The Hunger-Fighting Bill

[Lowjack]

This would effect my Ministry directly


May 13, 2008

"On behalf of 35 million hungry Americans, I urge Members of the House and Senate to vote in favor of the historic, hunger-fighting Farm Bill on Wednesday. Hungry Americans are facing one of the most difficult times they have seen in recent years, and our food banks are on the brink of catastrophe.


"A recent survey of 180 food banks found that 99 percent of respondents are seeing increases in the number of low-income Americans turning to the nation's food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries for help. The average reported increase was 15-20 percent, and 80 percent of food banks have indicated that they are unable to adequately meet the demands for food assistance in their communities. More than 90 percent of food banks cited rising food and fuel prices as a primary factor driving the increased need.


"Hungry Americans need a Farm Bill enacted now! The charitable distribution system inthe United States is overburdened, and soaring food and fuel prices continue to send more and more Americans into the ranks of hunger. We must begin to replenish scare inventories at food banks and make significant improvements to the Food Stamp Program to ensure that our neighbors in every community -- right here inthe United States -- do not go to bed hungry."



America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization inthe United States. Through its network of more than 200 member food banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in all 50 states, theDistrict of Columbia andPuerto Rico. Each year, America's Second Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. To learn more, please visit www.secondharvest.org.


CONTACT:

Maura Daly

Cell: 301.943.3733


Ross Fraser

Office: 312.641.6422

Cell: 312.307.8470


SOURCE America's Second Harvest

[pfharris1965]

This is a great post...but unfortunately it will fall on deaf ears...

I wonder what that $12B - $14B per month burn rate on a bunch of Muslims that hate us could do if directed back here to Amerika...:huh:

From the responses I have seen in other forums by the very same ones that post here is the notion that those hungry Amerikans just need to learn to be more self sufficient and stand on their own...they are only hungry because they made bad decisions...

I tell ya, the compassion that would have made Christ so proud is a thing of the past...most of the folks that call themselves Christian do not care anymore...I still give what I can afford to give even though times are tight...

In this great nation of ours, there is absilutely no reason for anyone to be hungry or in need of medical attention...the people of Iraq have it better on those fronts than the Amerikan that is paying for it...:bounce:

:cheers:

[HuntDawg]

I am often conflicted with this issue. As stated, many people, often including myself, say that these people should take care of themselves, though I give to the can goods box at church.

I have no problem taking care of children, elderly, or people not able to care for themselves through mental or physical problems. My problem is that our poor and hungry are the most overweight people in the world. When we talk about hunger in third world nations, we are talking about very, very thin people. It seems that the person in line in front of you at the grocery store using food stamps weighs 350 lbs. Granted, the poor are often less educated and tend to eat unhealthy, but to say they are hungry is hard for me to believe. Again, I have no problem helping the young, old and handicapped, but most of these people that go to bed hungry could change that by just having a job. If your children go to bed hungry, then they should not be allowed to stay with you. You are incapable of taking care of them.

As a Christian, I do believe in charity as I believe Jesus taught, but I also believe he wants us to be selfsufficient if we are physically and mentally capable.

[Dogmusher]

I think everyone has some points here. And that is part of the problem. Often, especially in Govt. sponsored programs, it is the abuser who uses up the resources designed for the truly needy. There are many people who deserve assistance and don't get it because of people who could help themselves and would rather live off of Uncle. My wife and I recently moved to GA from the peoples republic of Maine. There is not enough space here to describe the abuses of the system I saw there. It's obscene.

On the other hand, I believe the Church should be leading the way in solution finding. I am writing an article now (which may make it's way as a chapter in my upcoming book, "Recession Proof Living"), that offers practical and Biblically sound ideas on things Churches can do to alleviate hunger, reduce dependence on Govt. agencies, reduce health care costs, etc. The article will appear first in the blog section of my website www.iounomore.com. I am firmly convinced that the economic future of America can be bright, and that the keys lie with the Church rather than with Govt.

[Dogmusher]

Oh, I forgot. My bride and I have decided that we should tithe from our garden as well. It's an extension of our philosophy of "giving God the first of the best and the best of the first." We're still trying to decide how best to do it. Option 1. Take the produce to a food pantry or soup kitchen. Option 2. Go to the local supermarket and see what the going rate for that produce is and give the equivalent amout of money to the food pantry or soup kitchen. We're leaning towards option 2 because it seems more practical.

[pnome]

There are hungry people in this country? I thought we were all fat.

[Ta-ton-ka chips]

From the responses I have seen in other forums by the very same ones that post here is the notion that those hungry Amerikans just need to learn to be more self sufficient and stand on their own...they are only hungry because they made bad decisions...



