To our fellow Michiganders in Flint:This is a guide to help answer your

questions as you navigate the watercrisis.

We talked to doctors and other ex-perts to gather advice on nutrition,answers about children’s health andeducation, tips on installing waterfilters, a roster of vital phone num-bers and more.

We are delivering this special edi-tion of the Detroit Free Press to

homes, fire stations and other loca-tions throughout Flint.As storytellers, we know that the

most important story is you, the peopleand the children of the city. We are com-mitted to telling your stories, getting youanswers and helping Flint find its way for-ward.

Sincerely,

Flint waterresource

guide

CRISIS HELP

WHERE TO GET FREE WATER, 3LEAD EFFECTS ON CHILDREN, 4LEAD TESTING LOCATIONS, 6-7 NUTRITION INFORMATION, 10WHO TO CALL FOR HELP, 16

Joyce JenereauxPresident and Publisher,Detroit Free Press

2 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE MARCH 2016

PERSONAL CARE■Brush your teeth with bottledwater or filtered tap water.■You can use unfiltered water fora quick shower or bath. But don’tlet the water get in kids’ mouths.■Keep bath time short. Don’t letyour kids play in the water.

CLEANING■You can wash dishes withunfiltered soapy water and drybefore use.■Use unfiltered tap water to

mop floors or wipe down countertops.

■You can do laundry in your washerand dryer.

PETS ■The Michigan Departmentof Agriculture and RuralDevelopment says that what-ever you do for yourself, you

should do for your pets.

WATER FILTERS■ Use cold, filtered water for cooking.■ Wash fruits and vegetables with filtered water.■ If you must use unfiltered water, run the water forat least five minutes before you use it.■ Drain and flush your water heater tanks regularlyto remove any lead that has accumulated. Follow man-ufacturers’ instructions for maintenance or contact alicensed professional.

Source: www.michigan.gov/flintwater, Detroit Free Press reports

Tips tokeep yourhome andfamily safefrom lead

211: The United Way’s 24-hour

211 help line is available to help

Flint residents get the help they

need. To be connected with

resources, call 211.

FLINT RESIDENTS: The Detroit Free Press wants to hearfrom you. We want to know where your city needs helpmost. What are the questions you still need answered?Reach out to Free Press staffers by e-mailingWhatFlintNeeds@freepress.com.

RYAN GARZA/DETROIT FREE PRESS

Kammal Smith of Troy, of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, helps deliver donated water at Heavenly Host Baptist Church in Flint.

It still is not safe to use unfiltered tap water in the cityof Flint for drinking, cooking or brushing your teeth untilyour water is tested, and proven safe. It should not beused in your baby’s bottles, or mixed with baby formula.

You can’t see, smell or taste lead in your water. Even ifyour tap water looks clear, it is not safe to drink at thistime. Use bottled water instead. Here are ways to getsome at no cost:

Free bottled waterWater is available for free 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily at the following distributionsites in Flint: Free water testing kits are also available at these locations:■ Fire Station No. 1 : 310 E. Fifth St. ■ Fire Station No. 3: 1525 Martin Luther King Ave. ■ Fire Station No. 5: 3402 Western Road■ Fire Station No. 6: 716 W. Pierson Road ■ Fire Station No. 8: 202 E. Atherton Road Neighborhood water distribution sites may be available near you.Call 2-1-1 to find the nearest location.

you.

Free water filtersWater filters and replacement cartridges can be picked up 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. for no chargeat the following sites in Flint:■ Michigan Department of Health and Human Services:125 E. Union St. ■ Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: 4809 Clio Road ■ Genesee County Community Action Resource Department: 2727 Lippincott ■ Genesee County Community Action Resource Department: 601 N. Saginaw ■ Flint City Hall: 101 Saginaw St., No. 310

Water filters and replacement cartridges can be picked up 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily for no charge atthe following sites in Flint:■ Fire Station No. 1: 310 E. Fifth St.■ Fire Station No. 3: 1525 Martin Luther King Ave. ■ Fire Station No. 5: 3402 Western Road■ Fire Station No. 6: 716 W. Pierson Road ■ Fire Station No. 8: 202 E. Atherton Road

Free water filter delivery and installation: If you are physically homebound and unable topick up a filter, call 2-1-1, the United Way’s 24-hour help line, to request a team to deliver afilter to you. If you need help installing it, they can help arrange to have your filter properlyinstalled.To learn how to install and replace your own water filter, go to http://1.usa.gov/1KYpnHF,where you will find videos and other information.

Free recycling binsIf you’d like to recycle empty plastic water bottles, Republic Services offerscurbside recycling every other week at no cost with curbside trash pickup.Homeowners can have a curbside bin delivered to your door by callingRepublic Services at 800-438-0966. Recycling bins are also available 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily at the following sites:■ Fire Station No. 1: 310 E. Fifth St.

■ Fire Station No. 5: 3402 Western Road■ Fire Station No. 8: 202 E. Atherton Road

HOW TO GET FREE BOTTLEDWATER AND FREE FILTERS

Safe water

Free water delivery: If you are physically homebound and unable to get to a water-distribu-tion center call 2-1-1, the United Way’s 24-hour help line, to request a team to deliver water to

There’s been general agreement that Flintresidents shouldn’t have to pay for water theycan’t drink.

