Good afternoon,

We hope you had a restful weekend celebrating Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day. This year, we were thankful to get some holiday relief from inflation: turkey and gas prices have fallen, making the costs of traveling and cooking slightly more affordable for working families.

While inflation continues to cool, many Americans still face mounting food insecurity. On our latest episode of the Hot Dish, OCP founder and former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp spoke to Eddie Oliver, executive director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, about his organization's work distributing millions of pounds of food to church pantries, soup kitchens, and homeless shelters across the state. On this Giving Tuesday, please consider volunteering with or donating to your local food bank. As Eddie pointed out, "So many families are just one crisis, one missed paycheck away from falling into food insecurity." Your generosity will make a difference!

WINTER WEATHERIZATION

• December hasn't yet arrived, but for many parts of the country, winter is already upon us. While some snow days are a time to pull out the skis, build a snowman, or roast some chestnuts over an open fire, some winter storms hold travel delays, power outages, and health risks.

• Last December, the "bomb cyclone" winter storm Elliot placed over 60 percent of Americans under a winter storm advisory. Approximately 18 percent of U.S. electricity generation failed during the storm, affecting the communities along the entire East Coast.

• Even after last year's lessons, our natural gas infrastructure and electric grid are still unprepared for winter storms. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation's winter reliability assessment found that nearly two-thirds of the country remains at an elevated risk of insufficient energy supplies to meet demand in severe conditions this winter.

• Plus, this year's El Niño weather patterns are poised to cause colder temperatures and increased snow fall for central and eastern U.S. Here's how you can prepare to stay warm during wintry weather.

SHARE YOUR RURAL HEALTH CARE STORY

Rural America faces unique health care challenges. One Country wants to raise awareness with policymakers in Washington, DC through first person testimonials by rural residents. Tell us your story and help us improve health care access in rural America. If you heard any at the Thanksgiving table, please share the link with us.

REMINDER: MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2024 COVERAGE

Seniors and families, NOW is the time to ensure your 2024 health care needs will be covered by selecting the plan that best fits your needs. Medicare Open Enrollment lasts until December 7, a little over a week from today. Explore your coverage options here.

• Nevada Current: Rural Nevadans pay thousands more than urban Nevadans for health insurance
• Daily Yonder: 'Nothing's Predictable': Extreme Weather is Ruining Farmers' Crops and Finances
• CNET: Why Rural Americans Are (and Aren't) Adopting Renewable Energy
• Jefferson Public Radio: Many rural California communities are desperate for school construction money. Will a new bond measure offer enough help?

Be sure to follow the One Country Project on Twitter and Facebook, and check out The Hot Dish podcast.