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Renée Ralston joined GNS in 2024 assisting our Senior Nutrition kitchen team, then in 2025 transitioned to Lead Cook and Program Coordinator for Siskiyou Senior Nutrition, which includes congregate meals at Mt. Shasta City Park Upper Lodge and Meals on Wheels South Siskiyou, serving McCloud, Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta, and Weed.
Renée is a 5th-generation Siskiyou County native who learned to construct carbide tools at a machine shop in Mt. Shasta. She later traveled to the East Coast, continuing her career as a machinist while exploring the diverse and wondrous arts and music scenes of Rhode Island. She later returned to Siskiyou County, settling in McCloud and Dunsmuir - communities she now serves through her work at GNS.
When asked about her reasons for choosing to be part of the Senior Nutrition program team, Renée shares that for her, “it’s about people helping people,” centering her work around the individuals she serves rather than the day-to-day tasks.
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Senior Nutrition services are for people 60 and over who gather to socialize and enjoy fresh, homemade lunches Monday through Thursday for a suggested donation of just $4.
Renée is beloved by patrons of the senior nutrition congregate meals. One patron, who enjoyed her 94th birthday at the end of February, “grades” Renée’s meals each day.
“I’ve never received a grade lower than an A minus, and that was because the food was ‘too spicy.’”
We agree. Renée earns an “A plus” for her hard work and dedication to the community!
For more information about how to participate in Senior Nutrition Services, please visit our information page or call (530) 926-4611.
To make a donation, please visit our donations page and select "Direct My Gift to: Senior Nutrition Services."
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Services Update: Final Quarter of 2025
Together, as a community, we accomplished:
6,000⁺ people served (≈ 14% of Siskiyou County's population)
2,500⁺ households served (≈ 13% of Siskiyou County households)
21 communities and 50⁺ volunteers collaborated in food distribution
104,000 lbs (52 tons) of food distributed
400 bags of snacks packed for students for the holiday break
1,255 students nourished through school mini pantries
300 seniors served by senior nutrition programs
1,795 meals delivered to homebound seniors
1,436 holiday meals supplemented with fresh turkeys
| | Luke McClean, GNS Shipping & Receiving Coordinator, assists school mini pantry volunteers with loading and delivering snacks from the warehouse. | | Siskiyou County Protein & Produce Program | | A Community Development Block Grant funded program, Protein & Produce provides fresh fruits, vegetables, and protein items at 11 sites, serving every community in Siskiyou County. For details and the distribution schedule, please visit the information page here. For details about regular USDA commodities distributions, please visit the information page here. For additional information about GNS supplemental and emergency food services, please call 530-938-4115 Ext 131. | | Thank You to everyone who makes our work possible! Recent support has come from many individuals, families, service clubs, and other organizations, including local businesses and foundations: | | |
Special Donation Supporting Roseburg Employees
Campbell Global, LLC, a J.P. Morgan company, recently donated funds to help support employees and others directly affected by the closure of the Roseburg Mill in Weed. Representatives paid GNS a personal visit, learning about the needs of the community and collaborating with our Community Services team to ensure that funds directly benefit our fellow community members as they navigate economic uncertainty. Their concern, consideration, and action speak volumes about how they feel about the community they serve and do business within. We are honored to have the folks at Campbell Global, LLC as friends and neighbors.
| | Lisa Richardson, Operations Administrator, Campbell Global, LLC, Alysia Garcia, GNS Community Services Manager, and Paul Chapman, Area Manager, Campbell Group. | | Vehicle Donations Help Support Meals on Wheels South Siskiyou | |
Donate your old vehicle and proceeds from the sale directly benefit local seniors. Most vehicles are accepted, running or not!
Click here to start your inquiry or to learn more!
Charitable Adult Rides and Services, Inc. (CARS) partners with Meals on Wheels America and local Meals on Wheels providers to offer this valuable opportunity.
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Ray's All Access Community Rewards
Designate Great Northern Services as your preferred nonprofit and Ray's Food Place will donate 1% of qualified purchases to support GNS countywide food programs. Simply email the phone number associated with your All Access account to AllAccess@CKMarket.com. Click here for full details.
| | | Thank you C&K markets and All Access Community Rewards members for providing consistent support for our work! | | GNS is committed to transparency and we are proud of our Platinum GuideStar rating and Four-Star Charity Navigator rating. For more information, view our annual report here. | | | | |
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Great Northern Services
310 Boles St
Weed, CA 96094
www.gnservices.org
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Home Energy Assistance/Home Weatherization
Senior Nutrition and Meals on Wheels Services
Emergency Food Assistance (Children/Families)
Grant Administration Services for Jurisdictions
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