But beyond that, the details of any expectedrelief from pending water bills are largely un-known. For help with water bills and generalutility bills call the United Way’s 24-hour hel-pline 2-1-1. They will help provide resources thatmay have funding to help.

Here are answers to some frequently askedquestions:

QUESTION: Am I expected to pay my waterbills? ANSWER: Yes.

Q: Why should I pay for water my family and Ican’t drink?A: Both Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and FlintMayor Karen Weaver say you shouldn’t. But the

issue is com-plicated.

The citysays it “has alegal obliga-tion to bill forservices pro-vided by itsutility ser-vices depart-ment.” Andthe water billincludes morethan water

charges. A little more than half of the typical billis not for water, but for sewer-related services.

Q: What sort of compensation has been of-fered?A: State lawmakers approved, at Snyder’s re-quest, $30 million to subsidize Flint water billsgoing back to April 2014, when the city firststarted drawing its water from the Flint River.

Flint is asking residents who are able to paytheir bills to continue doing so until a detailedplan is finalized.

Q: Will my water be shut off if I don’t pay?A: The city says it has not sent out any shut-offnotices since December 2015 and has not dis-connected an active customer account for non-payment since August. The city has said it isreviewing its shut-off policy and has made nopromises.

To pay or notto pay? It’scomplicated

DETROIT FREE PRESS

Your water bill includes charges forsewer services as well as drinkingwater.

Water bills

MARCH 2016 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE 3

Here are answers to some of the most common questions about leadpoisoning in children. The information was provided by Dr. SharonSwindell, a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics at theUniversity of Michigan, and Dr. Kanta J. Bhambhani, director of theLead Poisoning Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and co-direc-tor of its neuro-oncology program.

DETROIT FREE PRESS

Nataysia Jordan, 5, of Flint drinks from a water bottle during a neighborhood meeting at Foss Avenue Baptist Church Feb. 6. Congressional delegates met with Flint families.

How lead poisoning hurts your children Physical effects

4 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE M ARCH 2016

Q: Are even small amounts of lead exposure OK?A: No. There is no safe level of lead in the body.

Q: What can I do if my child’s blood test shows he or she hasbeen exposed to lead? A: “First and foremost,” Bhambani said, “is to remove the sourceof lead.”

For Flint residents, that means not using the tap water fordrinking, cooking or brushing your brush. Don’t use it to make ababy’s bottles, either.

Next, make sure your child gets access to good health careand good nutrition.

Getting youngsters enrolled in the Michigan Department ofEducation’s Early On program for kids up to age 3, and thenenrolling them in preschool programs like Head Start, are veryimportant.

To learn more about Early On, call 800-327-5966 or go onlineto https://1800earlyon.org.

To learn about Head Start in Genesee County, go towww.gccardheadstart.com/ or call 810-235-5613.

Q: Can a special diet help?A: Yes. A low-fat diet that is high in calcium, iron and vitamin C

can make a difference.

Q: My child drank unfiltered Flint water, butblood tests don’t show lead exposure. Why?A: Not all kids with lead poisoning will havean immediate, obvious reaction. And not allchildren who have been exposed will evenshow that exposure on a blood test.

Blood tests for lead only reflect recentor ongoing exposure, not past exposure.

Q: What kind of water should I use to makebaby formula?

A: Bottled water. Premixed formula called ready-to-feed is avail-able through WIC, which supplies extra food for low-incomepregnant or breastfeeding mothers, infants and young children.

To apply for WIC, call 810-237-4537, and press Option 2.

Q: How should I know when to take my child to the doctor tocheck for potential lead exposure?A: “Don’t wait. If you have a concern, or if there is a possi-bility of lead exposure in the environment, talk to yourdoctor about it,” Swindell said.

Q: I’m pregnant and was exposed to lead. Can it hurtmy baby?A: Yes. If you have been exposed to lead, it accumu-lates in the body and is stored in your bones. Whenyou are pregnant, the lead is released from yourbones and is used to form the bones of the fetus, ac-cording to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Lead also can cause premature birth, low birth weight,lower IQ, developmental delays and other health effects.

Q: If I have been exposed to lead, should Ibreastfeed?

A: You should get a blood test. The CDCissued guidelines in 2010 for pregnant wom-en who’ve been exposed to lead and recom-mended that if a mother’s blood-lead levelsare lower than 40 ug/dl, she should be en-couraged to breastfeed. Women with higher

levels should pump milk and throw it outuntil the levels fall below 40 ug/dl.

QUESTION: How do I know if mychild has been lead poisoned?

ANSWER: Ask your doctor to haveyour child’s blood-lead level tested. Any child who lives in Flint, at-

tends day care in Flint or spends timewith a caregiver who uses Flint water should betested.

A blood test will show lead exposure within thelast 20 to 30 days, but will not show earlier expo-sure because lead settles into a person’sbones.

Q: Why is everyone so con-cerned about kids being leadpoisoned?A: Children, especially thoseunder age 6, are more vulnerableto the effects of lead poisoningbecause they are still growing anddeveloping. Lead poisoning can not bereversed or undone. Any damage is permanent.

Q: What are the symptoms of lead poisoning inchildren?A: A young child with lead poisoning may notdevelop new skills at the same speed as otherchildren.

