice, fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to those who may not have access to them otherwise,” she commented.

Most food for the program is purchased from regular Farmer’s Market vendors Homeward Bounty, Hunter’s Orchard, Marble Mountain, Windborne Farm, Grow Radicle, and Pierce Family Farm. Solus said the vendors offer a generous pricing schedule in support of the program.

Applicants for Mt. Shasta Fresh must be residents living within the incorporated city limits of City of Mount Shasta and must meet the income requirement guidelines. Download your application now!

Applications are also available at the Mount Shasta Community Resource Center and Mt. Shasta City Hall. All applications must be completed and submitted to the MSCRC, Mt. Shasta City Hall, or Great Northern Services by May 19, 2017.

For more information, call Heather at 938-4115, ext. 128.

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© 2018 Great Northern Services (GNS) • (530) 938-4115