As the new Farm to School Coordinator, Karyn will be working closely with three local schools to develop their Farm to School programs in a strategic and sustainable way. Juntunen will work with each school to build a curriculum tailored to the needs and goals of each school.
Like many others, Juntunen was not born with a green thumb. “I grew up on Spaghettios, and now my mom shops at the Co-op,” Juntunen said. She learned from other successful gardeners in her life and shared that knowledge with students during her 25 year teaching career. Get to know Karyn Juntunen and all of the exciting plans Copper Shores has for her at coppershores.org/news.
Farm to School Pilot Program
Juntunen’s priority at Copper Shores is to launch our farm to school pilot program. The development of these programs will be followed as case studies to ultimately help other schools in the Copper Country develop Farm to School programs that meet their needs and challenges. “We originally received a $75,000 grant through the Michigan Health Endowment fund,” said Meghan Jaszczak, Copper Shores community health educator. “We matched the grant to leverage the money to go further, with a focus on administrative level conversations surrounding Farm to School in our region.”
Pasty Partnership with Krupp’s
Our Meals on Wheels team has been making connections with local producers, farmers and restaurants, like Krupp’s Mini Mart in Twin Lakes. Krupp’s makes one of the Upper Peninsula’s most well known and celebrated foods, the pasty, and they donated hundreds to Meals on Wheels for all of the seniors. Get to know Troy and Tina in this heartwarming video.
It’s Farmers Market Season
Looking for farmers markets to visit this summer? Check out this helpful article with the schedules for all the markets in the Copper Country. From Calumet to L’Anse, there is plenty to see and plenty to learn. Find helpful insights and a full schedule from the Copper Beacon.
Meghan at the Market
Our Community Health Educator, Meghan Jaszczak, will be returning to the farmers markets later this season, make sure to keep an eye out for her to chat about all things food! Get nutrition questions answered, find new recipes and taste our delicious samples!
We’re supporting local food pantries
Small Grant recipients were just announced, including the Canterbury House, a safe space for students from Michigan Technological University to build community. They host weekly potlucks and run a food pantry that has been stocked up with help from the Small Grant funding. Learn more on our website.
Western UP Farm to School Group
Dive into a wealth of knowledge from the Western UP Farm to School Group. They support local food systems by fostering community interaction and sharing knowledge about susceptible food practices in local agriculture. Get to know projects like Growing from the Heart and their annual photo contest. Want more information? Sign up for their newsletter!
Meals on Wheels Updates
Meals on Wheels June menu highlight
June is an exciting month for us, marking many firsts for the year! With the UP’s short growing season, many of the first summer harvests are coming in. See the June Meal Menu.
Subaru awards Meals on Wheels $2,300
Copper Shores Meals on Wheels is grateful to receive $2,346.73 in funding from the Subaru Share the Love event in 2023. This is the second year that the foundation has participated in Share the Love. Learn more.
$21,000 from UPCAP Funds Improvements
Copper Shores Meals on Wheels recently received a $21,000 Aging & Adult Services grant from the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) for key kitchen upgrades. Learn more.
PHOTOS: Relive March for Meals 2024
We hosted three great open houses - one at our kitchen and main office in Hancock, one at our Chassell Congregate Meal Site that featured yoga, and a third at Lakeview Manor with water painting and local nature photographer George Bailey. See photos.
Upcoming Copper Shores Events
Food, fun & fitness
Save the date! All area 6th-8th graders are invited to join us from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Quincy Green for games, free food, art and more! Make sure to follow Copper Shores on social media to find details when they’re announced.
Community-Wide Picnic
Our third annual Community-Wide Picnic is taking place this year in Ahmeek and we hope you'll be able to join us. We'll have a pop-up farmers market, lunch, bouncy houses and other kids activities, a non-profit expose and more! The best part? Everything is family friendly and free! Learn more at coppershores.org/picnic.
That's it for this quarter. If you have information you want included next time, email mbabcock@coppershores.org. More importantly, thanks for being part of this community's blossoming food culture!
Thank you for your interest in our Food Initiative. If you want to show your support, please consider making a donation at coppershores.org/food-initiative.
Copper Shores Community Health Foundation, 400 Quincy Street, 5th Floor, Hancock, MI 49930, 1 (906) 523-5920