Poisoned children may show behavioral prob-lems or have attention deficit disorders as theyget older.

“There’s not a set milestone in very youngchildren that we’re looking for to say lead is theproblem because there are so many things thatare affecting a child’s development at that age,”Swindell said.

“Do we think the child is seeing and hearingwell? Are they doing the things they should bedoing? Are they making progress from the previ-ous milestones in the way we expect? Have theylost any milestones that they used to have?”

According to the Mayo Clinic, other symptomsin children include: ■ Learning difficulties■ Irritability ■ Loss of appetite ■ Weight loss ■ Sluggishness and fatigue■ Abdominal pain ■ Vomiting ■ Constipation ■ Hearing loss

MARCH 2016 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE 5

6 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE MARCH 2016

QUESTION: Should my child be tested for lead?ANSWER: Yes. If you’re concerned about yourchild’s lead level, get her or him tested.

Q: What will the test show?A: If your child has had ongoing exposure tolead, the test will reflect the level of lead in theirblood. But testing does not reflect past exposureto lead.

Q: If the test shows that my child’s body is freeof lead, does that mean he is safe?A: No. Lead in the blood decreases after 20 to 30days. So if the test doesn’t show an elevatedblood level, it doesn’t mean your child wasn’texposed to dangerous levels of lead in the past.

Q: How do I get my child tested?A: Your family doctor or pediatrician can ordera blood test.

The Genesee County Health Department alsooffers tests.

Testing for children: Walk-in blood screeningsare available 8-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday at various locations. Start at theBurton branch of the Genesee County HealthDepartment, G-3373 S. Saginaw St., Burton.First call, 810-257-3833. A parent or legal guard-ian must be present for a child to be screened,and you will need a copy of the child’s insurancecard.

DETROIT FREE PRESS

Mycal Anderson, 9, of Flint tears up from fear as a blood sample is taken Jan. 23 at the MasonicTemple in downtown Flint. The free lead level testing event for children and adults wassponsored by The Sanders Law Firm.

Why yourfamily shouldbe tested

Lead exposure

Some Flint residents have been concerned that if water serviceis shut off to their homes because of unpaid bills, the MichiganDepartment of Health and Human Services will take action toremove children from the home.

Steve Yager, MDHHS Children’s Services Agency executive di-rector, said that is a rumor and is false.

“When a family is without water, our goal is to help that fam-ily provide clean water for their children. That can be throughassisting families in applying for State Emergency Relief, settingup plans for children to access safe water at a relative’s home orproviding bottled water. We do not petition the court to removea child solely for the lack of water in a family’s home.”

The State Emergency Relief program helps people who faceextreme hardship and need financial assistance to pay for heat,utilities, home repairs and more, to protect their health and safe-ty.

To get help from the MDHHS in Genesee County, call 810-760-2200.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MYKIDS IF MY WATER IS SHUT OFF?

Testing for adults: Make an appointment or walk in at theGenesee County Health Department Primary Care Cliniclocated at 630 S. Saginaw St., Suite 4, Flint. Hours are 8-11a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Fri-day. It’s also open 1-4 p.m. Tuesday. Bring a copy of yourinsurance card. Call 810-257-3445 for more information.

More details atwww.gchd.us/other_services/lead_testing.php

DETROIT FREE PRESS

Flint resident Alex Lewis has blood drawn so it can be tested forlead Jan. 23 at the Masonic Temple in downtown Flint. Leadexposure won’t necessarily show up. But a test is crucial.

MARCH,2016 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE 7

Flint’s water crisis began when the city stoppedbuying treated water from the Detroit Water andSewerage Department and switched to waterfrom the Flint River in April 2014.

It was supposed to be a temporary move whilethe city waited for its new water supplier, the Ka-regnondi Water Authority, to complete construc-tion of a new pipeline that will provide Lake Hu-ron water to Flint and communities in Genesee,Sanilac and Lapeer counties.

The pipeline is supposed to be finished laterthis year.

Here are answers to some frequently askedquestions about the water crisis:

QUESTION: Why did Flint decide to go with theKWA?ANSWER: Flint officials believed that by joiningthe KWA, the city would have more control overthe costs of its water than if it had stayed withthe Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

Q: So what went wrong?A: Flint River water is more corrosive than thewater from Lake Huron that Detroit had sup-plied to Flint for decades. The city should havecontrolled for that corrosion by adding phos-phates to the water and state regulators shouldhave required it. Doing so would have pre-served a protective coating on the pipes. Butphosphates were not added and the river watercorroded lead service lines, the pipes that con-nect household plumbing to water mains, leadsolder in older pipes and lead in older plumbingfixtures such as faucet and shower heads, allow-ing lead to leach into the drinking water.

Q: Why didn’t the city control for corrosion andwhy didn’t state regulators require it rightaway?A: State regulators maintained that federal lawdidn’t require corrosion control until two roundsof testing were conducted over a year. The statelater admitted that was a mistake.

Q: The city switched back to treated waterfrom Detroit’s system in October. Does thismean the water is safe to drink?A: No, not yet. The water from Detroit is treatedwith phosphates, and Flint is adding even morephosphates at its water treatment plant to re-build that protective coating. But that takestime. Flint’s mayor also has proposed replacingthe city’s lead service lines.

