Governor Volunteers at Greater Chicago Food Depository to Prepare Holiday Meals

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today visited the Greater Chicago Food Depository to help volunteers prepare holiday meals and emphasize the importance of supporting Illinois' food banks this holiday season and throughout the year. The state's eight food banks help provide nutritious meals and food to families in need. According to Feeding Illinois, there are currently more than 1.9 million people across the state who do not have access to nutritious food.

"No family should ever go hungry in Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "As we spend time with our families this week to give thanks for what we have, I encourage people across Illinois to make a difference by volunteering or donating to their local food bank throughout the year."

The Greater Chicago Food Depository is a not-for-profit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in local communities. Last year, the Food Depository distributed 66 million pounds of shelf-stable food, fresh produce, and meat, the equivalent of 150,000 meals every day. For more information about how to volunteer or donate food to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, visit ChicagoFoodBank.org.

Feeding Illinois, the state food bank association, has provided meals to more than 1.4 million people in need. In 2011, the association's network of 2,000 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters distributed 120 million pounds of food to residents throughout the state. To find out more about hunger in your community or how to help food banks across the state, visit FeedingIllinois.org.

In 2012, Governor Quinn helped launch the "No Kid Hungry" campaign to help end childhood hunger across Illinois by using proven strategies. In 2011, Governor Quinn appointed the first members to the Illinois Commission to End Hunger with the goal of exploring how Illinois can overcome barriers and develop sustainable policies and programs to effectively end hunger in the state. Since 2011, the No Kid Hungry network has helped bring more than 34 million additional meals to kids who need them and created ways to replicate that success throughout the country.

In addition, the Governor today announced a holiday food drive in the James R. Thompson Center (100 W. Randolph St.) in Chicago. Beginning on Nov. 27, there will be a food donation box in the Thompson Center next to the Christmas tree and menorah. All donations at the Thompson Center will go directly to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

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Quad Cities, USA- The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program will begin on Friday, November 29th at the two Quad Cities Malls. Community members are asked to purchase a toy and bring it to the Angel Tree sites to that a less fortunate child will have a happy Christmas morning. This annual holiday program provides new toys for approximately 3,000 children whose families are having a hard time adding Christmas gifts to their budget.

On Black Friday, November 29, Macerich Malls will again partner with The Salvation Army and collect new, unwrapped toys inside the malls at the "Angel Trees." Hours will be 11am - 8pm Monday through Saturday, and 12pm - 5pm on Sunday.

Paper angel tags listing the age, gender and toy ideas are available at these locations: Younkers Court in SouthPark Mall, Moline; and JCPenney Court in NorthPark Mall, Davenport. Anyone wanting to participate can select an angel tag from the tree and purchase a gift for a child. New, unwrapped toys for a child, along with the original tag can be returned to any Angel Tree location. The last day you can choose an angel is Dec. 15 to allow time for distribution by The Salvation Army.

Major Gary A. Felton, Quad Cities Coordinator, states, "The Salvation Army is very dedicated to helping parents maintain a sense of normalcy and dignity so Christmas can truly be a blessed event for their family. This small gesture of purchasing a toy for a child can help to make another person's life less overwhelming."

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More about the QUAD CITIES Angel Trees

  • Over 3,000 children will be served again this year because of our community's generosity.

  • Gifts for 11-and 12-year-olds are especially needed.

  • When a child receives a toy Christmas morning, the parents regain hope and the child has a happy memory to build on.

Contact Holly Nomura at (563) 271-7933 if you are interested in hosting an Angel Tree at your office or church.

Other Angel Tree Locations that can be used for dropping off your gift include :

All Four Area Wal-Marts at the Customer Service Desk

Chic-fil-A, 53rd and Elmore, Davenport

Welcome to The Iowa Dish!
With the holiday season fast approaching, and the Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings just a few days way, we're excited to share our latest e-newsletter, The Iowa Dish.

When entering our recent "Iowa Farmers Feed Us" grocery giveaway, you told us that you were interested in learning more about food and farming in the state.

Our goal with "The Iowa Dish" is to spark a conversation about how our food is grown and raised, and to introduce the Iowa farmers who work to feed families here at home and abroad. Plus, we'll serve up quick bites on food safety, nutrition and meal trends. And of course, we'll share some of our favorite in-season recipes.

We've got a lot more recipes and information to share as well as future contests, so please look for our semi-monthly e-newsletter in your email inbox. We look forward to dishin' with you about Iowa food and farming.

