News

By Lorie Ham

Fall is finally here, and while the weather may not be cooperating everywhere, we can still begin to enjoy many of the wonderful things that fall brings with it! Among those things are the foods and flavors we associate with fall, such as ginger, pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, and so much more! It is a great time of year to enjoy some healthy fall comfort foods.

Bob’s Red Mill has a long list of healthy and delicious fall ingredients. The website states that while some ingredients may vary depending on a region’s climate, many seem to be universal. On the list are apples, persimmons (see a recipe for persimmon cookies at the end of this article), arugula, brussels sprouts, pumpkins, carrots, and grapes—all both healthy and delicious. The article also includes links to recipes for Paleo Carrot Cake, Winter Harvest Pizza, and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pancakes.

One of the most iconic fall foods is apple pie. Chocolate Covered Katie has a great recipe on her website for a healthy version that can be vegan, sugar-free, or gluten-free. Her healthy dessert blog also includes recipes for Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Pumpkin Pie Cinnamon Rolls—combining two yummy fall flavors—and you can even freeze the rolls for later.

Another fall ingredient that you will find in abundance if you happen to live in the San Joaquin Valley of California, is grapes. EatingWell.com has a long list of healthy recipes using grapes which includes Tangy Chicken Salad with Grapes, Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Grape Sauce, and grape smoothies.

If you are looking for more savory comfort food with healthy fall ingredients, the recipe on the Food Network website for a Fall Meatloaf should fit the bill. The recipe uses ground turkey in place of ground beef and includes cranberry sauce, celery, and jalapenos. It is paired with sweet potato fries—another perfect fit for fall.

We circle back now to persimmons. Web MD states that some of their health benefits are being rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are also high in soluble dietary fiber. Martha Stewart has a list of mouth-watering recipes using persimmons which include persimmon tarts, persimmon bites, and frozen persimmon custard. The article also includes some interesting information about persimmons, including that there are two varieties commonly available in the U.S.—Fuyu and Hachiya.

Growing up, persimmon cookies were a staple during the fall. Mennonite Insurance/Mennonite Aid staff member Yolanda Hernández shares her recipe here:

Persimmon Cookies

Mix together in a bowl:

• 1 Cup oil or shortening
• 2 Cups persimmon pulp
• 2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix together in a separate bowl:

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 cups flour
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 teaspoon baking powder

Pour persimmon pulp mixture into flour bowl mixture and mix well together.

Add (optional) 2 cups chopped nuts and 2 cups raisins and mix well.

Bake between 325° to 350° for 12 to 20 minutes.

Makes approximately 5 dozen.

Do you have a favorite fall ingredient and/or recipe? Be sure to share on the Mennonite Insurance Facebook page.

By Lorie Ham

A record-high 653,104 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in January 2023, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. This is more than a 12.1 percent increase over the previous year. At a time when the problems of the unhoused seem to be getting worse, there is a group in Sacramento trying to make a difference for women and children in that situation. That group is called Bridging Initiatives International. They have been an official non-profit since 2017. 

According to their CEO and founder, Yene Wolteji, Bridging’s mission is to provide holistic and integrated services that address the diverse needs of vulnerable individuals and families experiencing instability as a result of domestic violence and/or homelessness, guiding them toward sustainable transitions to provide support and resources to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. We spoke with Yene recently to learn more.

Q: How did you personally become involved in this type of work and why?

Yene:  All my work life, I have been involved in social work, helping the needy and orphans in Africa. Later, I had the opportunity to educate others on poverty alleviation and holistic development. My doctoral research focused on work ethics and holistic development. I have been engaged in educating others in that sector as well. I am very much committed to standing by and supporting those who are hurting wherever they are found.

When I came to the US, I didn’t expect to see homelessness and I was shocked to see people struggling in the land of abundance. I immediately organized people and started street outreach, which laid the foundation for where we are today.

Q: Can you tell us a little more about what it is you do?

Yene: Seeing children on the street and the vulnerability of women prompted the creation of the Bridging House, a shelter for women and children. We also support families with children by providing rental assistance and motel vouchers during transitions and crises.

This support is very important because it impacts the next generation as well. Not only do adults benefit, but children also gain a safe place and experience love and compassion from the community, which can positively impact their lives. The trauma of homelessness is addressed through prayers, encouragement, and unconditional love, helping them to heal and remain hopeful.

