Do you qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)? Find out if you qualify.

Over half of those who qualify for this important program are not signed up. To find out if you are likely to qualify use this Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool : http://www.snap-step1.usda.gov/fns/

If you live in Butte County region of Northern California and would like assistance with the application please call 530-345-9749. If no answer, please leave a message.

Why is CalFresh important to our economy?

• CalFresh supports businesses and farmers.

• Vegetables, fruits, grain products, meat, and meat alternatives account for most of the money value of food used by CalFresh households.
• On average, $1 billion of retail food demanded by CalFresh recipients generates 3,300 farm jobs.
• California has over 125 farmers’ markets that have vendors at 280 different locations.

• CalFresh allows households to redistribute income that would normally be allocated to purchasing food.

• A portion of this can be spent on taxable goods, generating sales tax revenue for the state and counties.
• In addition to helping people put food on the table, CalFresh exerts a multiplier effect that stimulates the economy.

$1.00 = $1.79 in economic activity

• According to the California Food Policy Advocates’ Lost Dollars, Empty Plates Report, in FFY 2007 California lost out on an estimated $4.9 billion a year in federal nutrition benefits and as much as $8.7 billion in annual economic activity. This was based on a statewide participation rate of 48%.
• Estimated Local Effect

An estimated 29,552 of Butte County residents are income eligible, but not participating in CalFresh.
If all income eligible residents participated, Butte County would receive an additional estimated $40.5 million annually in federal funds and $72.5 million in economic activity
Other Counties (estimated increase in economic activity)

• Tehama = $10.2 million / year
• Glenn = $6.1 million / year
• Shasta = $42.1 million / year
• Colusa = $3.8 million / year
• Siskiyou = $6.9 million / year

A gardening workshop will be held on August 18th. Open and free to all the community, this project was organized by the African American Family and Cultural Center in the Southside Neighborhood of Oroville. This project is a collaboration with cChaos and the Cultivating Healthy Communities Grant project. Funded by the USDA Specialty Crop Grant Program through the California Department of Food and Agriculture. this is a 3 year - half million dollar project focusing on developing healthy lifestyles through increased access to fresh fruits, vegetable, seeds and nuts.

For more information on the project, please go to www.cultivatingcommunitynv.org or call Terry Tillman at: 530-712-0496.

Click on image to view full size.

Amber Bailey, lead organizer of the Slow Food Mother's Day Brunch at Llano Seco Ranch takes the cChaos Electric Tractor for a spin. Had a wonderful time. Lots of folks got to try out the electric tractor, and Shasta Cascade Slow Food is donating a portion of the funds raised to cChaos projects.

Attention: Kids and Parents! Announcing the SAFE BIKES Program! FREE!

THE SHED!
1010 CLEVELAND ST.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 17, 2010
10AM – 2PM

SAFE BIKES

* Kids learn to make sure their bike is safe to ride
* how to make simple safety adjustments
* go on a safety ride through the neighborhood

THE SHED PROVIDES

* adult supervision
* safety pamphlets
* tools and equipment
* bikes for kids who need one
* the program is free for all, donations are excepted

An adult must bring and pick up every child. A waiver of liability must be signed.
For more information, contact Ron 588-8474 or ronbikes4peace@gmail.com

Is this some ancient stone carving in the depths of the Mayan Jungle?

Guess again.

Meet Sue Bear Sum-Chanyge, cChaos' new, first, and only mascot - and she is not in the jungle at all, but yet another fan of the Organic Vegetable Project out at the CSU, Chico University Farm. Here she is setting cooling off after doing a bit of weeding with the Friends who were spiffing up the garden last Sunday.

Once a month "Friends of the Organic Vegetable Project" will be converging on the garden to swap stories, seeds, plants, glean spare information, fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers from each other and the garden.

The beans pictured are one variety of a dry bean trial consisting of 16 - 100 foot rows that include 12 different varieties of specialty dry beans.

Besides supporting this Organic Education Project, Sue Bear Sum-Chanyge wants to raise $50.00 in the next few weeks for cChaos. She could sure use a hand (full). Any contribution would make her feel more fulfilled. You can watch her weekly progress by checking out the bean trellis next to her picture on the home page for cChaos News Updates - in the upper right hand corner.

cChaos will be there!!!

Chico, California (August 25, 2010) – Nonprofits participating in the Annie B’s Community Drive will showcase their services in the Chico City Plaza during the Thursday Night Market Presents on September 16. North Valley Community Foundation, sponsor of the Annie B’s Community Drive, is partnering with the Downtown Chico Business Association, on this special Thursday Night Market event.

Terry Tillman and his wife do some shopping today at the Fire House Certified Farmers Market. This is the only year-round farmers market in the area. We gladly accept EBT (food stamps). Market runs from 11 AM to 3 PM every Thursday and runs year round - rain - snow - sleet - smoke - or (ok - if it gets worse than this we might just stay home) high water.

We welcome new venders - and stall spaces are free. This is part of a family health and community development project of cChaos.

For more information call Oroville Office Manager Terry Tillman at 530-712-0496 or cChaos Executive Director Richard Roth at 530-624-8844.

See ya there!

Radio show taped on Tuesday August 3rd.

cChaos launches online outreach site!

We have several new health outreach projects. This week we are launching the first small project. We need a heavy duty shade structure which costs about $300.00.

We are fund raising for the project by offering donation "shares" for $2.70 each. Folks can contribute as many "shares" as they chose and either pay online with a credit card or paypal account - or order and send a check. We hope to raise the money in the next week or two. This little project gives us the opportunity to test out and get feedback on our new e-commerce site.

Please give us your feedback. Check it out at http://www.cchaos.org/czenofchaos

Both of our farmers markets are growing gradually. We have expanded our selection. Still - few people are making use of our EBT nutrition program. Please let it be known that we accept EBT cards and we invite and welcome families of low income to take part in our programs.