HOW THE WATER CRISIS BEGAN

Food can help fight the effects of lead poisoning, healthexperts say. Here are some questions you might have aboutlead and nutrition:

QUESTION: Can food remove lead from the body?ANSWER: No, but what you eat can help prevent lead frombeing absorbed into your body.

“Nutrition cannot remove lead from the body, but ratherprevent further exposure,” said Erin Powell, Michigan StateUniversity Extension educator for Genesee County and aregistered dietitian nutritionist.

When lead is consumed, it is either stored in bone or tissueor flushed from the bloodstream through the kidneys.

Q: What should my family eat if we’ve been exposed to lead?A: Foods rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C can prevent leadfrom being absorbed into the body.

Bethany Thayer, director for the Center for Health Promo-tion and Disease Prevention at Henry Ford Health System,said eating a healthy diet and eating more often can help thebody fight lead.

“Just having food in your stomach will decrease the ab-sorption of the lead,” Thayer said.

She recommends eating more frequent, smaller mealsthroughout the day, rather than three larger meals.

Q: How can I tell if food contains enough calcium, iron orvitamin C?A: For packaged foods, the nutrition labels will tell you. Onmost food labels, the percentage of calcium, iron, vitamins Aand C that a product contains is listed below the protein. Lookfor foods with a 20% or more recommended daily value.

Q: How do these nutrients help fight lead absorption andwhat are some key foods to look for?A: Calcium fortifies bones, which is where lead is primarilystored. The stronger the bones, the less likely the lead will beabsorbed, experts say.

The exact role iron plays in fighting lead isn’t clear, butthere does seem to be a correlation, Thayer said. Those whoare iron deficient are more likely to have higher levels oflead.

Vitamin C-rich foods work together with iron to preventlead from being absorbed into the body tissue and bones.

Q: I can’t find fresh fruit or veggies. Can I use frozen instead?A: Yes. But be sure to store the packages properly.

“We do know over time the vitamin C will start to deterio-rate,” said Thayer. But if the fruit or veggie is frozen rightwhen it’s picked (and most are) and kept away from light, thefrozen fruit or veggie will retain a large portion of its vitaminC.

NUTRIENT-RICH GROCERY LIST CALCIUM■ Milk. Choose low-fat or fat-free milk. Almond and soy milk fortified with calcium is usuallyconsidered a good source — check the label. ■ Yogurt. Choose low-fat or fat-free, plain or unflavored yogurt that doesn’t contain fruit,because it could have added sugar. Add your own fresh or frozen fruit, which also adds vita-min C. ■ Cheeses. Choose lower fat cheese and use in moderation. Check the labels for key nutrientpercentages.■ Green leafy vegetables. Think spinach, kale, mustard and turnip greens. Fresh is best, butdon’t forget about frozen and canned. Spinach is widely available frozen and most stores carryfrozen kale and collards.■ Orange juice, especially calcium-fortified. ■ Canned salmon and sardines with bones. Calcium is in the bones, which are very soft, edibleand mainly unnoticeable.

IRON■ Lean red meat. The deeper the red, the more iron the meat contains. That is why beef is agood source. When buying ground beef, experts say, choose 90% lean and 10% fat. Withother cuts, trim excess fat. ■ Tuna and salmon.■ Some green leafy vegetables, like spinach. ■ Chicken and turkey. The darker meat contains more iron than the white meat.■ Iron-fortified cereal, bread and pasta. Most commercial boxed cereals are iron-fortified.■ Dried fruits such as raisins and prunes. ■ Beans such as kidney and lima.■ Peanut butter.

VITAMIN C■ Citrus fruits and their juices, including lemons, limes, oranges and orange juice or grapefruitor grapefruit juice.■ Vegetables: Red bell peppers have the most vitamin C among vegetables, but green bellpeppers also are a source, as are broccoli, tomatoes, tomato juice, potatoes (with skin) andsweet potatoes.■ Fruits, including papaya, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe and mango.

What you eat canprotect your bodyfrom lead’s effects

Dietary battle plan

10 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE MARCH 2016

Here are some tips from the experts on usingless water while cooking:■ Cook with frozen vegetables, whichdon’t need washing. These also retainmore water and are most likely frozen attheir peak.■ Use frozen fruit.■ Cook rice and grains in chicken or vegetablebroth or half broth and half bottled water.■ Use canned vegetables because they are al-ready cooked. Canned beans, tomatoes and corncan be used in casseroles and chilis. Use cannedpotatoes in stews and chowder recipes. Cannedpeas can be added to baked pasta dishes. ■ Sauté or cook vegetables in broth. This alsolowers fat.■ Cook pasta in a skillet. Place 1 pound of drylong-strand pasta in a large skillet and add about6 cups of bottled water instead of the usual 4 to 6quarts called for in package instructions. Bring toa boil, cook, stirring, until most of water is ab-sorbed.■ Use no-boil noodles when making lasagna oregg roll wrappers found in the produce section ofsome grocery stores. Neither have to be pre-cooked. You can also use regular noodles, butadd more sauce so there’s enough liquid to cookthe noodles.■ Substitute milk in place of water when it makessense. Think pancakes and oatmeal. When usingboxed cake mixes, substitute fresh juice (notcanned) for some of the water called for on thepackage. To substitute milk, use the amountcalled for in the recipe. You can also use milk inplace of water with some brownie mixes.