Teresa Bjork
, sr. features writer, Iowa Farm Bureau

Let's Talk Turkey
While Thanksgiving turkeys get all the attention this time of year, Americans actually eat more turkey year-round nowadays compared to our grandparent's generation.

Here in Iowa, our farmers are on the leading edge of the deli turkey trend. Read more.

USDA Organic

What do the labels mean?
If you're into bargain shopping, then you are probably checking out the grocery store ads right now, trying to find the best deal on a Thanksgiving turkey. Is it worth paying more for a "gourmet" bird with all the labels? Read more.

Sizzlin' Trend: Turkey on the Grill

With the growing popularity of year-round outdoor cooking, more Americans are planning to grill, smoke or deep-fry their turkeys this year to free up oven space for their favorite Thanksgiving sides. Read more.

HOT TOPIC
Antibiotics: Is Meat Safe? Find out more here.

ASK TERESA
Do you have a question or topic that you would like me to cover in a future issue of The Iowa Dish? Drop me a note here.

The holidays and their aftermath are the busiest time of year for long-term care admissions, says expert Chris Orestis.

"Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, families get together and many are seeing Mom and/or Dad for the first time in months," says Orestis, senior health-care advocate and CEO of Life Care Funding, (www.lifecarefunding.com).

"Some will discover that their parent's health has declined and he or she should not be left to live on their own any longer."

Warning signs that your parent may need to be evaluated for in-home nursing assistance, or a move to a more supportive setting, include :

Confusion or forgetfulness about taking medications
Unstable/unbalanced (at risk of falling)
Change in hygiene habits or personality

"Most families are not prepared for this, they don't have a plan or resources, so the situation becomes traumatic and heart-breaking for everyone," Orestis says. "It doesn't have to be that way. Every family should be talking about this now and exploring options."

He offers these tips to help families better plan:

• Remember, there are many levels of care available. From a few hours of in-home assistance each week to residential communities that provide daily assistance with meals, laundry, etc., to a nursing home that provides round-the-clock care, there are many options to consider. Generally speaking, finding ways to keep your loved one at home for as long as possible is the least disruptive - and least expensive - option.

• Avoid resorting to Medicaid if at all possible. Nursing-home care costs start at $5,000 to $8,000 a month, which is often beyond the means of people otherwise considered financially healthy. Many families turn to Medicaid to pay for nursing home care, but it comes with many restrictions, including choice of facilities. In a situation where one spouse is healthy and the other is not, the spouse living independently will also face restrictions on the amount of assets he or she can retain, for instance, as of July 1, 2013, a maximum $2898.00 for monthly maintenance.

• Don't simply stop paying on a life insurance policy to save money. Any life insurance policy can be converted into a protected Long-Term Care Benefit fund which will pay for any level of care, from in-home to hospice. Policy holders typically receive 30 to 60 percent of the death benefit value when they convert the policy specifically to pay for long-term care. The benefit qualifies as a Medicaid spend-down, which means they'll still be eligible for that program if the money runs out.

About Chris Orestis

Chris Orestis, nationally known senior health-care advocate and expert is CEO of Life Care Funding, which created the model for converting life insurance policies into protected Long-Term Care Benefit funds. His company has been providing care benefits to policy holders since 2007. A former life insurance industry lobbyist with a background in long-term care issues, he created the model to provide an option for middle-class people who are not wealthy enough to pay for long-term care, and not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid.

DES MOINES, IA (11/26/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald wants to encourage online shoppers to give the gift of college savings this Cyber Monday. "In as little as 10 minutes you can give one of the most meaningful gifts a child may receive this holiday season, a College Savings Iowa account," Fitzgerald said. "In addition to making a great gift, College Savings Iowa offers tax benefits to the participant as well."

Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $3,045 per beneficiary from their 2013 adjusted gross income, and there are no income or residency restrictions.* To take advantage of this great tax-savings opportunity, investors can contribute online at collegesavingsiowa.com by December 31, 2013. If the contribution is being mailed, checks must be postmarked by December 31, 2013.

. Also Like College Savings Iowa on Facebook and Follow the Plan on Twitter (@Iowa529Plan) to stay up to date on all current news and giveaways.

* Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

**Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as the responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 1-888-672-9116, or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

Washington, D.C. - Congressmen Dave Loebsack recently led a bipartisan group calling on the leaders of the Budget Conference Committee, who are currently working to craft a long-term budget agreement, to include strong funding for Meals on Wheels and other Senior Nutrition Programs in any compromise they reach. The letter, which was signed by a bipartisan group of 48 Members of Congress, called on the Budget Conference Committee to ensure that Senior Nutrition Programs authorized under the Older Americans Act (OAA) are not further reduced from current levels.

