FOCUS Alert

June 6, 2013
Welcome to the FOCUS Alert an occasional short publication spreading the news of our common work together. You are receiving this because you have shared your email address with us. You may unsubscribe at anytime (scroll to bottom for directions).

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Gardening in a Bucket for Kids at Shelter The Food Stamp Challenge CACC honors community members ONE in 24 Summer Interns FOCUS at Worship July 7 Volunteers Needed

1. Gardening in a Bucket for Kids at Family Shelter

Last week, Becca Leet and volunteers took the gardening in a bucket program on the road to the Schuyler Inn shelter for families. 18 youth participated in the project. Each child received their own bucket to decorate and plant a tomato seedling to care for and grow on their own.

2. Food Stamp Challenge

Pastor Dirk Gieser and his family took the Food Stamp Challenge throughout the month of May. Read his reflections here.

Dennis Radliffs Food Stamp Challenge experience was highlighted in the Times Union today. Read more here.

3. CACC honors community members

At the Spring Assembly of the Capital Area Council of Churches representatives from 31 faith communities and 5 organizations celebrated the testimonies of high school recipients of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarships, including FOCUS Church Westminster Presbyterian member Alexander Scaptura, and FOCUS Church Delmar Reformed member Lois Sawyer Caulfield who received the James and Pearl Campbell Peace & Justice Award.

C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S !
For a complete listing of award winners visit capareacc.org

4. One in 24

Feeding America president and CEO Bob Aiken said that the House farm bill cuts, if enacted, would amount to more than 8 billion lost meals for struggling families.

READ ARTICLE - CLICK HERE

"If divided evenly across Feeding Americas national network of food banks, every food bank would need to provide an additional 4 million meals each year for the next ten years, and that is just not possible," Aiken wrote. "There is no way that charity would be able to make up the difference. We are already stretched thin meeting sustained high need in the wake of the recession. We simply do not have the resources to prevent hunger for the millions of people who would be impacted by these cutsthe low-income working families, seniors, children, and individuals struggling to get by." The idea that charities will make up for cuts to SNAP and other federal nutrition programs is popularand erroneous. Charities, food banks, food pantries provide an invaluable service, but they can't address hunger alone. One in 24 bags of food assistance comes from charitable organizations; federal nutrition programs, such as SNAP, provide the rest.

5. Summer Interns
C AS S I E AV E R S A Cassie has been on board at FOCUS for 3 weeks as a summer college intern. Cassie assists in the pantry with all duties of service, even helping guests prepare their own Garden in a Bucket to take home and grow vegetables. Welcome, Cassie!

AN D R E A H O L R O Y D Summer intern Andrea Holroyd will join FOCUS next week, participating in a range of activities in service and advocacy. Andrea is currently Chrisitian Education Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Welcome, Andrea!

6. FOCUS at Worship, July 7

- JULY 7 -

E M M A N U E L

B A P T I S T

C H U R C H

275 STATE STREET SERVICE BEGINS AT 9:30 AM

7. Volunteers Needed
Ever wondered what its like to volunteer at FOCUS? Nows the time to dip your toes in! Summer is almost here and FOCUS programs are as lively as ever throughout the warmest months of the year. Contact Beth to get involved. 443-0460 or bethg@focuschurches.net . Interfaith Food Pantry
Volunteers needed for slots Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm.

Breakfast Express
Volunteers needed for slots on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 7-8:45am.

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www.focuschurches.net

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