Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce board sworn in

Monday was the first time Supervisor Burt Bundy has sworn in others since being sworn into office himself in January.

Bundy administered the oath of office to the 2013 Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce board of directors during the chamber's annual Installation Dinner at the Los Molinos Veterans Hall.

This year's chamber president is Michael Druey, and the vice president is Jeannie Gallagher.

Michael Lambert will hold the position of treasurer and the secretary is Martha Lambert.

The 2013 Board of Directors is Jan Elmore, Roger Estes, Thomas Jones, Susie Mustaine, Sharron Druey and Ron Gallagher.

On hand to congratulate the award recipients was Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, who presented a Congressional certificate to Barbara Ochs of Ochs Mini Storage as Business of the Year, and Ron Gallagher as Volunteer of the Year.

The guest speaker for the event was Thomas Jones of Food for the Hungry, a community outreach ministry of Los Molinos and Cone Community United Methodist Church.

Jones talked about the programs that are available in Tehama County which promote the sustainability of lower income families.

"Started by Lyndon B. Johnson as part of the War on Poverty, Community Action Agencies have been in service to their communities for many years," he said.

Jones explained that in Tehama County, over the past five years, the Tehama County Community Action Agency has been applying for grants from foundations to enrich the community and help those in need achieve a life that is not ruled by crisis, but by sustainability.

Jones has served for 51⁄2 years on the Tripartite Board which oversees the agency.

"I represent the southeast area of the county as a private representative," Jones said. "Prior to my appointment to the board, southeast Tehama County had little representation. But, I stepped out and I have made it my mission to speak up for us in the activities that are promoted."

He explained that one major focus of the agency is the food programs.

"Community Action acknowledges that as we strive toward sustainability, we still need to serve families that are in an emergency crisis," Jones stated. "That need is being addressed with our collaboration with the North State Food Bank, a large regional division of the national Feeding America that teams up with our local Tehama Food Share Program to bring low cost food to the county."

Another agency focus is the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which offers free classes in January to individuals who would like to become volunteer tax preparers.

"When tax season comes, the preparers go to different fixed sites in Red Bluff and Corning, and also by appointment to the outlying areas of Los Molinos, Vina and Rancho Tehama," Jones said. "The preparers complete and file income tax returns for free."

He explained how the agency works with Section 8 housing to offer to qualifying individuals sources of housing help.

"The final large project of the Community Action Agency and Continuum of Care is the yearly Project Homeless Connect which has been renamed as LIFT," Jones said. "It only occurs once a year, but provides the homeless and low income population with a variety of different services. It indeed exhibits the excellent results of countywide collaboration in getting food, medical help, vaccinations, veterinary services, and applications for different service needs to the low income populations."

He said the challenge is to get the word out to the local communities in the county about all the help that is available those who need it.