July 2002

 

Note: Adopt-A-Family is the previous name of Local Foods Connection

Welcome to a new year of Adopt-A-Family! Two new families, one living in Coralville and the other in Iowa City, have become members of our organizations. And we have even more donors! Thank you.

New Adopted Families

Secrest Family
Laura and Lance Secrest and their five children are dedicated to eating natural, healthy food. Their children are Rezin, Elisha, Sarah, Lo Ammi and Rebekah. The family was recommended to our program by Dayna Hutton at the Crisis Center in Iowa City. The Crisis Center is an emergency assistance program center and provides emotional, as well as material, support to people in our community. Dayna commented to us, "What a great program! Thank you for providing such a valuable service to our community."

Laura Secrest wrote the following description of her family:

"Lance is an apprentice electrician, poet, songwriter, and guitarist. I am an artist currently into quilting and jewelry-making. All the kids love to paint. Rezin plays violin and has begun to write music. My mom and aunt both have multiple chemical syndrome and I am hypoglycemic. So we eat all natural, whole foods whenever possible."

The Secrest family attended the Local Harvest CSA spring welcoming banquet at the farm of Simone Alvarez.

Nzombo Family
The Nzombo family is a refugee family from the Republic of the Congo. They have several sponsors to Adopt-A-Family, including Anne Mallampalli (Local Harvest CSA member), Rita Tomanek (parishioner at St. Mary's Church), and Kathy Maxwell, the Chair of the Peace & Justice Commission of St. Mary's Church. The Commission distributes the sacrificial-giving funds set aside from each week's collection. "We are charged with assisting the poor," writes Kathy Maxwell.

Eugenie Bwalya is the mother of five children. (In the Republic of the Congo, mothers keep their maiden names and children take their fathers' names.) Eugenie tells us about her family:

"We come from Congo. I applied for asylum. Now, I'm taking courses in Nurse's Aide. Princesse, Herve, Gaelle and Jonathan attend Kirkwood Elementary. Christian attends Northwest High School."

Kathy of the Peace and Justice Commission comments, "I have met this family only once but was very impressed with their sincerity. I have talked to Rita Tomanek many times about their needs. They seem to be working very hard to get settled here and are getting on their way to self-sufficiency. The fresh produce will not go waste and will be much appreciated by all of them."

L Dowd, director of Adopt-A-Family, accompanied the five children and Rita Tomanek to the Zacharakis-Jutz farm one week in July. The farm animals (goats, horses, chickens, sheep and cats) seemed new and quite scary to these children originally from a big city! But the children relaxed after awhile and made especially good friends with Martin, the wonderful ZJ dog. They ate snap peas fresh off the vine and all got a ride on a small tractor. The oldest children have visited the farm a second time since, and hope to work on the farm again in the future.

Thank You
Thank you to the following individuals, families and businesses for your financial support of Adopt-A-Family.

Antoine Bechara, L Dowd & Larry Parks, Lori Enloe & Jim Trepka, Carol Hunt and Ralph Adolphs, Iowa State Bank, Dina Janzen & Jim Rossen, Sue & Doug Langbehn, Sondra & Robert Lewis, Erica Lehman & Jim Garcia, Anne & Rama Mallampalli, John & Terri Navizio, Polly & Armond Pagliai, Ann Rhomberg & Susan Johnson, Richard & Tina Schmitz, Emily Silliman & Dale Schultz, Rachel & Duncan Stewart, Downing Thomas & Dina Blanc!

Zucchini Nut Loaf - a recipe from Laura Secrest
This is a good use for frozen zucchini.

  1. Shred zucchini and pack into 2 cup containers. Freeze then defrost when you need it.

  2. In a small bowl, mix together 3 cups whole wheat flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder. Set aside.

  3. In large bowl, cream together 1 cup honey, and 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup canola oil (or trade for 1/2 cup apple sauce).

  4. Add 2 eggs, 2 cups shredded zucchini, 1/4 teaspoon shredded lemon peel and 1 cup chopped walnuts. Mix well.

  5. Mix dry ingredients (step 2) into wet mixture. Add 1 cup raisins (optional).

  6. Turn out into greased bread pan.

  7. In small container, mix 5 tablespoons honey, some nutmeg, and garam masala (Indian spice).

  8. Poke holes or make a trench on top of batter and spoon on honey stiffs.

  9. Bake at 350 F for 55-60 minutes until fork comes out clean