August 4, 2021 3:20 a.m.

Douglas Education Service District Nursing Services has partnered with Umpqua Valley Farm to School and Yoncalla School District to provide fresh produce to local residents.

A release said the new program is known as the DC Produce Project and is funded through a generous grant of nearly $20,000 from the Whipple Foundation Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation.

The release said the idea for the program originated as a way to help combat food insecurity in rural areas of Douglas County. Yoncalla was identified as an area of importance due to the lack of access to a grocery store and a number of families without reliable transportation.

After getting connected with Umpqua Valley Farm to School, the idea came together.

Every Thursday through this week, Bethany Durbin of ESD and Erin Maidlow, executive director at Umpqua Farm to School, have been delivering 50 boxes filled with fruits and vegetables from a local farm to Yoncalla Elementary School. The boxes include hand-written recipes, food preparation and storage information. The boxes are distributed through the school’s bus service.

The release said the partnership extends to local farms such as Norm Lehne Garden and Orchards, Valadez Organic Produce, Myrtle Creek Farm LLC, and Phoenix Charter School, who provide the produce. Recipes are contributed by the Blue Zones Project Umpqua. Healthy food-related newsletters are provided by the Oregon Department of Education Oregon Harvest for Schools.

The release said the grant funding will be used through next July. Contact Douglas ESD for more information.