28 June 2006

Nearly $400,000 Raised to Help End Hunger

Community of Christ feed-the-hungry projects around the United States raised nearly $400,000 in response to the Feinstein Foundation $1 Million Challenge to Fight Hunger. This annual initiative inspired 37 Community of Christ groups to step up their efforts during March and April to benefit local hunger agencies. Step up they did, exceeding our collective $375,000 fund-raising goal, which earned a $1,200 bonus grant for the World Hunger Fund.

Riverview, Michigan, congregants made offerings of food for their church pantry.

Participating groups received a percentage of Feinstein’s $1 million grant, which reflected their percentage of the total raised by all participating agencies. In addition, Community of Christ congregations that doubled what they raised in 2005 earned a $250 grant from an anonymous church donor for their hunger agency. Five Community of Christ congregations met this goal and doubled their 2005 fund-raising totals: Coalville (Fort Dodge, Iowa), Hamilton (Hamilton, Missouri), Pleasant Heights (Kansas City, Missouri), Stone Church (Independence, Missouri), and Columbia (Columbia, South Carolina).

Joyce Carter, a Restoration Branch member from Beverly Hills, Florida, coordinated the Community of Christ groups on behalf of the World Hunger Committee for our denomination’s fifth consecutive year of participation. She congratulated all the congregations on their efforts. “It was a very successful year,” she said.

Lois Vandever, congregational financial officer in Columbia, South Carolina, reported that the challenge was very helpful. The congregation has participated all five years. “Our food pantry is restocked every spring with food and money with the help of the Feinstein challenge,” Lois said.

The Riverview, Michigan, congregation’s pantry also benefited from the more than $1,380 in dollars and food raised locally. Cathy Williamson, Zionic outreach commissioner, reported that their pantry was completely emptied at the end of December. “It is just about full to capacity now!” she said. “What a great way to feed the hungry in our community,” Cathy continued.

High Priest Charles Towner loaded up the Norwalk, Connecticut, congregation's food donations for the local shelter.

Pastor Stacey Judd, Norwalk, Connecticut, was thrilled with the outcome of the nearly $1,800 in dollars and food collected for a local shelter serving homeless and others in need. A church youth delivered the food while the cook was preparing the shelter’s midday meal and found himself without any beans to complete the planned menu. The delivery included six huge cans. “We saved the day,” said Stacey.

Marking its ninth year of offering a $1 million challenge, in 2006 the Feinstein Foundation motivated more than 1,500 agencies to raise $159 million to help end hunger in the United States. Visit www.feinsteinfoundation.org for more information.

To be contacted regarding Community of Christ participation in next year’s challenge, e-mail Joyce at feinsteinchallenge@CofChrist.org. To learn more about Community of Christ World Hunger Ministries, visit www.CofChrist.org/hunger/.

-Kendra Friend reporting