In the kitchenHOW TO COOKUSING LESS WATER

Cheesy Hamburger SkilletServes: 4 / Preparation time: 15 minutes / Total time: 35 minutes

Here are the percentages of key nutrients in one serving of this recipe:Ages 1-3 years old: Calcium: 21% / Iron: 24% / Vitamin C: 386%Ages 4-8 years old: Calcium: 15% / Iron: 14% / Vitamin C: 270%

2 cups whole wheat macaroni or favorite high fiber elbow macaroni1 small red bell pepper, washed, diced3⁄4 cup diced frozen onion3 cloves garlic, peeled, minced3 ounces reduced-fat cheddar cheese1 pound lean ground beef or turkey1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, no salt added, do not drain1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves1⁄2 teaspoon salt1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Place the macaroni in a skillet that’s at least 2 to 21⁄2-inches deep. Pourabout 11⁄2 (16.9-ounce) bottles of cold bottled water over the pasta. Bring to aboil, stirring constantly. Cook until the macaroni is al dente (just a little un-derdone), about 7 minutes. Most of the water will absorb, but drain any thatis remaining. Set aside.

While pasta cooks, rinse and dice bell pepper. Peel and finely chop onion.Peel and mince garlic. Grate cheese.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add beef or turkey, bell pepper, onionand garlic. Cook, crumbling beef with spoon, until meat is no longer pink,about 15 minutes. Drain fat.

In a skillet, add remaining ingredients to meat mixture. Sprinkle withcheese. Cover and cook over medium heat until cheese is melted, 5-7 min-utes.

Cook’s note: You can add any of your favorite veggies (such as cookedspinach and broccoli) with the other vegetables, to add variety and to up thevegetable content.Adapted from “Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters” and tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.300 calories (25% from fat), 8 grams fat (3 grams sat. fat), 34 grams carbohydrates, 25 grams protein, 360 mgsodium, 4 grams fiber.

DETROIT FREE PRESS

Special recipes

MARCH,2016 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE 11

Vegetable LasagnaServes: 8 / Preparation time: 30 minutes / Total time: 2 hours

Here are the percentages of key nutrients in one serving of this recipe:Ages 1-3 years old: Calcium: 28% / Iron: 18% / Vitamin C: 300%Ages 4-8 years old: Calcium: 20% / Iron: 11% / Vitamin C: 210%

1 package (8 ounces) whole wheat lasagna noodles3 cups fresh spinach or 1 bag (16 ounces)8 ounces button mushrooms, wiped clean, sliced1 large zucchini, diced3 cloves garlic, peeled, minced6 ounces block mozzarella cheese, grated1⁄2 teaspoon salt, divided1 teaspoon dried basil1 teaspoon dried oregano1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper1 (28-ounce) can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes, no salt added1 large egg1 cup low-fat cottage cheeseNonstick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set the noodles aside; do not cook them.If using frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze as much liquid from it as possible.Chop the fresh spinach. Set aside 1⁄4 cup grated cheese for topping the lasagna.In a medium bowl, add spinach, mushrooms and zucchini. Stir in 1⁄4 teaspoon of the salt. Set

over a colander to drain. When completely drained, pat veggies dry with paper towels.Stir garlic, basil, oregano, remaining 1⁄4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper into canned tomatoes

to make a sauce. Do this directly in the can.In a medium bowl, crack the egg and beat with a fork. Add cottage cheese and grated mozza-

rella. Mix.Lightly coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 1⁄2 cup tomato sauce

on bottom of dish.Layer 3 uncooked noodles over the sauce. Then, layer 1 cup cheese mixture, 11⁄2 cups veggies

and 2⁄3 cup tomato sauce. Repeat layers 2 more times, ending with 3 noodles. Cover with remain-ing tomato sauce. Sprinkle reserved 1⁄4 cup grated mozzarella over top of lasagna.

Bake until cheese is melted and lightly browned on top and lasagna is bubbly, about 45 min-utes. Remove from the oven. Let cool 10 minutes before cutting.Adapted from “Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters” and tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.180 calories (30% from fat), 6 grams fat (3 grams sat. fat), 33 grams carbohydrates, 17 grams protein, 460 mg sodium, 35 mg cholesterol, 7 gramsfiber.

Peanut Butter andBanana PocketsServes: 4 / Preparation time:15 minutes / Total time: 20minutes

Here are the percentages of keynutrients in one serving of thisrecipe:Ages 1-3 years old: Calcium: 21% /Iron: 12% / Vitamin C: 129%Ages 4-8 years old: Calcium: 15% /Iron: 7% / Vitamin C: 90%

3 ripe bananas3 tablespoons peanut butter11⁄2 teaspoons honey1⁄4 teaspoon groundcinnamon4 (8-inch) whole wheat flourtortillasNonstick cooking spray

Peel and slice bananasabout 1⁄4-inch thick.

In small bowl, mix peanutbutter, honey and cinnamon.Lay tortillas flat. Spread 1 ta-blespoon peanut butter mix onone half of each tortilla.

Arrange a single layer ofbananas on top of peanutbutter on each tortilla. Fold inhalf.

