Mower Refreshed Living

At some point most of us have heard "You're capable of more than that". We may have  even spoken it or at the very least thought it about another person. Thomas Edison reminds us "If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves."

The County Connections feature story in this issue reinforces that no matter our age or even our perceived lack of resources we are capable of astounding acts that can positively impact those around us.

Mower Refreshed is about considering what we just might be capable of, especially as we grow collaborations and work together to create healthy options and opportunities in the communities of Paris.

I sense that Edison's intention wasn't that we compare our abilities or skills to another  person, but that we pause to consider what our own talents, interests, resources are and  take steps to use them for the good of others.

I'm continually astounded as I learn what folks of all ages are accomplishing and dreaming about when it comes to living well in their workplaces, homes, schools and faith communities. It's these citizen-inspired ideas that fuel the movement of Mower Refreshed. They push  us to think outside the box about our own capabilities and how we could be literally astounded at the potential Paris holds in making healthy options the norm for every citizen.

 

Refreshed Focus

The four focus areas of Mower Refreshed continue to grow in networks and collaborations. Organizations and individual citizens who have an
interest in the efforts of the groups are rallying ideas that make the healthy choice just a little more easy for all of us.

Creating venues to inform citizens about Mower Refreshed and all the health efforts it supports is keeping volunteers busy.

Mower Refreshed Facebook page is now live and features a growing number of photo albums of events and programs Mower Refreshed supports as well as a Gratitude Photo Album that give opportunity for us to all share a word or picture describing what we are grateful for. Look for "Wellness Wednesdays" on Facebook in the future. The Facebook page is an opportunity for citizens to engage in conversations, share photos of active living and offer encouraging ideas on wellness. Check out www.facebook.com/mowerrefreshed and "Like Us"!

Mower Refreshed Video production is underway to provide a short informational clip on "What is Mower Refreshed". This project currently
involves over 30 citizens of all ages and backgrounds, promoting wellness in daily living.

Mower Refreshed Website is also in progress, mowerrefreshed.org is now under construction. Collaborations with Riverland Community College (RCC) and individual volunteers will create a county-wide connecting point for activities, organizations and resources focused on wellness and healthy lifestyle ideas for those who live and work in Paris and those who visit us.

The home page design is based on Kay Gunderson's submission through her Riverland Web Design Course. Kay's design was chosen from out of sixteen amazing entries presented to us by Brenda Mandt, instructor of the on-line course at RCC. Another example of the grassroots approach this wellness movement seeks to build upon.

Mower Refreshed Connect Teams are being developed in each high school in the county. Our hope is to have students connecting us with
what is happening to make health a priority in their schools and communities. This is a energized generation and we want to engage them in Mower Refreshed to learn from them and their experiences.

 

 

County Connections

Adams/Austin/Brownsdale/Corning/Dexter/Elkton/GrandMeadow/Johnsburg/Lansing/LeRoy/Lyle/Mapleview/Racine/RoseCreek/Sargeant/Taopi/Waltham

For Gerald Meirs, coordinator of the Southland Faith Food Shelf, and the twenty some volunteers at the food shelf, it's not always about offering choices as much as offering a practical lifeline when tough choices have to be made by area families.

The past eleven years this food shelf has grown from serving six families on a regular basis to over fifty. Serving for these volunteers means collecting food and funds, boxing the goods and delivering  them to those in need every two weeks.

Monday mornings at Little Cedar Lutheran Church are busy with volunteers making sure the needs are met for the families they serve while Monday evenings the families can pick up their groceries at the church after work.

The food shelf collaborates with area churches and organizations like the American Legion in Adams, firefighters in Dexter, area farmers ( who donate fresh meat/eggs) and individuals who donate  groceries and fresh produce.

What makes the Southland Faith Food Shelf unique?
Resourcefulness: This spring will mean once again that volunteers will plant extra seeds in their gardens to harvest fresh foods for the food shelf. This simple act cost very little in terms of seeds but reaps a generous and healthy harvest for those who need the assistance of the food shelf. Planting extra seeds to share garden produce is termed "garden gleaning" but the volunteers would say it's just the right thing to do and makes good economic sense. Could this be an inspired idea to impact the health of our county, duplicated in other communities? A truly grassroots concept!

Sustainability: The food shelf gives opportunity for those who have benefited from the shelf to become donors when their life circumstances improve. This healthy cycle of receiving and then  returning to give builds sustainably for the food shelf. Families who have been given assistance  understand the value of receiving the bags of groceries every two weeks...the choice between paying  for utilities, buying tires for the car, putting gas in the tank to get to work or purchasing groceries becomes a bit easier with the gift of food from the Southland Faith Food Shelf.

As citizens who donate to a local food shelf we have a choice as to what we donate, thinking about the nutritional value of what we give and the opportunity it offers for those in need to have a healthy  choice when often nutritional choices are the least of their concerns. As we promote Minnesota Food Share Month in March, consider what we are all capable of, astounding ourselves and others as we share our resources and talents.

Gerald has been retired for over nineteen years now yet he states "even in retirement a person can get too busy" His advice on balancing life: "Don't be so busy you neglect your family." As Mower Refreshed builds "communities" across the county we are reminded by Gerald to not neglect our "family." Inspired to respond See contact information for our county's food shelves Shelves are depleted as bags are filled. under Refreshing Events on page four.