11 July 2003
Hunger Relief Efforts Raise $256,000
Community of Christ feed-the-hungry projects raised more than a quarter
million dollars in response to the Feinstein Foundation’s “One Million
Dollar National Challenge.” Forty-nine projects affiliated with Community of
Christ, serving more than 70 towns and cities across the United States
(including Alaska and Hawaii), raised a combined total of more than $256,000 for
local hunger agencies. Each agency also received a proportional amount of the
$1,000,000 grant from the Feinstein Foundation for its local feed-the-hungry
effort. The Community of Christ World Hunger Fund received a bonus grant of
$1,000 from the foundation in recognition of the church’s organizational
effort.
For the second year in a row Joyce Carter, a member of the Restoration Branch
in Ocala, Florida, volunteered to oversee this ministry for the church. She
worked with nearly 50 leaders to coordinate sharing, distribution, and reporting
of information. Joyce said, “It has been a blessing to talk to these people
and hear about their concerns and efforts in their areas of the country.
Wonderful people!”
Local Community of Christ leaders represented feed-the-hungry projects
facilitated by congregations, mission centers or stakes, and interfaith
organizations. All supported food pantries that serve their entire respective
communities. Many serve meals and distribute groceries, and some extend a
helping hand with other social services also.
Marking its sixth year of offering the Alan Shawn Feinstein’s annual hunger
challenge, in 2003 the Feinstein Foundation motivated 1,591 nonprofit agencies
to raise a total of $53.7 million during March and April. More than 800 schools
also participated in the challenge by collecting contributions of food and money
for local food pantries. See www.feinsteinfoundation.org
for more information.
In 2002, Community of Christ feed-the-hungry projects that participated in
the Feinstein Challenge raised $175,000. The increased participation, amount of
funds raised, and number of people helped in 2003 is encouraging as plans begin
for 2004. Community of Christ members and friends are encouraged to get involved
by coordinating local responses to the Feinstein Challenge for an agency or
school in their community. To be contacted regarding Community of Christ
participation in next year’s challenge, e-mail Joyce at joyceanncarter3@hotmail.com
or call Ken Schnell at 1-800-825-2806, ext. 3073. To learn more about Community
of Christ World Hunger Ministries, visit www.CofChrist.org/hunger.
-Kendra Friend reporting
