Addressing the hunger crisis‘Feed My Sheep’ John 21:17 |
Food Insecurity:
A Global Concept with Local Implications
by The Ven. Louise Thibodaux
Leaders from all over the world came together this summer to discuss the problem of "food insecurity."
Food insecurity is growing problem all over the world. According to the New York Times, food prices are the highest they have been in the last 30 years and there are diminishing stockpiles of rice and grains. The problem is also linked to the price of fuel, making transportation costs of available food more expensive.
I could not help thinking of two places where we see the principles of food insecurity/security at work. The first is with Meals on Wheels. During most weekdays, frail elderly living in their own homes receive prepared meals delivered by volunteers. The program is made possible by the generosity of volunteers who drive to each home and deliver food. But, rising gasoline prices are making this more expensive. And volunteers, who often live on fixed incomes themselves, may be forced to make adjustments in their own monthly budgets. Is there a way that your parish could get involved? Could you recruit additional volunteers? Could you make a donation to your local agency to help defray fuel costs?
The second example is drawn from our work in Haiti as we live into our companion diocese relationship. Thanks to the generosity of parishes and individuals from throughout our diocese, significantly malnourished children are receiving life-saving treatment from our brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Church in Haiti. The children receive protein supplements, vitamins, immunizations and monthly follow-up, and their parents are receive nutrition education as part of a program operated by the wife of the Haitian priest with whom we work. Could your parish get involved by providing scholarships for malnourished children? A$125 donation covers program costs for one child for a year.
In a global economy, the love of Christ is made clear by our choices and actions. We become Christ's hands and feet in an insecure world, particularly as we minister to the frailest of God's children. Insecurity is not an inevitable part of modern life. Rather, it can be changed by people who are willing to live in witnesses to the healing power of love.
Supermarket Helps Church Feed the Hungry
by The Ven. Louise Thibodaux
Some ideas are just too good not to pass along. That’s the way I felt when I heard the story of how parishioners at Saint Stephen’s, Birmingham are taking advantage of a local shopping opportunity.
It happens that Publix Supermarket has a store just down Overton Road from the church. Every Sunday and Monday the store offers a “mystery item” that is sold for a penny to anyone who spends $ 10.00 on groceries. So, the outreach folks got permission from the store manager to put a labeled collection box at the front of the store. People who want to donate the mystery item (remember it only costs a penny!) can place it in the box as they leave. Church members pick up items from the box and take them to Greater Birmingham Ministries and Grace Episcopal Church in Woodlawn.
But it does not end there! This spring, Publix gave the committee a chance to add the buying power of vendor coupons to in-store specials. By spending $250 to buy as much food as possible, the committee was able to purchase 200 jars of spaghetti sauce, 200 packages of pasta and 50 boxes of brownie mix. The retail value of these items would have been over $ 900.
We would love to hear other stories where the generosity of grocery stories, combined with the work of faithful parishioners is “feeding the flock.” If you know of something that is too good not to pass along please send it my way at: yellowboots@charter.net.
Good Food Makes Good Neighbors
by Shannon Atchenson, Supportive Services Coordinator
It is 11:15 on a weekday morning and neighbors are gathering in The Jackle Room for lunch.
But there's more. It's 11:15 and about 10 blocks away, at Saint Andrew's Church, Brandin Goodjohn, chef at Community Kitchens, is cooking the food that will be served to today's guests. Before the soup kitchen's doors open, he will pack some lunches and send them to Episcopal Place. They will be transported in a heated container by Lisa Kennedy who is hired by the Board to manage the food delivery. Each day the residents wait eagerly for her to answer the important question "what's for lunch?"
But wait, there's more! Soon after linkage between Episcopal Place and Community Kitchens began, Brandin realized that he could add a little TLC by personalizing some dishes in response to the residents' requests. What they get is not just a hot lunch consisting of meat, two veggies, bread, salad and dessert--- it's a home cooked meal from someone who cares.
Community Kitchens and Episcopal Place are two of the ministries that thrive through the generous donations and the volunteer help they receive from many Episcopal parishes. In this instance, good lunches make good neighbors.
St. Joseph's Food Cart Helps Ease Hunger
by Gethryn Giles, Senior Warden
One of the unique aspects of this outreach ministry is that volunteers can come to the parish every day of the year to replenish the cart with food without having to worry that the building will be locked. And people who need food know that they won't have to ask for it.