Due to cuts cause by sequestration earlier this year, Meals on Wheels and congregate programs across the country have been forced to cut meals served to seniors, eliminate staff positions, lower meal quality, reduce delivery days and/or close sites. The situation has been exacerbated by the economic downturn and increased numbers of seniors needing meals.

"Our constituents and Americans across the country who rely on Senior Nutrition Programs are already experiencing the real, daily effects of sequestration-related cuts to these benefits. These cuts directly affect the health and well-being of our most vulnerable, frail and isolated senior constituents and prevent programs from maintaining services, much less meeting the needs of an aging population," the Members of Congress wrote. "We urge you to do all you can to reverse sequestration-related cuts to the Senior Nutrition Programs that provide a lifeline to our elderly population. We must let congregate and home-delivered meal programs get back to work and allow those they serve to live with independence and dignity."

A copy of the letter can be found here.

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Important for soybean farmers to support their No. 1 customer, major economic driverST. LOUIS (Nov. 26, 2013) - U.S. animal agriculture's consumption of U.S. soybean meal increased by 1 million tons, or the meal from 42 million bushels of soybeans, in the 2011/12 marketing year, according to a soy-checkoff-funded report. This is good news for soybean farmers since domestic animal agriculture uses about 97 percent of the U.S. soybean meal consumed in the United States.

Despite this welcomed increase, the report concluded that U.S. soybean farmers shouldn't let their support for the animal ag industry weaken. Animal ag farmers face pressures like rising feed costs and dwindling U.S.- consumer demand. Because animal ag continues to be U.S. soybean farmers' No. 1 customer, these pressures also threaten the profitability of all soybean farmers, the report said.

"The success of the U.S. soybean industry relies on the strength of the U.S. animal agriculture industry," says Mike Beard, a checkoff farmer-leader who grows soybeans and raises hogs on his farm in Frankfort, Ind. "The best way we can support our customers and ensure they remain competitive is with better-quality soybeans."

The report, titled the National Animal Agriculture Economic Analysis, also outlined the economic benefits the poultry and livestock sectors provide at the state and national levels. In 2012, animal ag provided the following benefits to the national economy:

  • Support for 1.8 million jobs
  • $346 billion in total economic output
  • A $60 billion impact on household incomes
  • $21 billion in income and property taxes paid
Read about animal ag's economic benefits for each state in the full report.

According to the study, U.S. poultry, livestock and fish farmers used more than 30 million tons of soybean meal in the time period measured, or the meal from more than 1.26 billion bushels of U.S. soybeans. Broilers and swine continue to be by far the two biggest soybean-meal consumers. The meal consumption per species breaks down as follows:

  • Broiler chickens: the meal from about 476 million bushels of U.S. soybeans
  • Hogs: the meal from about 410 million bushels
  • Laying hens: the meal from 84 million bushels
  • Turkeys: the meal from more than 75 million bushels
  • Other: the meal from about 217 million bushels

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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The holiday season seems to start earlier and earlier each year which, for many people, means longer and longer periods of heightened stress, say integrated health specialists Dr. Michael Gelb and Dr. Howard Hindin.

"For many people, stress causes teeth grinding - bruxism - during the day or while they're asleep at night and it's not as innocuous as it sounds. It not only wears down the enamel of the teeth, it can cause headaches, muscle pain and disrupted sleep, which leads to daytime drowsiness and irritability," says Dr. Hindin of the Hindin Center for Whole Health Dentistry (www.hindincenter.com), who partners with Dr. Gelb in tackling chronic disease with multidisciplinary approaches.

"Bruxism is the third most frequent abnormal sleep behavior - sleep talking and sleep walking are other examples -- and the No. 1 reason patients come to my clinic, even though they're often not aware they're grinding," says Dr. Gelb of The Gelb Center in New York (www.gelbcenter.com), a holistic dentist known worldwide for pioneering integrative treatments. "Stress is generally the cause of daytime teeth grinding, which is an involuntary clenching of the jaws. But great joy can be a cause, too. Nighttime grinding can have many causes - or no clear cause at all."

