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Friday, October 27, 2023

Oregon to issue additional $43M in EBT assistance to 99,000 children

TODAY’S EDITION

CORRECTION NOTE: A previous version of this release inaccurately explained how eligible families, who no longer receive SNAP, will receive their PEBT benefits. This has been corrected to explain that: Families who are no longer receiving SNAP benefits will receive a notice in the mail and the benefits will be deposited onto their existing EBT card associated with their household. If families no longer have their EBT card they can request a replacement card by calling 855-328-6715. Need to know: • Families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and have young children will receive additional food benefits for their children. • Oregon will provide approximately $43 million in additional food assistance for 99,000 young children. • These food benefits will be issued to existing EBT cards on Oct. 17. • These additional food benefits are part of the federal Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program, a temporary COVID-19 program meant to provide additional food support for children whose access to adequate and quality food may have been impacted by COVID-19. • This is the last time Oregon will be able to provide P-EBT food benefits to children in Oregon as the program has not been renewed. SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) will be issuing additional food benefits for young children whose families received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits between Sept. 1 2022 and May 11, 2023. These additional food benefits will provide approximately $43 million in additional food assistance for 99,000 young children in Oregon. “We are grateful to

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have been able to provide more than a $1 billion in addition food benefits to children and students in Oregon since 2020,” said Claire Seguin, director of the ODHS Self-Sufficiency Programs. “As communities continue to be affected by COVID-19 and the rising cost of food, we know that many families are experiencing hardship and are struggling to get enough healthy food for themselves and their children. We encourage anyone who is struggling to meet their basic needs to contact our partners at 211, the Oregon Food Bank and their local Community Action Agency for support during this difficult time.” Eligibility for P-EBT food benefits • Families must have received SNAP benefits at any time between Sept. 1, 2022 and May 11, 2023. • Children in the family who were age 5 and under at any time during this period are eligible to receive additional food benefits. • Families will receive the additional food benefits for every month during this period that: 1. One or more children in their household were ages 5 and younger 2. The family was receiving SNAP benefits. Families will receive an extra $67 food benefit per child for every month between September 2022 and April 2023, and $30 for May 2023. Families can receive up to $566 in additional food benefits for each child who is eligible. How children will receive P-EBT food benefits Families who are currently receiving SNAP benefits will receive the P-EBT food benefits onto their EBT card on Oct. 17. Families who are no longer receiving SNAP benefits will receive a notice in the mail and the benefits will be deposited onto their existing EBT card associated with their household. If families no longer have their EBT See EBT page 3A

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Mostly cloudy with a high of 55 and a low of 31. See more weather on Page 3A. Serving the communities of Cottage Grove and Creswell

South Lane School Board faces growing challenges By Cindy Weeldreyer Sentinel Community Reporter COTTAGE GROVE Ore. - Last week’s issue profiled the seven members of the South Lane School District who explained why they wanted to serve on the school board. This week highlights their views on the challenges the district faces this school year, and each board member shares memorable moments that make their service worthwhile. The current enrollment

is 2,398 students who are served by 450 staff members. The South Lane School District is geographically large. Its boundaries are from Saginaw to the

north and London to the south and from Disston to the east and almost to Lorane on the west. It operates two PreK5 elementary schools, Harrison and Bohemia

in town; two rural PreK8 schools in Dorena and London, Lincoln Middle School with grades 6-8, and two high schools for grades 9-12: Cottage Grove High School and Al Kennedy High School. The Early Learning Center, adjacent to Harrison Elementary, supports families with very young children to prepare them for classroom success. It also has two charter schools. The Academy for Character Education (ACE), now located in the former Harrison See SLSB page 3A

Local watershed council receives nearly $400k restoration grant

Reilly Newman leading a group of Sheldon High School students on a tour of the Madrone Hills project. (Photos are by Emma Garner, Education Program Manager, Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council) By Andrea Hummel for The Sentinel COTTAGE GROVE, Ore. - Visiting Reilly Newman, Project Manager, of the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council, at her workplace is a delightful spin through the woods and rural neighborhoods between Cottage Grove and Creswell. That’s be-

cause she works primarily outdoors and one of her current projects is to restore a 99-acre woodland in the Lynx Hollow area. The project called Madrone Hills: Oak Woodland Restoration is supported by a $381,625 grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) and cost-share funding from the Natural

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Funding for grants awarded by the OWEB Board comes from three primary sources – the Oregon Lottery, Salmon License Plate revenues, and Federal Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery funds provided by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. The grant process

is highly competitive with project applications coming in from Portland to Cottage Grove. There are currently 55 watershed councils statewide, and they are based in local communities, like Cottage Grove, across Oregon. Watershed Councils are led by experts in natural resources and guided See GRANT page 3A

Tip of the Week: Halloween Safety

Halloween is just around the corner. Many view Halloween as a time for fun and treats, costumes, and attending spooky parties. Due to the increased pedestrian traffic, especially in low light conditions, it is also time to use extra caution. According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle on Halloween night compared to other nights of the year. Here are some safety tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Safety Council to make Halloween safer for everyone. Children should: Use caution when Trick-

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or-Treating • Travel in small groups and be accompanied by an adult. • Know phone numbers for emergency phone calls. • Carry a note in their pocket with their name, address, and emergency contact. • Use flashlights, stay on sidewalks if available, and avoid crossing or walking through yards. • Stop at all corners and

stay together in a group before crossing the street. • Cross streets at the corner, use crosswalks if available, and avoid crossing between parked cars. • Always look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Plan a safe costume • Wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant. • Avoid wearing hats that could slide over their

eyes. • Avoid wearing long, baggy, or loose costumes and avoid oversized shoes to prevent tripping. • Ensure costume weapons are flexible, not rigid or sharp, and are very clearly toys. Adults should: Ensure safe activities for kids • Supervise children during trick-or-treating and during other activities. • Supervise children as they cross the street. • Establish a curfew for older children. • Prepare homes for trick-or-treaters by clearing porches, lawns, and sidewalks. Place decorations away from doorways, landings, or walkways. • Avoid giving chokSee TIPS page 6A

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