State of the Hunger Action Advocate...

Here is is the end of the year, and I am very grateful for the work that we have done together for hungry people. As people of faith, it is imperative that we work together to battle injustices and advocate for the poor.

Here are a few of the things we have done this fall...

Many churches celebrated Hunger Sunday in October.

October also hosted at least 6 CROP Walks for hungry people held in the communities of Boulder, Broomfield, Estes Park, Ft Collins, Greeley, LaSalle and Windsor. St Andrew's Presbyterian and Apostles drew many members as they participated in the Boulder walk which benefited Community Food Share, Church World Service and Bread for the World.

At our Presbytery meeting in late October, attendees participated in Centsability (meal offerings for hungry people ) where almost $30 in pennies was raised and donated to Our Center in Longmont. Packets to starting Centsability were awarded to congregations too.

Just Eating: Practicing Faith at the Table curriculums were also given to some congregations, and leadership training was scheduled.

The Souper Bowl of Caring celebrations are coming soon- and youth leaders of churches should be receiving a mailing very soon. The mailing will explain that in addition to collecting the dollar donations, youth are encouraged to serve hands-on at the charity of their choice the Saturday before the big game. We're hoping to have over 300 Presbyterian youth involved in the service BLITZ this year.

If you have any questions about these or other activities of your Hunger Action Advocate, please contact me!

Hunger Free Communities...

A year ago in June, my boys and I went to Washington to join other Colorado Bread for the World members Coloradoans to lobby congress to reaffirm the goal of ending hunger in the United States. Our goals were to get a report on progress made towards these goals, and continue to adequately fund food stamps and other national nutrition programs. Additionally, there was a grant component that would increase federal funding available to community-based anti-hunger organizations.

I'm happy to say that even though it took 2 years, late last week the Hunger Free Communities Act passed in the Senate. We are proud of our Colorado co-sponsors Senator Ken Salzar (Alex gave him a "hunger plate") and Representatives Diana Degette and John Salazar. How wonderful. I would encourage you to write these folks and thank them for their support. If you feel like it- write the other ones that didn't co-sponsor and encourage them to support other hunger work.

Our leaders have gone on holiday recess, without completing the majority of the spending bills for FY 2007, including poverty-focused development assistance. They will take up this business when they reconvene in January...So plan to contact those members after the first of the year.

The 110th Congress will take up the matter when it convenes in January. Now is the time to lay the groundwork--especially with newly elected members. Your congregation can take action by writing letters and participating in the offering of letters. Writing members of congress urging them to fully fund the poverty development assistance ($2 billion was requested by the President).

Keep writing and celebrating successes!

LaSalle Breaks the CROP records

Elaine Oster, from First Presbyterian Church was the coordinator for the LaSalle CROP walk held last weekend. She shared some wonderful news from the 2006 walk. There were

27 walkers (a little less than last year) but the walkers raised TWICE as much as they have before. They raised $2,056.50. Of that total amount, LaSalle First Presbyterian accounted for (drum roll please) $1,162. WOW!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Thanks for the update Elaine!

Boulder Crop Walk

Success for hungry people! Several CROP walks were held last weekend, and Alex and I were able to attend the one in Boulder. While final numbers are not in...the around 400 walkers were working hard to raise more than $40,000 this year! What a festival- there were lots of nice booths in the finish area, including Virginia's water carrying booth. I was able to carry a gallon of water on my head...but didn't trust myself to add more!

Pictured here is the fabulous group from St Andrew's Presbyterian Church who looked like they were in the running for the traveling trophy for most walkers from one group. Congratulations St Andrew for such a huge turn out!

I would love to hear about other walks in your areas- please leave a comment or give me a call! Foothills walk is this coming weekend and Fort Collins on the 21st. Check 'em out!

Listen to the voices!

Many of you know talented young people who have decided to serve the church. Becca is member of Longmont Central Presbyterian and is now serving with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in Mississippi. Becca is currently the manager of the Pearlington PDA village and you can follow her experiences in her blog Becca on the Bayou. Check it out...I think you will learn right along with

Colorado Minimum Wage?

OK, we all should be concerned with the Colorado Minimum Wage issue coming up on this falls ballot (amendment 42). Here are some things to consider:

A minimum wage worker in Colorado earns just $5.15 an hour...that means if I'm working full time at 40 hours per week, I make just under $11,000 annually. I can't make ends meet...I'm still in poverty. There is no way I could raise my family. I'm not alone.