Food is furnished for the cart in several ways. Parishioners are encouraged to bring food, with emphasis put on the need for only non-perishable items in labeled cans or boxes that are in good shape and are not out of date. Also monetary contributions to this ministry are encouraged. In addition, the annual budget of the parish has a monthly line item for purchases at a discount from a local grocery store.
If you or your parish have tips to share about your outreach to the hungry, please share them by e-mailing Lou Thibodaux, yellowboots@charter.net or lthibodaux@dioala.org.
When School Lets Out Hunger Comes Home
by The Ven. Louise Thibodaux
For people who live in or near the poverty level, summer brings a vacation from everything but hunger. During the summer months, school lunches are no longer available. For over 60 years, The National School Lunch Program, operating in over 100,000 public and non-profit schools and residential child settings, has provided nutritious school lunches. The program has grown so that in FY 2006 over 30.1 million across the United States ate lunch each day through its services...except during the summer months. From June to August only a fraction of school-age children are served. Some food is still available through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). In FY 2007, Alabama's average daily attendance for SFSP was 26,042 children.
It is small wonder that food bank resources are more stressed in the summer. Children who cannot attend summer recreation programs supported by SFSP resources often have limited access to nutritious food. And parents are hard pressed to stretch their food dollars when children are both active and bored. This year, when each week more dollars are required to pay for rising gas prices, the need is much more critical.
Hunger doesn't take a vacation, but the generosity of those who care makes a real difference. Here are some things your parish can do:
1. Ask your Outreach Committee to contact a local food bank to see what kind of help is needed this summer. Consider giving financial support this summer and then again at the end of the year.
2. If you don't have a food bank in your area, find out where hungry children can get nutritious food. Could your parish find a way to make food available to hungry children in your community?
3. If you fill a grocery bag to donate during the summer months, think "healthy", "child-friendly" and "minimal preparation." Try to avoid high calorie snack food that is low in nutrition.
4. Don't forget that soap, toothpaste, paper products, baby products, and cleaning supplies are needed all year. Giving these products frees up dollars for a family to spend on food.
5. Find a way to teach children about people who are hungry in your Vacation Bible School curriculum.
6. Find out whether there is a SFSP feeding site in your area that could use your parish's help. (Contact State Director Child Nutrition Programs, Alabama Department of Education, Montgomery. Phone: 334-242-1988).
Battling the Hungar Crisis
by The Ven. Louise Thibodaux
The Community of Deacons in the Diocese of Alabama accepted by ordination the charge "to interpret to the Church the needs, hopes and concerns of the world." Today, it doesn't take long to see that soaring utility and food prices are bringing these needs ever closer to our doorsteps.
Until now, many deacons and others both lay and ordained have been going quietly about the business of directing gifts of food, clothing and shelter to society's most vulnerable members. Now, with this web-based article Alabama's deacons are moving into a new dimension of "interpretation." We hope to draw your attention to the many ways that people in our diocese are involved on a daily basis in the eradication of hunger at home and aborad. But, more than that, we are seeking a wider audience for the ideas that will support your efforts to feed the hungry in your own community. We plan to do this through a variety of short articles in this space - some that we will write and others that we hope you will submit to us.
It would be hard to argue that Jesus didn't care about giving people enough to eat. Feeding crowds of people is a central theme in all four gospels. The scene of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46) Jesus mentions feeding the hungry as the first charitable act that separates a virtuous person from a sinful one. The Eucharist, a meal to which all are invited and from which none is turned away, is our central act of worship in the Episcopal Church. All of this must lead us to the conclusion that alleviating hunger should be at the core to the Church's mission, not incidental to it.
In the forthcoming series of articles, coordinated through the efforts of the Community of Deacons, we will tell why some local agencies are struggling to meet community needs. We will highlight some innovative ways that parishes are making a difference. We will show how a small donation of time or resources can bring us all closer in mission. We will point out some of the trends, both nationally and internationally, that work against us as we try to reduce hunger. And we will show where we can already recognize Christ's hand at work in the world about us.
It is our hope and our prayer that this series of articles will be interactive as well as informative. If you have a comment to make or a story to tell please pass it along to the archdeacon at yellowboots@charter.net or lthibodaux@dioala.org.
