FirstFruits NEWS - April 2015 Issue

FirstFruits NEWS April 2015 Issue "A Quality Fruit Company Committed To Bearing Fruit...Fruit That Will Last" (John 15:16) It's spring-time on the farm! And something new is just about to happen! When you look out over the orchards, there is a glistening, light green blanket appearing, with a slight, pink blush to it, telling us that new fruit buds are preparing to pop wide open soon, and with them the promise of new fruit to come. Perhaps spring is the best time for Easter to come. Just as Jesus was killed, and then woke up from the dead, He also makes it possible for us to wake up from our dormant and in some cases near dead spirits.   Jesus not only suffers and dies for us, He now wants to live in us. He wants to do a new thing in us! We too are being called to wake up to the pain and the beauty all around us and join God in the on-going work of a new creation. What new thing is God wanting to do in your life? God has chosen us all...and desires that we go and bear fruit...fruit that will last in us, our families and our communities. It's time to wake up! Vista Hermosa Elementary  Celebrating Easter   Our Servant Leadership theme for the month of March is Commitment to the Growth  of People. This season of Lent, the 40 days before Easter, provides us a marvelous opportunity in Chapel to explore our personal  commitment to helping others as a manifestation of our service to Christ.  Lessons, skits, and special music help our students discover how their own special talents can be used to serve others.  We are excited to welcome back the one and only Open Heavens Christian Band (Twigy's) in celebration of the personal work and commitment our students have made in the service of others!   In preparation for the joy of Easter, we are also focusing on the significance of Lent and studying how Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance and spiritual healing.  Guest speakers, mini videos, music that celebrates Christ's life of service, and student led prayers are ways that we share our understanding of the power of preparation for our own life of service.  Our wonderful Para Professionals have provided excellent lessons in the Wednesday morning program that allow our students to express their commitments to others through beautiful artwork that is now displayed in the chapel.  Please take time to see it for yourself! To celebrate our work together on our theme, Commitment to the Growth of People, we will host our first annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 2, 2015. First Fruits Marketing: This year marks FirstFruits Marketing's fifth-annual Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ program at select retailers across the country. Over the past five years, approximately 1.3 million pounds of fresh apples have been donated to local food banks in the name of participating retailers.      Retailers choose food banks in their local trade areas and agree to contribute the cost of freight. This year, we had 11 retailers participate, including Dave's Marketplace, Grocery Outlet, Roundy's, A&P/Pathmark, United Supermarkets, Ahold, J.H. Harvey's, Haggen's, Super1 Foods, The Grocery People and Stater Brothers.  A total of 291,400 pounds of apples will be donated in the names of these retailers!  Last year, over 200,000 pounds of fresh apples were donated through seven retailers, so we are excited to see the program expand!    FirstFruits Marketing created the Take a Bite Out of Hunger™ program with the goal of helping feed the undeserved while bringing attention to the problem of food insecurity in the United States. A related program is their Opal Apple Youth Make A Difference initiative, which provides grants to youth-led programs that promote food security, nutrition and agriculture in the United States.  Public voting for grants opens on April 15th.  See www.opalapples.com for more information.    Youth Makes a Difference Voting Begins Please Visit:  www.opalapples.com for more information Vista Hermosa Community Clinic:   Below are some of the services offered by our Vista Hermosa Community Clinic and examples of costs.  Sports Physicals ......................................$0  In-grown Toe Nail Removal ...................$15  Blood Draws ...........................................$0  Ear Infections or Ear Wax Removal........$15  Pap Smears ..............................................$0  Flu or Common Cold Treatment ............ $15  High Blood Pressure Screening .............. $15  Toe Nail Fungus Screenings ....................$15  Please remember that the clinic serves all employee and their immediate family members. Dr. Michael Wells will be happy to see you. FOR APPOINTMENTS CALL THE CLINIC AT: (509) 749-8217 Walk-ins are also welcome but patients with appointments will be given priority.  April: Upcoming Events 1-2: Warehouse Safety Meetings....7:00am 3: Office,Warehouses Closed: Good Friday 3-10: Vista & Prescott Schools: Spring Break Vacation 15: Youth Make a Difference Voting Begins! 21: Orchard Safety Meeting....2:00pm Vista Hermosa Foundation Welcomes: Mari Prieto Scholarship Programs Coordinator   We are so excited to have Mari Prieto join Vista Hermosa Foundation as our new Scholarship Programs Coordinator. Mari will  be available at the Broetje Orchards main office to answer any questions employees have about the following scholarships: First Fruits Scholarship:  Open to all children of employees with a high school diploma or GED certificate.  Children can be of any age and do not have to be living with parents to be eligible. Continuing Education Scholarship: Open to all employees who wish to continue their education in their specific field of work Adult Lifetime Learning Scholarship:  Open to low-income adults in Walla Walla, Benton and Franklin counties who wish to pursue higher education.  For more information, contact Mari Prieto. By phone at: 509-492-0280 By e-mail at: marip@firstfruits.com Health Talk High Blood Pressure  By Socorro Garcia-Health Promotora  The term "blood pressure" refers to the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways.   High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. A person can suffer for years without knowing, and this can cause serious problems like stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure. You can control high blood pressure through healthy habits: maintain a healthy weight, exercise daily, eat a healthy diet, consume less salt, drink less alcohol, avoid smoking, and manage your stress.  If necessary, blood pressure can also be managed with medication.   To understand more about your own blood pressure, visit your doctor or our Vista Hermosa Community Clinic. For hygiene and safety reasons, please remember that these items are not allowed in the orchards, warehouse or where fruit is handled.