Coat a large skillet withnonstick cooking spray andheat over medium heat.

Place folded tortillas inskillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes oneach side, or until goldenbrown. Slice in half and serve.Serve with an additional serv-ing of fruit if desired.From “Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters.”Tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press TestKitchen.290 calories (25% from fat), 8 grams fat (1.5grams sat. fat), 50 grams carbohydrates, 8grams protein, 340 mg sodium, 6 grams fiber.

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12 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE MARCH 2016

Several food assistance programs availableto low-income families in Genesee Countyprovide access to healthy foods — includingfresh fruits and vegetables — that can helplessen lead absorption. Programs include:

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) This program supplies food and nutrition information to low-in-

come pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, infants and children upto age 5 who are at nutritional risk.

WIC is income-based. A four-person household can have an annualincome of no more than $44,000 to qualify. Every mom or child onMedicaid is eligible for WIC. For income eligibility guidelines, go to

www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-income-eligibility-guidelines. To find out if you might be eligible or to

make an appointment, call the Genesee CountyWIC program at 810-237-4537 and choose Option2.

Foods provided through WIC include:■ Infant formula and iron-fortified cereals■ Fruits and vegetables rich in iron, calcium and

vitamin C■ Whole grain bread and cereals

■ Eggs, milk, cheese and yogurtThose receiving WIC benefits are also eligible to re-

ceive Project Fresh vouchers that can be used to purchase locallygrown fruits and vegetables at area farmers markets and participat-ing roadside stands.

WIC -Project Fresh program is available June 1-Oct. 31, a time ofyear when a large variety of fruits and vegetables are in season.

Info about WIC and Project Fresh or to apply: 800-262-4784 or810-237-4537

Supplemental Nutrition AssistanceProgram (SNAP)

This program, formerly known as food stamps, provides low-in-come residents with money loaded onto Bridge cards to purchasefood, including: ■ Fruits and vegetables■ Breads and cereals■ Dairy, meat, fish and poultry

For SNAP income eligibility guidelines, go to www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility. The annual gross income limit for a four-personhousehold is $31,536. SNAP also pays for seeds and food-producingplants for recipients to grow their own food.

To apply for SNAP, go to www.mibridges.michigan.gov. In GeneseeCounty, call the Department of Health and Human Services at 810-760-2200 or 855-275-6424.

Double Up Food Bucks (DUFB) DUFB matches the amount of SNAP benefits used to buy Michigan-

grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets andgrocery stores.

For example, if you use $20 worth of SNAP benefits on Michiganproduce, you will receive another $20 to buy more fruits and vegeta-bles per day. DUFB can be used year-round at the Flint Farmers Mar-ket, 300 E. First St. At most other markets, DUFB are accepted Junethrough October.

Info: 866-586-2796; www.doubleupfoodbucks.org

Genesee County Community ActionResource Department (GCCARD)

This department has these food assistance programs available: ■ The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) distributeshealthy foods to qualified families and individuals quarterly. The pro-gram is meant to supplement other food assistance. ■ The Commodities Supplement Food Program (CSFP) provides low-income seniors age 60 and older with food monthly.

Info: 810-789-3746; gc4me.com

IMPROVED SCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently expanded some healthy food pro-grams to include Flint. Most of these programs are run through schools, so parentsshould contact their school districts for more information.■ Community Eligibility Provision (CEP): Schools in the affected Flint area areeligible to adopt the Community Eligibility Provision program that provides nutri-tious school meals for all students. Parents should call their school district and ask iftheir school plans to implement the program.■ Fresh fruits and vegetable snack program: The USDA has provided additionalgrant money to provide healthy morning or afternoon snacks during the schoolday. Separate from the lunch program, this program advocates for foods high invitamin C, calcium and iron, which can help reduce lead levels. Info:www.fns.usda.gov/ffvp/fresh-fruit-and-vegetable-program.

SUMMER-ONLY PROGRAMS■ Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT): This summer-only program pro-vides food money to families with children eligible to receive free or reduced-priceschool meals during the school year. Additional funds are loaded onto recipients’Bridge cards to pay for healthy WIC-approved foods (see above) when kids are notin school. Initially offered only to those in rural areas, the program is now allowingdesignated areas in Flint to apply for the benefit. Schools will contact the familiesthat are eligible for this program. Info: www.sebtc-mi.com/■ Summer meal program: This Michigan Department of Education-run programprovides free nutritious meals for low-income youths 18 and younger. Info:www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocksw

Programs help low-income residents put healthy choices on tableFood assistance

MARCH 2016 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE 13

DETROIT FREE PRESS

Steven Moore, 37, of Flint uses the Ride to Groceriesbus to get to Walmart on Feb. 2.

