March 2009

"...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink..." Matthew 25:35

As some of you may know, March is Minnesota FoodShare month. This is a critical time! Use of food shelves is up 28% compared to last year, and families are finding that their budgets aren't covering the cost of the basics.

Support Our Local Food Shelf

During March, Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP) is participating in the Minnesota FoodShare Campaign, the largest food and fund drive in the state. With use of the food shelf up 28% this year, the need is more critical than ever. IOCP operates one of the few food shelves in the state that allows weekly visits. It is also the only food shelf to serve the more than 85,000 individuals living in Hamel, Long Lake, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Plymouth, and Wayzata. From March 1 through April 3, your food or cash contributions to IOCP's Food Shelf leverage additional dollars. The food shelf receives an allocation based on its percent of the total collected. These dollars allow IOCP to replenish high-demand items.

This year Plymouth Creek Christian Church is combining efforts with Thy Word and Yellow Brick Road. Each group is collecting non-perishable food items that will be delivered to IOCP.

Just imagine if each person brings one can each week in March the difference that we can make

in someone’s life!

This year, Steve W. of PCCC is heading the efforts of the three groups that meet in the PCCC

building. If you have any questions, please see Steve.

The Disciples of Christ

churches will be

packaging food at the

Feed My Starving Children

on the following date:

Brooklyn Park location

Monday March 30th

6:00-7:30 PM

Read more!

February 2009

The Souper Bowl of Caring was born from a single prayer: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Souper Bowl football game, help us to he mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat." The Rev. Brad Smith spoke these words as a seminary intern serving in South Carolina in 1990, and a movement was born.

WHAT: A youth-led movement to fight hunger and poverty. The Souper Bowl of Caring unites an army of volunteer groups across the nation, who take local action to address a national problem. Souper Bowl of Caring provides free materials for individual groups' local efforts and raises awareness with national publicity for Souper Bowl of Caring events. Souper Bowl of Caring groups stage food drives, collect money and have service projects in their communities.

WHO: Everyone! Created as a youth-led activity, Souper Bowl of Caring is now a national movement, which has grown to include congregations, schools, civic groups and businesses. These volunteers send 100% of their collections directly to the local charity of their choice. Local food banks, community shelters, soup kitchens, and other organizations get much needed support from the efforts of the Souper Bowl of Caring participants.

WHERE: Across the United States in places of worship, schools, neighborhoods, grocery stores and other businesses. In a country known for its prosperity as well as its generosity, poverty and hunger still exist in most communities. This grassroots movement has given local groups an opportunity to raise awareness as they raise funds and collect goods for their chosen charities.

WHEN: On or near Super Bowl Sunday in February. This movement includes money donation drives, service projects and food collections on or around Super Bowl weekend, transforming the most celebrated time in football into one of the nation's largest youth-led service movements.

HOW: Plymouth Creek Christian Church will be accepting food and monetary donations for the Souper Bowl of Caring during the month of February. Checks may be sent to the church office at 16000 41st Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55446. Please write "Souper Bowl" on the memo line

-All donations will go to the Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners foodshelf

-The totals collected will be reported to the Souper Bowl to be included in national totals (each non-perishable item is counted as $1).

Souper Bowl of Caring

PO Box 23224, Columbia. SC 29224

1-800-358-SOUP (7687) www.souperbowl.org

Reasons for Caring

One in four people standing in a soup kitchen line is a child.
-Share Our Strength

Thirty-five million working families are considered food insecure in the U.S.
-The Food Research and Action Center

A child's growth, mental development, and academic performance suffer from the lack of food.
-Center on Hunger and Poverty
Brandeis University

Thirty-seven percent of people requesting emergency food assistance are working citizens.
-The U.S. Conference of Mayors
2006 Hunger and Homelessness Survey

MISSION:

Utilizing Super Bowl weekend to mobilize and inspire youth to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities.

VISION:

Transforming Super Bowl weekend into the nation's largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving.

Read more!

January 2009

New Beginnings…

“A new beginning -- A fresh start -- A clean slate. A new beginning represents hope…

the January-first sort of hope that you feel when you hang up a brand-new calendar.

You sense that you have been given an extraordinary gift: the opportunity to set new goals and to renew your commitment to reaching those goals.”

~ Evelyn Bence, author of New Beginnings

Let’s start 2009 with a fresh look. Please consider adopting a room to help organize, clean and

renew. Please consider a donation of your time, talents or financial support. The rooms and wish

lists are shown below (other items may be added):

The Young Adults Classroom

New curtains or window shades

Cleaned or new furniture

Working computer with software

Fresh paint for the walls

Carpet cleaned

Removal of unusable or unnecessary items

The Small Children’s Classroom / Nursery

Curtains or window shades

Fresh paint for the walls

Carpet cleaned

New posters or pictures for walls

Locked cabinets/storage for supplies

Removal of unusable or unnecessary items

Remove paint and stains from table

Choir Room

Curtains or window shades

Fresh paint for walls

Music related decorations

Locked cabinet for supplies

Removal of unusable or unnecessary items

Contact the church office if you are interested in adopting a room.

Thank you for helping give our space a fresh look for a year’s adventure in Table Hospitality!

Read more!