Q: Why do you feel this is important?

Yene:  Homelessness can happen to anyone, especially if the immediate environment is not safe for children and women. Listening to the stories of people on the street changed my life. There are professionals and well-educated people, but something happens in their lives and they do not have a supportive environment to address the crisis healthily. The trap of homelessness and addiction keeps them in that cycle, generation after generation. They were once somebody, like any other successful person, but unfortunately, they got trapped in problems and they deserve to be listened to. I don’t think imposing decisions would help.

Q: How many people do you help each year?

Yene: In 2023, we supported 75 families and individuals with shelter, rental assistance, and motel vouchers. This year, we aim to help 80 people. Since the beginning of this year, we have focused on supporting women and children experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. 

Q: What can others do to help?

Yene: Anyone can find us on our website and donate to support the ministry. We pay rent for the shelter and provide necessary care for the families. We are also happy to share our biannual newsletter with anyone interested. Let us know by email, and we will reach out to interested people. We are in need of more budget, volunteer counselors, fundraisers, and admin support.

You can learn more about Bridging Initiatives International, subscribe to their newsletter, and learn about what you can do to help them with their important work on their website Bridgingii.org.

[Periodically Mennonite Insurance features an organization with whom we have a connection.]

Should I Put That On My Lawn?

By Lorie Ham

Every profession has its own language and the insurance world is no different. While people in the profession may understand what different terms mean, the rest of us probably won’t. For example, if your agent recommended 15/30/5 coverage, it may sound more like something to put on your lawn than insurance. So this month we are asking Mennonite Insurance agent Yolanda Hernandez to explain some of that language in regards to auto insurance. 

Q: What do these types of terms mean 15/30/5 or 100/300/50? 

Yolanda: They mean: $15,000 coverage per person for bodily injury, including death, that you cause to others; $30,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 in property damage. With the higher limits: $100,000/$300,000/$50,000. If a person has a higher net worth, it is recommended they carry higher limits.

Q: What is the range of auto liability limits and what are the considerations in picking limits? Do the limits impact any other insurance? 

Yolanda: Depending on the company there are various limits of liability available. Common limits include 30/60/25, 50/100/50, 100/300/100, 250/500/100 and 500/500/100. Here at Mennonite Insurance the minimum we recommend for anyone is 100/300/100, more so if you are a homeowner. Ultimately you want to protect your assets or future earnings in case of a loss. The higher the coverage limits, the more protection for you and your assets.

Q: What do comprehensive, and collision mean? 

Yolanda: Comprehensive is also known as “other than collision” and it is a coverage that helps pay for damage to your vehicle caused by non-collision events such as theft, vandalism, fire, falling objects, glass breakage, windstorm, flood, hail, and hitting an animal. Collision helps pay for repairs or replace your car if it is damaged in an accident with another vehicle or object, such as a fence or tree. On both of these coverages, you are usually subject to a deductible that a client chooses.

Q: Do I have to carry comprehensive and collision on my vehicles? Should I? 

Yolanda: Carrying comprehensive and collision is optional, unless you are financing the car, then you are required to carry both to satisfy your loan requirements. Ultimately the client needs to determine if they can or would be able to replace their car out of pocket in case of a total loss.

Q: Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM) sounds like I am buying liability insurance for the other cars that might crash into me. Is that true? 

Yolanda: Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you if you’re hit by a driver who has no auto insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage (UIM), which is usually offered alongside uninsured motorist coverage, protects you if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for the damages or injuries they caused. Both coverages are highly recommended. You must be offered the coverage when purchasing auto insurance.  We usually recommend these limits match the Bodily Injury (BI) section.

Q: What does “full coverage” and “all risk” mean? 

Yolanda: We don’t use “full coverage” in our office. Full Coverage insurance is a general term that many agents, lenders, and car dealerships use to describe a policy that includes certain coverages. It is NOT an actual type of coverage or policy. We prefer not to use this term in our office.

Added note on this from Jerry Linscheid, Chief Executive Officer for Mennonite Insurance Services/Mennonite Aid Plan : There is no such thing as “full coverage” or “all risk”, even though those terms still get used. Even “comprehensive” is often now referred to as “other than collision” because insurance companies don’t want to give the false impression that every bad thing that happens is covered.