Flint residents can get to nutritious lead-fighting foods with the help of bus programs and a year-round farmers market. Here’s how:

Get a lift to get groceries ■ Bus Rides to Groceries operates 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily along a routewith the Kroger store on Richfield and Center, the Fresh Choice MarketPlace on Franklin at Davison Road and the Walmart on Court betweenGenesee and Belsay roads. The route runs on the east side of Flint (eastof I-475) on Richfield Street to Franklin to Court and Center with pickupstops. Look for the “Ride to Groceries” signs with a shopping cart. Thebus costs 85 cents each way. For more information, call the Mass Trans-portation Authority (MTA) customer service at 810-767-0100. ■ For residents who need front-door service, the MTA also offers acall-in program to schedule rides from their home to grocery stores. Itcosts $2.25 each way. To set up a ride, call the MTA at 810-767-0100; youwill be asked for your address and then connected to the service centerfor your area. ■ MTA Senior Shopper Service: This program operates five days aweek, picking up residents of several senior housing complexes andtransporting them to and from grocery stores. The bus is equipped withbins to hold groceries. Anyone can ride. Cost is 85 cents for seniors eachway; $1.75 for the general public each way. For info, call the MTA at810-767-0100.

Farmersmarket

The market is locatedat 300 E. First Street, (810-232-1399) next to the mainbus terminal. Hours are 9a.m.-6 p.m. Tue. and Thu.,and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. year-round. There, the FairFood Network’s DoubleUp Food Bucks program isaccepted year-round.

More of what is of-fered:■ Most market vendorsaccept the MichiganBridge Card (SNAP), re-deem WIC program cou-pons, participate in Pro-ject Fresh and SeniorProject Fresh. Double UpFood Bucks matches freshfruit and vegetable pur-chases up to $20 a day. ■ Cooking classes arecurrently offered at 12:30p.m. Tue. and Thu. throughMarch 8. The currentclass focus is fighting leadwith nutrition.

Farmers market, bus services a call awayFinding healthy food

Many Flint residents have suffered from skinrashes since the water crisis began.

Although doctors say it’s not likely lead wouldcause a skin reaction that would lead to a rash,other things in the water might cause problems.The Michigan Department of Health and Human

Services is now investigating the rashproblem in conjunction with federal

agencies.Dr. Walter Barkey, a dermatologist

in Flint, urges anyone with a skin rashto seek the care of a doctor, especiallya dermatologist.

“The first thing you need to treat askin rash effectively is an accuratediagnosis,” he said. “Most primarydoctors would agree that diagnosingskin rashes is not easy. Flipping

through a picture book of rashes (or doing some-thing like this on the Internet) is not very helpful-accurate in making the diagnosis of a skin rash.”

Barkey said if you already have a diagnosisand know you have eczema, psoriasis, poison ivy,or other condition, there are several things youcan do at home to bring relief from itching. Hereare his dos and don’ts of general care for rashes:

DO■ Do try an antihistamine like Benadryl at bedtime. Look forthe word “diphenhydramine” on the label. Even if it doesn’trelieve the itch, it might help you sleep better.■ Do add an oatmeal bath product such as Aveeno OilatedOatmeal to lukewarm water in the bathtub, and soak for alittle while.■ Do use a gentle body wash such as Dove in the shower ifyou have open sores. ■ Do apply over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream orointment twice a day (preferably after a bath or shower) forat least 4-5 days in a row.■ Do apply a good moisturizer (choose a cream, oil or petro-leum-based product) to the rash. One good brand is AquaphorHealing Ointment.■ Do clean open wounds with a cleanser and water, followedby hydrogen peroxide.

DON’T■ Don’t use rubbing alcohol on your skin. It doesn’t help heal-ing, doesn’t kill infectious bacteria, it stings, dries out yourskin and makes rashes like eczema worse.■ Don’t use a bar soap because it can dry the skin. ■ Don’t use light lotions. They spread well but don’t get ab-sorbed into the skin.■ Don’t use a triple-antibiotic ointment like Neosporin. Itdoesn’t kill the staph and strep bacteria that cause skin in-fections, and some people develop an allergic contact der-matitis to one of its ingredients.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN RASH

Dr. WalterBarkey

INFORMATION ONLEGIONNAIRES’DISEASEThe State of Michigan re-ported a total of 87 cases ofLegionnaires’ disease, in-cluding nine fatalities, inGenesee County from June2014 to October 2015. Le-gionnaires’ disease is a pneu-monia-like disease caused bybacteria, which are usuallyfound in water. Many infections go undiag-nosed or are not reportedbecause the symptoms aresimilar to pneumonia. Symp-toms include fever, chills andcough. Infection occurswhen a person breathes inwater vapor containing thebacteria. It does not transferbetween people.For more information, visit:www.legionella.org. On thewebsite, use the “Ask TheExperts” section to submit aquestion.

14 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE MARCH 2016

NEED HELPIN ANOTHERLANGUAGE?

The best way to get medical help if you’ve been exposed tolead through drinking water is to see your primary-care doc-tor, or take your children to their regular pediatrician, healthofficials say.

Any adult without a regular doctor can call the GeneseeCounty Health Department for help with finding a primary-care physician. And anyone 18 or older in Genesee Countywho is uninsured can get free access to health care and freeblood-lead testing. To learn more, call 810-235-4211. ■ The Genesee County Children’s Healthcare Access Pro-gram, or CHAP, is geared toward helping at-risk kids get themedical care they need. Any child enrolled in Medicaid canget help finding a pediatrician, transportation to and fromdoctor’s appointments and more. CHAP offers parent educa-tion, home visits and asthma education, and works with doc-tor’s offices in the community. To learn more about CHAP, goto http://gfhc.org/chap/ or call 810-953-2427. ■ In addition, the United Way’s 211 line can also assist resi-dents in finding medical care, help with transportation to andfrom doctor’s appointments and more.

