World Food Day 2011 Effort

Dear friends in faith, 

The Prayer Breakfast for Hunger Free Communities was successful in bringing attention to the problem of hunger in Philadelphia. But it was only the beginning of efforts to address the unacceptably high levels of hunger in our city. As people of various faith traditions, we know we are all called to not only feed the hungry, but to advocate for a just distribution of the abundance of creation. We are in unique positions in our communities not only to pray and feed, but also to educate and organize for change.

As part of the continued effort we are looking forward to World Food Day, on Sunday, October 16, 2011. During the Sabbaths of that weekend, we hope that congregations throughout the Philadelphia region will focus on hunger during their worship services.

There are three possibilities we have planned to connect to World Food Day:

Host a Guest Preacher/Speaker:

We can provide congregations with a preacher or speaker for your Sabbath worship connected to the weekend of World Food Day. Register to host a guest preacher. 

Be a Guest Preacher:

We will match guest preachers who have registered and that we have trained with host congregations for the weekend of October 16. Register to be a guest preacher. 

Receive Special Preacher/Speaker Training (same as Guest Preachers) for your own congregation:

If you or someone you know would like to be trained, register for a workshop on "Preaching on Hunger," on Friday, September 23, from 1-5 pm at The Brossman Center on the campus of The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP). The preaching professor from LTSP,  the Rev. Dr. Karyn L. Wiseman, will lead the session and will equip participants to preach on World Food Day in the context of your own tradition. You will learn how to choose texts for the day and work with them, as well as effective homiletical approaches. You will also get helpful up-to-date information about local hunger from Diane Loucks, who has been instrumental in developing City Soup, has researched the issue for Mayor Nutter, and has been a leading advocate in Philadelphia. This workshop will be open to those wanting to preach in their own congregations as well as those willing to serve as guest preachers. Register to attend the preaching workshop. 

We look forward to your participation!

Two articles of interest:

From Monday's Inquirer: Campbell corporate exec. fights hunger/obesity.

And from last month's New York Times, an article about food policy in Detroit.

Detroit is rebuilding - and it's rebuilding with food at the center... because "it's something everyone can agree on". While I think the same is true in Philadelphia, and across the country, why can't we do something about it? Without being at the crisis level of Detroit (although Philadelphia is practically there, we just haven't quite publicly acknowledged it) - how do we build a movement?

Hunger Doesn't Take a Vacation!

As the school year is winding down and many families are making vacation plans,
we must not forget that hunger does not take a vacation. In fact, it can be more
serious during the summer months when children do not receive school meals
and families struggle to serve healthy meals to growing children.

The Summer Meals program, sponsored by the USDA and administered in PA by
the PA Department of Education, is a valuable resource. It is not too late to become
a summer meals site. Most sections of Philadelphia qualify and some suburban towns
qualify, as well. For more information, contact Nutritional Development Services at
215-895-3470.

Future posts will provide information on how to find the site nearest to you!

Anne Healy Ayella- NDS
Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Quality of Life Improvements

Bill Gates reports, and cites economists who verify, that big social problems can be tackled and that the quality of life - in even the poorest of countries- is improving. Improving more so than most of us realize. If good investments are making important improvements elsewhere, it is important for us to believe that much more can be done to reduce hunger here in Philadelphia through wisely invested efforts and monies as well.

See what Mr. Gates has to say in the article below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-gates/the-real-successes-of-for_b_865630.html?ir=Yahoo

Fast for PA's Vulnerable

My colleague with United Methodist Advocacy in PA recently started fasting. To learn more visit www.umadvocacypa.org or search "Fast for PA's Vulnerable" in facebook to join our discussion group - fasting not required!

So far a few things have jumped out at me, in regards to non-spiritual aspects of the fast:

1) a fasting friend of mine shared with me that at this time of year there are LOTS of end of the school year/beginning of summer picnics. Fasting during this time has given her a chance to talk about the state budget and its effects on the hungry when it likely would not have otherwise come up. Many of her friends, neighbors, etc. have promised to write to their State Senators.

2) Fasting can help us understand the link between poverty and obesity - esp when after fasting, we don't lose any weight. Another faster shared that she constantly craved carbohydrates - so when she did eat, she overate in that food group because it made her feel more full. This is why programs that double benefits when you buy fresh fruit and produce are SO important.

3) Finally... fasting can remind of us of how important food is to learning. If our brain is fuzzy during fasting... just imagine what it is like for a hungry child trying to learn. This will give us extra incentive and motivation to push every few years for continued improvements to the Child Nutrition Act - as well as to be involved at the local level with our schools to make sure that children are getting the best nutritional education possible.

Fasting is definitely a spiritual discipline, and is not entered into lightly. However, I wanted to share these 3 things for those who may wonder the practical question "Does my fasting really make a difference?" Yes!

What does Education Funding have to do with Hunger?

Though one could go on for pages about the importance of a good education in eliminating cycles of hunger and poverty, this year’s state budget debate contains a pressing connection.

Gov. Corbett’s proposed elimination of the Accountability Block Grants (approximately $252 Million sent to school districts last year – mostly used for early education programs) has resulted in the School District of Philadelphia (and approximately 31% of all districts statewide) proposing to move from full day to half day Kindergarten.

This move will have far reaching impacts on families who cannot afford the extra child care costs or loss of work hours – increasing their struggle to remain food secure. What’s more… neither morning or afternoon students in Philadelphia will be given a free school lunch! Only morning students will be given breakfast. Currently, all Kindergarten students in Philadelphia have access to 2 free school meals a day. Now, incoming students will receive either 1 or no meals.

With 1 out of every 3 children in Philadelphia facing food insecurity – restoration of the Accountability Block Grant(ABG) is critical. House Republicans have proposed restoring about half of the ABG cuts. However, in order to do so - they propose cutting program like child care subsidies!

Please call House GOP leadership and tell them their restoration is not enough and that education funds should not come at the expense of programs that benefit children, especially those who need food.

Speaker of the House, Sam Smith: (717) 787-3845

Majority Leader Mike Turzai: (717) 772-9943

Please contact your State Senator and Senate leadership (Sen. Dominic Pileggi, Majority Leader: (717) 787-4712 or dpileggi@pasen.gov) and let them know you expect the Senate budget to reflect full funding for the ABG and other programs that support those who are food insecure.

For Saturday's article on child care subsidies see: Cuts expected to curb child care subsidies.

for an earlier article on the School District of Philadelphia's move from full to half day Kindergarten see: Half Day K a disaster

More followup on the Prayer Breakfast

This week's Mt.Airy Times Express (May 6)has the Prayer Breakfast as its lead story! There's a large picture of Joel Berg with Mayor Nutter on the front and then another picture and detailed coverage on pp. 2 and 3 by Arlene Edmonds. You can pick up copies of the newspaper at many places in the Northwest, including at LTSP. Its good to see that the word continues to be spread about the unacceptable levels of hunger in our city, especially as we are going into the primary election on May 17.

As you go to candidates' debates, meet and greets, or just shaking their hands, be sure to ask them what their positions are on addressing hunger in our city. We can set the agenda!