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HUNGER EMPHASIS IS ENDING, BUT HUNGER IS STILL CLOSE |
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by Rev. Cindy Frost
I’ll always remember my visit to ANDP (Aid for the Needy Development Program) in Liberia. That day I was overwhelmed with gladness that we as a church had built the Peanut Butter House because that day that I saw the potential for the big difference it could make in so many lives. At ANDP we were introduced to their feeding program, including an in-patient clinic for children suffering from acute malnutrition where they would receive formula 5 times a day. The room had 60- 80 mattresses set up on palettes where mother, grandmother or “aunty” would stay with the child while they fought for the child’s survival. Once the child gained enough weight, they became part of an outpatient program receiving weekly rations that would provide the nutrition needed for the child to experience healthy growth and development. ANDP has multiple outpatient clinics set up around the county so that they can reach more children and they are eager to purchase the peanut butter product that the Peanut Butter House will be producing. As I watched new babies and their caregivers come in to be weighed and receive entry into the program, I was so excited that our church had been willing to take a risk to be part of providing hope and the chance of survival to these children.
As we have been engaging in our Hunger Awareness Emphasis, I have had that same sense of excitement that FPC is part of bringing hope to the hungry in so many different ways. I hope that you have had a chance to learn more about the incredible ministry that is going on here in the name of Christ.
I’ve loved seeing how God has blessed the seed of an idea by Ann Randall and Gerry Lake to help feed the hungry and homeless youth through McBackpacks which partners with PSD, Food Bank’s Kid Link, and the McKinney program to send backpacks full of food for the weekends to children who rely on free and reduced lunches during the week. This program has grown from regularly packing about 6 backpacks per week to now packing 112-122. As a result of the Hunger Emphasis, this ministry has new volunteers and has made new connections throughout the community. At Jan and Mary's initiative, Ann taught the K-5 Sunday school students about the first two Commandments and Matthew 25:34–40 and worked with them to fill 100 gallon-size bags full of snack foods to be used for McBackpacks.
Our partnership with the Food Bank continues to grow stronger as FPC fills many tables at its annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser; as we have last year’s Food Bank’s Volunteer of the Year, Sue Siferd, here in our congregation; as we have increased the MOC dollars going to the Food Bank to respond to the increased need of with these economic times, and as the Food Bank helps provide some of the food used for McBackpacks. I learned that in 2009, 7.5 million pounds of food were distributed to Larimer Country residents and 1.2 million pounds were distributed to partner agencies meaning $11.1 million dollars worth of food relief provided to those who are hungry. How exciting to be partnering with an agency that is doing so much!
Our Catholic Charities Northern partnership is also going strong as our church continues to prepare and serve lunch on the first Saturday of every month, coordinated by Don Raymond, and as more people like Carol Rowley and Mary Garcia volunteer in their Emergency Assistance program. Serving at the mission allows a chance to serve in “hands on” ways and continues to be a way of blessing others.
The Deacon Easter Baskets represent another partnership with a community agency. We were able to provide baskets of food for 57 families with Project Self Sufficiency. Coordinated by Deb McCune and Isis Marks of our Deacon Emergency Assistance Team, it was exciting to see so many people getting involved in taking an empty grocery bag home and bringing it back full and in packing and delivering the food. The theme of partnering continued as we partnered with PC(USA) in our One Great Hour of Sharing offering. This year’s offering was entitled “Feed My Sheep” and benefited the Presbyterian Hunger Program, the Presbyterian Committee on Self Development of People and the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program. Thanks to MOC International Connector Jen Flint for coordinating our efforts related to this offering!
It has been exciting to see Children Helping Children. Children bringing in snack foods and plastic bags for McBackpacks and collecting coins in fish boxes. Based on the Hunger Awareness Fair, the McBackpack folks were invited to speak to a Brownie Troop who will spend $300 from their cookie sales on snack foods for McBackpacks. Sharon Miller had a great display showing the different way that children (of all ages) could help God’s children. She had great conversations with everyone from young Brownies, to Junior High students, to elderly adults who were already involved or interested in finding a part that they could play in the fight against hunger.
I started with a story about my gratitude for the church’s involvement in the Peanut Butter House Project. We’re grateful to Anna Harper who has coordinated this team’s efforts for the Hunger Emphasis but we continue to be mindful of how many people from this congregation and beyond have invested in this project. We’re grateful to those of you who have taken prayer bookmarks and are keeping the project and our partners in your prayers.
My experience at ANDP made me feel gratitude that FPC and the Peanut Butter House can make a difference to those hurting families and despair as it helped me see the sheer magnitude of the need. As individuals and as a congregation we can be excited about how we are bringing hope to the hungry. Yet we don’t want to rest on our laurels or think that we can move beyond helping with this issue. While our Hunger Emphasis has put a spotlight on the issue and our efforts, the problem of hunger does not go away just because the spotlight is focused elsewhere. We want to thank all of you who are working to obey God’s command to join him in feeding the hungry. We want to encourage everyone to keep exploring ways that you might begin or continue to be part of combating this important issue which is close to the heart of God. As we have come to recognize that Hunger is Closer than We Know we have also seen how we can be part of the solution. May God continue to use us in blessing his people!
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WAYS YOU CAN STILL BE INVOLVED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER
Deacon Pantry
Easter is over but the Deacon Pantry can still use your food donations for providing food to walk-ins and others. Put your contributions in the little red wagon.
McBackpacks
Helping others pack bags of food 8:30–9:30 a.m. Thursday mornings.
Delivering bags of food to local schools Thursday mornings.
Shopping for food to supplement our other food sources.
Contact Ann Randall or Gerry Lake if you’d like to volunteer with packing or delivering.
Catholic Charities Northern
1st Saturday of every month, 6-8 people needed to serve one of two shifts. Contact Don Raymond to sign up, (970) 225-3923.
Volunteer with CCN’s Emergency Assistance. Contact Carol Rowley for more information,(970) 481-5600.
Food Bank
Talk with Sue Siferd, (970) 223-5250 about one-time opportunities or about ongoing volunteer opportunities.
Laurel Elementary – Food Projects
Contact Sharon Miller if you are interested in being part of hosting a program on healthy, affordable, and delicious nutrition for kids and adults this fall, (970) 224-4690.
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