Crisis counseling Mental health professionals are available to offer counsel-

ing and emotional support if you are feeling overwhelmed,depressed, hopeless or angry. Here is how to get help: ■ If you are in need of immediate counseling, call the 24-hourDisaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746. Trained counselors will listen to you,offer coping tips, and refer you to local crisis centers foradditional help, and keep your concerns confidential. ■ Stress counseling also is available to Flint residents. Tospeak with a mental health professional from Genesee HealthSystem, call 810-257-3705.

Other helpAny other concerns: The United Way’s 24-hour 211help line is available for Flint residents to get thehelp they need, no matter what it is. If you needsomething that has not been addressed in the in-formation above, call 211 for help.

How to find thebest medical help

Health resources

MARCH 2016 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE 15

Sources: State of Michigan, Arab American Heritage Council,Free Press reporting

Non-English speakers who need help cancall 211 to speak with a bilingual operatoror visit michigan.gov/flintwater and clickon Alternative Language Resources. Some

resources are available online in Span-ish, Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, andHmong.

Spanish speakers can call 800-985-5990and press “2” or text “Hablanos” to66746.Para ayuda en español marque 800-985-5990 y oprima el “2” o puede mandar lapalabra “Hablanos” en un texto al 66746.

Arabic speakers can call 211. For additionalresources, call the Arab American HeritageCouncil at 810-235-2722.

michigan.gov/flintwater

Do you want to voice your concernsabout the water crisis? Here’s howand where to contact your elected of-ficials and other key agencies:

U.S. House and Senate■ U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow: Flint/SaginawBay Office, 432 N. Saginaw St., Suite 301,Flint 48502; 810-720-4172; e-mail at www.stabenow.senate.gov/contact■ U.S. Sen. Gary Peters: Saginaw Office, 515N. Washington Ave., Suite 401, Saginaw48607; 989-754-0112; e-mail atwww.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary■ U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee: 111 E. Court St. #3B,Flint 48502; 810-238-8627; e-mail athttp://dankildee.house.gov/contact/email-me/

Governor and MichiganLegislature■ Gov. Rick Snyder: P.O. Box 30013, Lansing48909; 517-373-3400; e-mail athttps://somgovweb.state.mi.us/GovRelations/ShareOpinion.aspx■ State Sen. Jim Ananich: P.O. Box 30036,Lansing 48909; 517-373-0142; e-mailsenjananich@senate.mi.gov■ Michigan Rep. Sheldon Neely: P.O. Box30014 Lansing 48909; 517-373-8808; e-mailSheldonNeeley@house.mi.gov

City of Flint ■ Flint Mayor Karen Weaver: 101 S. Sagi-naw St. Flint 48502; 810-766-7346; e-mail atmayor@cityofflint.com

Flint City Council ■ 1st Ward: Eric Mays, 810-766-7418, ext.3160; 810-922-4860; emays@cityofflint.com

■ 2nd Ward: Jacqueline Poplar, 810-766-7418,ext. 3162; 810-397-3205; jpoplar@cityofflint.com

■ 3rd Ward: Kerry Nelson, 810-766-7418, ext.3161; 810-449-9619; knelson@cityofflint.com

■ 4th Ward: Kate Fields, 810-766-7418, ext.3164; kfields@cityofflint.com

■ 5th Ward: Wantwaz Davis, 810-766-7418,ext. 3167; 810-397-3621; 810-391-7060; wdavis@cityofflint.com

■ 6th Ward: Herbert Winfrey, 810-766-7418,ext. 3165; 810-449-8711; hwinfrey@cityofflint.com■ 7th Ward: Monica Galloway, 810-766-7418,ext. 3163; 810-955-9370; mgalloway@cityofflint.com

■ 8th Ward: Vicki VanBuren, 810-766-7418,ext. 3159; 810-513-0582; vvanburen@cityofflint.com

■ 9th Ward: Scott Kincaid, 810-766-7418, ext.3158; 810-397-3605; skincaid@cityofflint.com

Additional resources■ The U.S. Environmental Protection Agen-cy has created a website with informationfor Flint-area residents at www.epa.gov/flint. People can also contact the EPA withquestions about Flint or the water quality atflintwater@epa.gov or call at 810-434-5122.

■ To get water tested for free, or have ques-tions answered about the appearance or odorof water in Flint, e-mail flintwater@cityofflint.com or call the Flint Water Plantat 810-787-6537.

Help for small businesses Disaster loans for small businesses in

Genesee County are available through theSmall Business Administration. Eligiblesmall businesses, agricultural cooperativesand nonprofits can apply for low-interestloans of up to $2 million if they can showlosses tied to the water crisis. SBA willmaintain a Flint Business Recovery Centerthrough Feb. 25 at the Oak Business Center,2712 Saginaw St., Flint. You can also apply atwww.sba.gov/content/economic-injury-disaster-loans or call 800-659-2955 (TTY: 800-877-8339) or e-maildisastercustomerservice@sba.gov for moreinformation.

Who to contact to getyour voice, needs heard

Speak up, speak out

16 FLINT WATER RESOURCE GUIDE MARCH 2016