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Credit Rachael McDonald / KLCC
On July 12, OSU Extension is opening their Food Preservation and Safety hotline to help people across Oregon with their food canning projects.
Nellie Oehler started the Master Food Preserver Program in 1980, and considers it important to teach canning safety.
”There’s so much misinformation out there,” Oehler said. Everybody’s doing it now, and if you don’t know what site to go to, and a lot of people think ‘oh, I know what I’m doing; if the jar is steel, that’s gonna be great,’ well, that could kill you. So people are afraid of the pressure canner, and they don’t know that they need to get the gauges tested.”
Dray Aguirre does homework inside his trailer between Sisters and Tumalo, Oregon. The Central Oregon Community College student has experienced less food insecurity since receiving benefits through the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).
Credit Bradley W. Parks / OPB
In 2019, 41% of surveyed Oregon community college students experienced food insecurity. Statewide, roughly 1 in 4 Oregonians are experiencing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To help people put more food on the table, KLCC is hosting a virtual information session on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Community members statewide can learn best practices for applying, how to appeal your application if wrongfully denied, and other benefits people could be eligible for if they apply for the federal program.