It is estimated that over 37,000 Coloradoans experience this type of poverty. It just isn't a living wage, and congress hasn't adjusted this since 1997. What we need to struggle with is how can we let this continue? Why can we let our fellow Coloradoans suffer?

Opponents say this will eliminate entry-level jobs and crush small businesses. Why would it have to be that way? Can't we find a way to help those struggling to find skills or become educated WHILE compensating them fairly with living wage? Wouldn't this strengthen our economy, and make us stronger? I encourage you to get to know the issues and the candidates for this fall. There are lots of hungry people that will be affected by your choices!

Update on CROP walks

Less than a month to go for some of our front range CROP walks! Get your family and co-workers to sponsor you. Remember $400,000,000 is raised annually to help stop hunger. You can help too! Call one of these organizers today!

Boulder	Sunday, October 8	Katy Kineavy (720) 261-9695
Broomfield	Saturday, Sept. 30	Connie Siebenrock (303) 431-4920

Foothills	Sunday, October 15	Peter Boddie (303) 979-5837
Fort Collins	Sunday, October 22	Roger Parmenter (970) 419-1219

Greeley	Saturday, October 7	Jack Stringer (970) 339-9924
LaSalle	Saturday, October 7	Elaine Oster (970) 284-6252

There are several in Denver too. If you would like more information on those...check the CROP WALK site!

Sweat Free T-shirts

College campuses are really something. Tonight on the news I saw where student activists on the Colorado University campus were protesting the sale of university apparel because was constructed in sweat shops. Sure looks like those students have been working on this issue for a while.

PC, USA has been working on it too as a part of their Enough for Everyone campaign. It is a great way to work on lifestyle issues. For example, when you buy clothing from the women's sewing cooperative in Nicaragua you make choices that support the world economy. Please consider using sweat free t-shirts when your fall sports team get together, or you celebrate in your Sunday school or even when you are just having fun with your family. You will be doing a good thing, and it will feel good too!

World Water Week

I was reading the blog Campus Bread this week where author Erin Luchenbill has an excellent article about the 1.2 billion folks that don't have access to fresh drinking water. It got me to thinking about our water here in eastern Colorado, and the depletion of the aquifer. Many farmers already know what may take some of us a long time to figure out...that this precious resource - water - is slowly being depleted. Seems like now would be a great time to talk about it since we just finished celebrating World Water Week. Erin suggested this, and I think it is a great idea...Do you have a story to share about water? Perhaps you have a reflection on a time when you didn't have access to water? Share your stories on my comment section and lets all remember the refreshment and life sustaining qualities of water.

Just Eating? Practicing Our Faith at the Table

Here is a terrific resource developed to be used for congregations as they explore the relationship between the way we eat and the way we live.

	the health of our bodies
	the health of the earth that provides our food
	the ways we use food to extend hospitality and enrich relationships
	the challenge of hunger

A guide is available for every congregation in order to study scripture, use prayer and tell stories about your local community as it relates to the global community as we explore key aspects of our relationship with food. Please contact the Hunger Action Enabler for your copy!

Click on the ICON on the right take a closer look!

Time to get ready!

Don't miss the opportunity to "rededicate ourselves to ending hunger in God's world!" Bread for the World suggests we take a chance to pray for the hungry and "renew our commitment" to share what we have with others. This is a terrific opportunity to add vital components to our worship between World Food Day (October 16) and Thanksgiving (November 23).

If you need ideas, Bread suggests six ways to celebrate this time...check 'em out! Many of our congregations begin our fall food drives around this same time- what a great way to make it
more meaningful for our members! You can also contact Tanory Ateek, Interim Bread for the World Organizer for more informaion.

Feel free to contact me for more information too!
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CROP walks

It is never to early to plan on attending or volunteering at a CROP walk to help hungry people. Boulder's CROP WALK is scheduled for October 8th and I know there are others too. Let me know if your community has one- I'll post it here!

CROPWALKS are usually held in Church World Service as fundraisers to help hungry people in your local area. For more information about these great events...click CROP WALKS!

Alive in Iraq

Have you been looking to get a better idea of the people of Iraq? Alive in Iraq is a website that contains blogs and videos with stories of Iraq people and their daily struggles. It is difficult to get the stories to us, but the pieces are insightful. Click on their blogs or videos to read or view some interesting posts!

Isaiah calls us to: ...offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted..

Because of this plea, we are all urged to help the hungry and those experiencing poverty. This blog will provide you with ideas to think about, challenges to wrestle with and an opportunity for networking with others to help alleviate hunger in your communities.

Good luck and great energy as you work with these endeavors!