South Messenger - October 2nd, 2022

PAGE 6 - SOUTH MESSENGER - October 2, 2022
PAID ADVERTISING
Be confident
in your
Medicare plan
Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) for
2023 is Oct.15 to Dec. 7, for a policy effective date
of Jan. 1, 2023.
“We do not offer every plan available in your
area. Any information we provide is limited to those
plans we do offer in your area. Please contact
Medicare.gov or 1-800-Medicare to get information
on all of your options.”
My name is Terri Curcio, I live in Franklin
County, and have over 16 years’ experience in working
with Medicare. You are welcome to contact me
directly at 614-460-0601 or email me at TERRIL-
CURCIO@GMAIL.COM. We can schedule a call,
meet face to face or I’ll mail plan information to your
attention for review.
I am not an operator in a call center – you are welcome
to call anytime during the year with questions.
I work with several insurance carriers in Central
Ohio, not just one or two. Select the plan that benefits
you for the coming year, lowest possible copays
for services and medications. Plan options may
include dental, vision and fitness programs. $0 cost
for my consultation and enrollment services.
Call and schedule your appointment now.You
need to be confident in the plan you select for your
coverage!
www.columbusmessenger.com
SWACO working to reduce food waste
As inflation increases food prices,
SWACO is renewing efforts to help families
save money and reduce their reliance on
the landfill by helping them avoid throwing
leftovers and other food in the trash.
“We may not be able to control rising
gas and food prices,” said Joe Lombardi,
SWACO’s executive director. “But each of
us can commit to making the most of our
resources and ease the burden felt by our
family and the environment when food
waste is sent to the landfill.”
Reducing food waste remains an important
issue for central Ohioans. In a public
opinion poll conducted earlier this year, 83
percent of residents were concerned with
the amount of food wasted every day in
central Ohio. A 2019 Waste
Characterization Study, published by
SWACO, documented that nearly a million
pounds of food arrives at the county
landfill every day, and a large portion of
that food comes from households.
Kyle O’Keefe, SWACO’s director of
innovation and programs, said the average
Franklin County family is spending
nearly $2,000 a year on food they purchase
but never eat.
“Leftovers and spoiled produce make
up the majority of what individuals throw
out,” said O’Keefe. “Families can easily
save money and keep unnecessary food
waste out of a landfill by making small
improvements in the way they manage
food.”
SWACO’s Save More Than Food
(SMTF) website offers ideas on making
those simple and intentional steps part of
anyone’s daily routine:
• Fridge Night prompts families to collect
leftovers and look for creative ideas to
bring them together. It also lets families
properly freeze and date any leftovers a
family can’t use.
• Label foods and leftovers that need to
be eaten soon or place them within eyesight.
• Make leftovers new again by visiting
SaveMoreThanFod.org to find a leftover
recipe to demonstrate or try.
• Shopping more frequently and with a
list reduces cost and waste. Creating meal
plans makes those trips much easier.
• Proper food storage allows herbs,
milk, cheese, fruits, and vegetables to
have a much longer life in refrigerators.
SMTF pilot programs are already paying
dividends, reducing household food
waste by more than 20 percent in areas
where food waste drop-off sites and educational
programs that encourage food waste
prevention are available.
The Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative
published a food waste action plan in May
2019; it has 20 specific initiatives for preventing
food waste, rescuing and redistributing
edible food, and recycling food
through composting and other technologies.
Overall, the SMTF campaign hopes to
help reduce food waste by 50 percent by
2030.
“When families come together and use
food responsibly, it creates better health,
environmental, and economic outcomes,”
said Lombardi. “We can blaze a trail toward
a healthier future, one bite at a time.”
Residents and businesses alike can
visit savemorethanfood.org for information
to help reduce food waste at home and
work The site also features an online food
waste quiz and shareable resources for coworkers,
students, and communities.
About Save More Than Food
Save More Than Food was developed in
2019, following several months of collaboration
among more than 100 partners in
the Central Ohio Food Waste Initiative
collective. Initiative members created the
Central Ohio Food Waste Action Plan
which includes 20 solutions for reducing
food waste, including the creation of a consumer
action and education campaign.
About SWACO
SWACO serves Franklin County and
neighboring areas with solutions for solid
waste. It is one of 52 solid waste districts
created by the Ohio General Assembly in
1989.
ME DICARE A NNUAL
ELECTION P
Oct.
15 th
PERIOD (AEP)
Dec 7 th
Call today $0 consultatio
n $0
fee, local agent!
Over 16 years experience
with Medicare options
Offer
different major
carriers i n the area
Year
ear- rou und support for my
clients
Call or text me today to
schedule yo
our appt.
Terri
Curcio
614-460-0601
in your area. Please contact Medicare
e.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of