Officials Dedicate Middle Way House and Food Works Business

-This is a great boon to the citizens of Monroe County! I wasn't able to be there in body, but was present in spirit! I am looking forward to seeing how things settle down and what businesses come through the Incubator Kitchen (see previous note about Incubator Projects). I also send a congratulations to everyone who worked on this project, and a special thanks to Donna Storm for the amazing balancing act she has been performing for years to facilitate the workings of Food Works and this move to the Coke Building!




Officials Dedicate Middle Way House and Food Works Business

By Thomas Conti
Published: Jun 24, 2010
http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/middle-house-dedication/

Early Wednesday night, the old Coca-Cola building in downtown Bloomington officially opened its doors for the dedication of the new Middle Way House and Food Works business.

For five years, the New Wings Community Partnership collected over 6 million dollars – 3 million from private donors alone – to complete the project. In 2005, the Middle Way House purchased the old Coca-Cola building with the hopes of increasing accessibility as well as expanding the opportunities for the women of Middle Way.

In response to holding the dedication of the New Wings Project, Chair of the New Wings Community Partnership Laurie McRobbie said, “It means we did it. I mean we found the support in a lot of different ways. Like every non-profit we look for sources of support everywhere we can find them.”

Donations from local government, businesses, organizations, and community members made it possible for the new Middle Way House to be finished.

“I think the power of the vision for this building, the power of what Middle Way is and what it can continue to be and become really drew supporters to this so it means of all that. It means we’re doing something important for the women who get the services from Middle Way, it also means we’re doing something important for Bloomington,” said McRobbie.

The new Middle Way House also means a new location for Food Works, a full service catering business owned and operated by Middle Way. Donna Storm is the Business and Operations Manager for Food Works for Middle Way House.

“We’re getting together with a lot of people in the community that have a lot of the same interests and we have a lot of the same goals and at the same time we can provide additional jobs to women to help them transition away from situations that have been hurtful to them in the past,” Storm said.

Food Works has benefited from the donations and volunteers in the community as it is a branch of the Middle Way House.

“It’s been pretty exciting, meeting all the people in the community that have a real interest in local food, local businesses, helping the Middle Way House.”

Over the next few weeks Food Works, the New Wings Community Partnership, and the Middle Way House will work together to move slowly into the new building.

2nd Annual Local Food Dinner Update!

Greetings All,

In just a few short weeks we will enjoy the 2nd annual Local Food Dinner co-sponsored by Food Works for Middle Way House!

On Friday, November 13th, at 6:00pm, "Simply Healthy: Creating Sustainable Communities" Simply Living Fair and Wellness Expo presents the LOCAL FOOD DINNER co-sponsored by Food Works for Middle Way House. The dinner will again take place in the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2120 N. Fee Lane. This year Dr. Kellie Osmon, a Bloomington Acupuncturist, Herbalist and Chinese Medicine Doctor will be speaking on the "Healing Properties of Foods". Her talk will address foods role in health and specifically some of the healing attributes of the foods prepared for this feast! Again, some local growers and producers will be on hand to speak about their products. This event is a fundraiser.

The cost of the dinner is the same as last year, only $35. We hope that keeping the fee low will make it easier for a wider spectrum of our community to join us. Tickets are now on sale and available at Wandering Turtle Art Gallery and Bloomingfoods Grocery Stores; and through the Simply Healthy website at http://www.simplyhealthyfair.net/tickets.htm.

We hope you will join us!

Kitchen Incubator - Hannah's Homemade Granola

Hannah had some of here granola available at this years Luna Festival for local tasters to enjoy.

Hannah's Homemade Granola birthed from the scenic north woods of Minnesota and Canada. I began making the granola this past summer, and it soon came to be quite the popular snack among my family and friends. Its chewy texture sets it apart from all other granolas; making it easier to chew and offering more consumption options. My granola can be eaten hot, cold, with milk, alone, hot and with milk (oatmeal anyone?!) or with a favorite yogurt. Its high protein content makes it a breakfast food that really keeps a person full all morning long, and its long shelf life allows them to take it just about anywhere. Made with a peanut butter base with added dried cranberries, honey, wheat bran and rolled oats, it's an absolute kid favorite. But with no added sugar, it's a parent favorite as well. Alternatives are orders with melted bittersweet chocolate and chopped walnuts- a combination to be savored! Hannah's Homemade Granola is a tribute to the treacherous backcountry, the memories I have of it, and hopefully the times to come. For more information you can email me at hanibolecter@hotmail.com.

To keep up with progress of the Incubator Kitchen, visit the Local Growers Guild website at http://www.localgrowers.org