The post stated 35 million hungry Americans, not starving. :banginghe
When these moochers start starving then maybe they'll get off their butts and go to work.

They are where they are today because of their own bad decisions, good observation, Phil. :cool:

Typical Govt Program, punish good behavior through taxation and reward bad behavior with free prizes:banana:
Got to keep those Democrat voters fed:bounce:

[Ta-ton-ka chips]

Oh, I forgot. My bride and I have decided that we should tithe from our garden as well. It's an extension of our philosophy of "giving God the first of the best and the best of the first." We're still trying to decide how best to do it. Option 1. Take the produce to a food pantry or soup kitchen. Option 2. Go to the local supermarket and see what the going rate for that produce is and give the equivalent amout of money to the food pantry or soup kitchen. We're leaning towards option 2 because it seems more practical.

I'm hungry, I must be part of that 35 million.
Can you pick me a big red tomato from your garden and bring it to me? I want a fresh mater sammich ::ke::biggrin2:

[holton27596]

The "poor" in America have ahigher standard of living than the middle class in Europe. If they woild get ride of that suv, cell phone , pager, cable etc,,, most of them would have enough money. I am tired of my money being taken at gunpoint and given to someone the Govt. thinks needs it!!!!

[Dogmusher]

I'm hungry, too. That's why I planted the garden :bounce::bounce:

[Spotlite]

we have too many that take advantage of the system, here and there............................

I have no problem in helping the "needy" but I have issues with laziness.

[Spotlite]

Also let me add this, I do think we should make sure our needy folks here are in good hands before taking it to our neighbors. We are to be good stewards of what we have, apply that to your own family, if you let your family go hungry and do without and send your money to your neighbor..............................

[Vernon Holt]

My Church is relatively small, with a total budget of approximately $130,000. It would be great if we could dedicate a major part of this to benevolence, but obviously it doesn't work this way.

With the number of requests that we currently receive, we could easily exhaust our benevolence budget in one month. My point is simply to say that country Churches do well to care for their own. It is my understanding that this is our charge: Galatians 6:10-- "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith".

In my community, hunger is being dwarfed in comparison to other needs. People are calling the church asking for help for a variety of needs. They are behind on rental payments, mortgage payments, power and phones are being disconnected, construction workers are laid off, my car is "broke down" and I cannot get to work, need formula and diapers for the baby, and the list goes on.

There are no simple answers to the problems of the needy. It would indeed take a miracle to enable the Church to handle the dilemna alone.

[Dogmusher]

Vernon:

I think all those issues are related. And while I belive in miracles, I really don't think one is required to handle the dilemma. It will take planning, cooperation, prayer and a rethink of priorities on individual, congregational, denominational and transdenominational levels. I also believe that as the Body begins to implement some of the changes, we will see revival within the Church and many souls won to Christ as well.

[PWalls]

My Church is relatively small, with a total budget of approximately $130,000. It would be great if we could dedicate a major part of this to benevolence, but obviously it doesn't work this way.

With the number of requests that we currently receive, we could easily exhaust our benevolence budget in one month. My point is simply to say that country Churches do well to care for their own. It is my understanding that this is our charge: Galatians 6:10-- "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith".

In my community, hunger is being dwarfed in comparison to other needs. People are calling the church asking for help for a variety of needs. They are behind on rental payments, mortgage payments, power and phones are being disconnected, construction workers are laid off, my car is "broke down" and I cannot get to work, need formula and diapers for the baby, and the list goes on.

There are no simple answers to the problems of the needy. It would indeed take a miracle to enable the Church to handle the dilemna alone.

You just described our church to a "T". Same budget and everything.

I agree.

One huge thing would be if all the people who grace that door on Sunday morning "tithed" like they were supposed to. The church would be better equipped to handle that responsibility at that point.

[Vernon Holt]

Musher: I congratulate you on having faith to believe that the entire body of Christ could possibly rally to this cause. We've a ways to go.

We have Ministerial Associations where local Pastors gather for whatever reason. My County has such an organization. They took the initiative to incorporate a formal group (named Churches United in Service, Inc) whose purpose is to provide aid for the needy. Out of some thirty plus churches in the county, only seven or eight contribute regularly. The larger churches are conspicious by their absense of support. Not a good report is it.

[Dogmusher]

Not realy, no. I didn't say there wouldn't be work involved. :-)

[PJason]

No bill ever passed will end hunger, no court ruling overturned will ever end abortion, and no gun law will ever end murder. Until we realize that the man sitting next to us is our brother, the woman we ogle is our sister, and the child we look past is our flesh and blood none of this will ever change.


Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion --- inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.