Q: What does insurance not cover? 

Yolanda: An auto policy does not cover normal wear and tear of a vehicle. It is NOT a maintenance policy.

We hope that this was helpful, but of course, it only touches the surface as far as understanding insurance terminology. There are also many resources on the internet. A few of those can be found on this list of Insurance for Dummies on GeneralI.com, another great list can be found on TD Insurance in the article called “How to Speak Insurance”, and there is a glossary of insurance terms on NAIC.org.

The agents at Mennonite Insurance Services/Mennonite Aid Plan are also happy to answer any of your questions just give them a call at (559) 638-2327 or reach out on their Facebook page. 

[By the way, don’t put 15/30/5 fertilizer on your lawn.  30% Phosphorus is way too high and it will burn the lawn.]

Students must be members of an Anabaptist church, be at least a junior at a West Coast college or university and have a GPA of 3.0 or better.

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“It’s great to be able to help our recipients reach their educational goals. It’s very rewarding for us to have a small role in their success,” said Claudia Fletes, Mennonite Insurance Service’s scholarship administrator.

Each recipient receives a $1,000 scholarship.

Mennonite Insurance Services and its parent company, Mennonite Aid Plan, provide property insurance to churches and their members on the West Coast.

By Lorie Ham

With the costs of repairing a damaged vehicle rising just like everything else these days, the way insurance companies handle those cars has changed. “In the not-so-distant past, vehicles were totaled by insurance companies when the damage was so bad that the car probably would never be driven again,” states Jerry Linscheid of Mennonite Insurance Services. “That mindset has changed. The cost of car repairs has skyrocketed. So, insurance companies are looking at the repair costs compared to the total they would pay for the car. As those numbers get close, it makes sense to settle the claim quickly by ‘totaling’ the car and paying the customer.”

With more of these salvage vehicles available for purchase now, should you consider buying one? What does salvage vehicle actually mean? We chatted with Mennonite Insurance agent Claudia Fletes to learn more.

Q: What is a salvage vehicle? 

Claudia: An insurance company will determine when a vehicle is damaged beyond repair or the cost to repair it costs more than the vehicle is worth. In such cases, the company will pay out what the vehicle is worth at the time of loss. As a result, the vehicle is considered ‘Salvage.”    

Q: Can it be driven? 

Claudia: The vehicle can be driven again on public roads if it is properly repaired and passes a thorough inspection with CA Highway Patrol (this is for CA, you should check the rules for your own state). 

Q: How does an insurance company decide whether to have a car repaired or replaced after an accident? 

Claudia: An insurance company may determine that it is more cost effective to pay off the value of the vehicle rather than repairing the damages. With technology on vehicles getting more advanced and rising costs for parts and labor, even a minor accident may result in a salvage vehicle. 

Q: Can it be sold? 

Claudia: Yes, but the salvage title must or should be disclosed.

Q: Can it be insured? 

Claudia: Yes. However, some companies will not allow Comprehensive or collision coverage on a salvaged vehicle.

Q: A lot of totaled cars are still on the road. What should people think about when they are considering buying a car that may be salvaged? 

Claudia: Consider getting a CarFax (history report on the vehicle). Why was the vehicle salvaged? Often cars are salvaged in states where there are floods and transported to other states for sale. Consider the value of the salvage vehicle and if it is insurable with your auto insurance company. Would you feel safe driving or having your family in a salvaged vehicle? What is the value of the vehicle and can you add insurance on the vehicle? These are all things to consider if purchasing a salvage vehicle. 

So why would someone consider purchasing a salvage vehicle? According to a 2023 article on Edmunds.com, the main reason seems to be price. If you are on a budget, a salvage-title car can sell for twenty to forty percent less than the same vehicle with a clean title. The article also mentions some things you should do before purchasing such a vehicle, which include having the vehicle inspected, purchasing the vehicle from a reputable repairer, asking for the original repair records, and as Claudia suggested, getting the vehicle’s history report. 

If you are considering purchasing one of these vehicles, feel free to reach out to Mennonite Insurance at (559) 638-2327 and they will be happy to try to answer any questions you might have in regards to insuring such a vehicle.