Hunger Ministry More than 18,000 children die each day from hunger related causes. That is not okay. It is important to address hunger issues on a variety of fronts--tending to the immediate need of providing food and resources for people in crisis as well as working to address the root causes of hunger. Incarnation partners with organizations locally and globally to make that happen. Hunger in Minnesota ⇒ From 2000 – 2010 food shelf usage has tripled to over 3 million visits annually. ⇒ Children represent 56% of those served. ⇒ 10.5% of people in Minnesota are food insecure. ⇒ Learn more about hunger in Minnesota by visiting www.hungerfreemn.org. EXPANDING THE CIRCLE OF PROTECTION 2012 “Offering of Letters” sponsored by Bread for the World Incarnation’s Hunger Action Group urges letters on Sunday, May 20, 2012 The 2012 Offering of Letters campaign is different from previous ones. This year the topic and focus is designed to respond to the challenges presented by a Congress which has primarily focused on reducing the federal deficit in order to balance the budget. Current proposals for the 2013 budget would result in the most severe cuts to programs for hungry and poor people - - two-thirds of the cuts come from anti-hunger and anti-poverty programs! The overall campaign focuses on protecting funding for programs for hungry and poor people. Within this broader campaign are four mini-campaigns, making it easier for people to focus on an urgent matter before congressional committees or the House and Senate as a whole. The four specific topics are: • Domestic Nutrition Assistance Programs Federal nutrition assistance programs make up 74% of the current budget for USDA and are part of the Farm Bill. This includes programs like SNAP (formerly food stamps), WIC (Women, Infants and Children), school lunch, etc. Cuts here would leave many children, seniors and working adults without food. • Poverty-Focused Foreign Assistance Funding for these programs comprises only 0.6 percent of the U.S. federal budget. Yet Each year it can save more than 1 million lives during the first 1,000 days from pregnancy through year 2; provide medications for HIV/AIDS; save 3 million lives through immunization; and help bring safe drinking water to many others. • Tax Credits for Low-Income Families EITC (Earned income Tax Credit) and CTC (Child Tax Credit) are programs which boost household earnings and lift millions of people out of poverty each year. They are both provided only to low-wage working families with children. Program improvements from 2001 and 2009 will expire January 1, 2013 unless extended. • International food Aid programs The U.S. has played an important role in alleviating global malnutrition and hunger, especially during emergencies, for more than 50 years. This is usually done through programs administered by USDA and USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development). Cuts proposed to the food for Peace Program and the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program would end assistance for 14 million people facing hunger in the poorest countries in the world. The need is great and we are driven by our faith to make our voices heard in Congress and to make our nation’s laws more compassionate to people in need. Join in writing letters on May 20 - - and again later - - to “expand the circle of protection” for poor and hungry people. Ralph Reeder Foodshelf Incarnation's partnership with Ralph Reeder Foodshelf gives people a chance to serve residents in the Mounds View School District by volunteering to sort food and stock shelves at the New Brighton facility or ![[IMAGE]](images/581_ralph_reeder_volunteers.png) by donating money, food, backpacks and school supplies. Operation Christmas Joy collects and distributes toys and food in December. During the month of July, Incarnation holds the Ton of Love Summer Food Drive to gather 2,000 pounds of food and household goods to restock dwindling food shelf supplies. Donations may be placed in the Food Shelf bin in the Atrium at Incarnation. Dorothy Day/Loaves & Fishes Catholic Charities' Dorothy Day Center drop-in center provides a hospitable environment while upholding the dignity of homeless people in need. The center alleviates the immediate suffering for those experiencing homelessness and provides resources to help people and families move toward self-sufficiency. On the second Saturday of every other month, Incarnation volunteers prepare and serve lunch to the homeless residents at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul. About $5,000 of Incarnation’s mission support goes to Dorothy Day each year to pay for the food that is prepared and served by Incarnation volunteers. To volunteer, contact Joan Volkmann in the Incarnation Office.Meals on Wheels Meals on Wheels is a program that delivers meals to seniors who are living independently. Based out of the Shoreview Community Center and serving the Mounds View area, Incarnation is responsible for one Meals on Wheels route on Fridays at lunch time. This is a fun, low time commitment opportunity to do with a friend, your children, or on your own. To volunteer, contact Joan Volkmann in the Incarnation Office. Hunger Around the World Feed My Starving Children Incarnation has partnered with Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) since 2007 by hosting MobilePack™ events on site. Over the first four MobilePack events, Incarnation volunteers have pack more than 1.6 million meals! That is enough to feed more than 4,384 kids for a year. In 2012, the goal is to pack another 426,250 meals to feed an additional 1,250 kids for a year. Learn more about FMSC MobilePack Events at Incarnation. CROP Walk Held each fall, the CROP Walk raises money and awareness for the fight against hunger locally and worldwide. Typically, the North Suburban Crop Walk is held on an October Sunday afternoon in the Circle Pines area. Empowering People through Fair Trade Fair Trade Products Sold-Out Fair Trade products will no longer be sold through Incarnation. These products have been offered for educational purposes and to increase awareness, not for profit to Incarnation. When sales began, Fair Trade products were not widely available through normal shopping outlets. Today these same products can be found at most local markets. With only slight changes in our buying habits, we can make a big difference in the lives of the farmers and the communities who grow these products. At this point in time the break-even status in our sales has allowed us to add all the money from the close-out sales, $ 889.50, to our Mission Scholarship Fund. Since 2009 we have added $2,500 from coffee sales to this fund. Thank you to all of you who have supported this ministry. You have made a big difference We trust you will find ways to continue this support. If desired, you can order these same products directly from www.lwrcoffee.com and www.divinechocolateusa.com. Hunger Action Group Interested in learning about and acting in the fight against world hunger? This group combines ongoing study with local projects and orchestrates events that draw the community of Incarnation into this important work. Contact Vernita Kennen through the Incarnation Office for more information. |
Incarnation Lutheran Church * 4880 Hodgson Road, Shoreview, MN 55126 * Office Phone: 651-484-7213