Drs. Hindin and Gelb share some of the causes of teeth grinding and what people can do about it:

• 1 in 4 people with obstructive sleep apnea are bruxers: Like nighttime teeth grinding, people with sleep apnea are often unaware they have a problem, so if the grinding leads to a diagnosis of sleep apnea, it could save the person's life. People with untreated sleep apnea can stop breathing hundreds of times a night. Those with severe cases are 46 percent more likely to die prematurely, according to a study published in 2009 in PLOS Medicine journal.

"Your doctor or dentist should explore the possibility of obstructive sleep apnea as a potential cause of your bruxism," says Dr. Hindin.

• Caffeine, alcohol, cigarette smoking and hypertension are all linked to increased incidence of bruxism: People who have a drink before they go to bed and people who ingest caffeine are more likely to be teeth grinders, with the likelihood increasing the more a person consumes. Cigarette smoking and high blood pressure are also associated with teeth grinding, as are certain drugs used to treat depression.

• Nighttime dental guards are just one option for treatment: Depending on the cause of the bruxism, there are a variety of treatment options, ranging from dental guards to botox injections to anti-anxiety medications. "To effectively address the problem, the cause needs to be diagnosed if possible and treated," says Dr. Gelb. "Bruxism can cause irreversible damage to your teeth, TMJ disorders and other problems and, as Dr. Hindin pointed out, it can be a sign of a more serious underlying problem, so it shouldn't be ignored."

But that doesn't mean that everyone who grinds is in for a hefty medical bill. "For some people, treatment may be as simple as a $10 night guard purchased at the drug store - although a custom-fitted night guard is best."

About Michael Gelb, D.D.S., M.S. & Howard Hindin, D.D.S.

Dr. Michael Gelb is an innovator in airway, breathing, sleep, and painful TMJ disorders pioneering Airway Centric. He has studied early intervention for sleep disordered breathing (SDB) specializing in how it relates to fatigue, focus, pain and the effects all of these can have on family health. Dr. Gelb received his D.D.S. degree from Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery and his M.S. degree from SUNY at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Howard Hindin is trained in all aspects of general dentistry. Since the 1990s, his practice has also focused on cosmetic dentistry, temporomandibular joint disorders and craniofacial pain. He is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry.

Davenport NAACP Branch #4019 announces its annual Holiday Bazaar fundraiser to promote civil rights initiatives and support scholarship programs in the Quad Cities.

The Davenport NAACP Holiday Bazaar will take place from 10:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the Third Missionary Baptist Church, Davenport, Iowa. The address is 222 W. 14th St. The church is easily accessible from Harrison St. [a main thoroughfare] or Main St. The Bazaar will be in the huge basement of the church and is handicapped accessible. There is ample parking in the parking lot adjacent to the church. Admission is free.

The Davenport NAACP Holiday Bazaar will not only feature items that are unique, but also some that are culturally enriching. Items available for purchase include jewelry, mugs, African American Christmas cards, wreaths, scarves, clothes, Scentsy candles, Christmas items, and much, much more. Visit Vera's Kitchen on-site for our famous gumbo, peach cobbler, hot dogs, nachos and cheese, and chili!

Interested in being a vendor? Contact Shirleen Martin at (563) 386-1500.

For more information visit: www.davenportnaacp.org

What: Davenport NAACP Branch #4019 Annual Holiday Bazaar

When: Saturday, December 14, 2013 from 10am to 3pm

Where: Third Missionary Baptist Church, 224 W. 14th Street, Davenport, IA

Cost: Free

Contact: Paula Frazier, (563) 210-7145, Community Coordinator, Davenport NAACP Branch #4019

Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013

Senator Chuck Grassley made the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture made available additional information about farm payments being received by general partnerships and joint ventures through people using the "active personal management only."

The figures are a more detailed look at information provided in a Government Accountability Office report that Grassley released last month.  According to the GAO report, entities set up as General Partnerships received about $159 million while entities set up as Joint Ventures received $12 million in 2012 through extra 'active personal management only' persons.  Click here to see the breakdown by state of the information provided by the Department of Agriculture. The amounts going to states through this loophole range from more than $52 million per year to nearly $1,000 per year.

"More than $172 million went out the door in 2012 through this loophole.  The data provided by the Department of Agriculture shows that the loophole is exploited by some states more than others.  The loophole is closed in both the House and Senate bills, yet it's still a discussion point.  The United States has a $17 trillion debt, unsustainable entitlements, and record land prices, yet we're hearing some members of Congress still don't want to tighten the law that would do nothing more than prevent a few of the  biggest, wealthiest farmers from exploiting taxpayers."

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