Peer Inc http://www.peerinc.org promoting empowerment and enrichment resources Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:16:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Thanks for making Alabama Gives Day a great success! http://www.peerinc.org/2012/02/thanks-for-making-alabama-gives-day-a-great-success/ http://www.peerinc.org/2012/02/thanks-for-making-alabama-gives-day-a-great-success/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:09:13 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=219 Thanks to our generous donors, P.E.E.R., Inc. is one of numerous non-profits in the state of Alabama that together raised almost $744,000.  Thank you!  If you missed the chance yesterday and would still like to make a donation, please click the donate button in the top right corner of this webpage.

]]> http://www.peerinc.org/2012/02/thanks-for-making-alabama-gives-day-a-great-success/feed/ 0 Alabama Gives Day TODAY!! http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/support-us-on-alabama-gives-day/ http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/support-us-on-alabama-gives-day/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:32:19 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=214 Today, February 2, is statewide Alabama Gives Day!  Please consider making a donation to P.E.E.R., Inc.  You can find our Alabama Gives page at http://www.razoo.com/story/Peer-56.  All contributions support our community development programs in South East Lake.  Thank you for your support!

]]> http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/support-us-on-alabama-gives-day/feed/ 0 Introducing our new website http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/market-news/ http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/market-news/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:07:13 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=183 Happy new year to all of our friends!  Welcome to our new website.  We hope you’ll check back often for news (here), upcoming events (in the calendar on the homepage), and information about our programs (find links to our program pages at the bottom of the homepage).  A huge thank you to volunteers Kelly, Derek, and Byron for making this new website happen!!

]]> http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/market-news/feed/ 0 Tasty tidbits http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/peer-news-blog/ http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/peer-news-blog/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:03:57 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=180 As we’ve done in the past, we’ll be posting recipes for farmers market goodies and other tasty stuff here.  Please let us know if you have a recipe you’d like to share.

]]> http://www.peerinc.org/2012/01/peer-news-blog/feed/ 0 Culinary job training and food production http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/east-lake-community-kitchen/ http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/east-lake-community-kitchen/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:45:55 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=30 In 2012, P.E.E.R., Inc. will open the East Lake Community Kitchen to expand access to fresh, nutritious foods.

Culinary training in East Lake.

Chef Juanita serves a lunch customer from the kitchen of East Lake United Methodist Church

A culinary job-training program will provide paid career training in healthy commercial food preparation.  Chef-apprentices will make value-added and ready-to-eat foods from fresh produce and other nutritious ingredients.  The food products will be available for sale onsite, for sale offsite at food retailers and via our new mobile market truck, and delivered to nearby senior living facilities.  Be on the lookout for frozen pizzas, veggie lasagna, homemade baby food, and tasty snacks next summer!

The East Lake Community Kitchen will be located in the kitchen of East Lake United Methodist Church.  The kitchen is already health department-approved and serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11 am to 1 pm (closed for holidays).  Please come get to know us in the Downstairs Diner.  Check the menu here.

If you are interested in being part of the first class of chef-apprentices starting in May 2012, we want to hear from you!

]]> http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/east-lake-community-kitchen/feed/ 0 Good Health in East Lake: education and activities http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/good-help/ http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/good-help/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:45:04 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=28 The Good Health in East Lake Program (Good HELP) supports healthy behaviors and strengthens community by providing opportunities for health education and for participating in healthy activities for community members of all ages.

Kids in the Good HELP program learn about healthy eating and healthy activities.

A volunteer helps youth plant vegetables in the East Lake Children's Garden

Good HELP activities include:

  • East Lake Community Garden and Children’s Garden
  • Cooking classes
  • Senior health education classes
  • Neighborhood potluck dinners
PEER cooking classes teach students about how to make and enjoy healthy meals.

Good HELP offers cooking classes where learners of all ages develop a taste for healthy food

]]> http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/good-help/feed/ 3 Homework help and healthy activities for neighborhood youth http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/step-up-after-school-enrichment-program/ http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/step-up-after-school-enrichment-program/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:44:27 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=26 Step Up supports healthy living and learning for local students through a twice-weekly after-school enrichment program.

Kids get help with homework in the Step Up program.

Volunteers help students with their homework

Kids eat healthy snacks, receive one-on-one help with homework and reading, and participate in cool activities like cooking, gardening, hiking, and art.  Family events are held several times per year.

If you would like to volunteer with Step Up, please email us at peerincbirmingham@gmail.com.  Our schedule is compatible with university semester schedules. We are looking for more community partners for the 2012-2013 school year.  If your organization is interested in working with us, please let us know.

Student taking a soil test for East Lake community garden.

Students test soil chemistry to prepare for spring planting

]]> http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/step-up-after-school-enrichment-program/feed/ 2 Fresh produce for neighborhood seniors http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/senior-market-baskets/ http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/senior-market-baskets/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:43:26 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=24 The Senior Market Basket Program extends the benefits of the East Lake Farmers Market to low-income seniors in South East Lake by providing and delivering a weekly supply of fresh produce free of charge.

Kids deliver baskets of fresh food to neighborhood seniors.

Volunteers deliver boxes of fresh produce to neighborhood seniors in need

In 2011, we delivered over 1,637 boxes of produce to approximately 150 seniors at East Lake House and Villa Maria. If your group is interested in packing and delivering boxes on a Saturday from June to October, please email us at peerincbirmingham@gmail.com.

If you want to purchase your own market basket, please see the info here.

Volunteers pack market baskets at the East Lake Farmers Market

]]> http://www.peerinc.org/2011/12/senior-market-baskets/feed/ 4 Fresh Produce from Local Farms http://www.peerinc.org/2011/11/east-lake-farmers-market/ http://www.peerinc.org/2011/11/east-lake-farmers-market/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:51:25 +0000 admin http://www.peerinc.org/?p=18 The East Lake Farmers Market, established in 2005, makes fresh produce and other resources for healthy living available in South East Lake.

A local farmer sells fresh vegetables and fruits

Local farmers offer fresh produce on Saturday mornings from May to October

At the market, you will find:
  • A bounty of fresh fruits and veggies from local farmers
  • Health screenings and education
  • Local musicians and artists
  • Cooking demonstrations
  • Fun activities for kids and families
  • Tasty baked goods and frozen treats

The East Lake Farmers Market offers a CSA-type market basket subscription for those interested in a weekly supply of fresh produce throughout the market season.  Two size options are available.  Subscribers pick up their boxes at the market or at designated pick-up sites around town.  You can sign up for the whole season or purchase by the week.  More info about 2012 market baskets will be posted here by April.  Questions?  Email us at peerincbirmingham@gmail.com.

Health screenings through a Walgreens van at the farmers market.

The Walgreens Wellness Van offered several health screenings in May 2011

We’re very excited to share that we’re getting a mobile market truck, courtesy of funding through the USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program.  Next season, look for us with fresh food in more places around South East Lake and surrounding neighborhoods.

The market is currently closed for the season.  We’ll open again on Saturday, May 5.  Please stay tuned for details about the 2012 season!

We still have Urban Food products, our line of jams and relishes, available for sale.  Please email us at peerincbirmingham@gmail.com for pricing and availability.  We do gift baskets, too!

The East Lake Farmers Market is handicap accessible.

Kids cook at the East Lake Farmers Market.

The market offers regular activities for kids

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