FOCUS Alert

May 17, 2013

Welcome to the FOCUS Alert an occasional short publication spreading the news of our common work together. You are receiving this because you have shared your email address with us. You may unsubscribe at anytime (scroll to bottom for directions).

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A Sweet Fundraiserthis Saturday! Food Stamp Challenge Expands Gardening in a Bucket is Here Planting the Harvest Garden Advocacy Updates: SNAP The Crop Walk Golf Outing 2013

1. A Sweet Fundraiserthis Saturday!

Cupcake Tasting Fundraiser Sat., May 18, 1-4 pm. $10/person. 475 State Street, Albany NY. (Back entrance of St. Pauls Church). Cupcake Tasting to Benefit FOCUS Churches. Call 518.207.5430 for more details.

2. Food Stamp Challenge Expands

Currently, at Delmar Reformed Church, 22 adults and 18 youth are taking the Food Stamp Challenge. This challenge raises awareness about hunger in our community, and what it is like to live on a budget of:

$31.50 a week $4.50 a day $1.50 a meal

FOCUS Executive Board member Dennis Radliff took the Food Stamp Challenge. Read more about his experience on our website.

3. Gardening in a Bucket is Here

GIAB season is here. Do you enjoy working with people? Gardening? Horticulture? Any combination of them? Gardening in a Bucket is for you. Volunteers needed to assist pantry guests (weekdays during pantry). Contact Becca Leet for more info: beccal@focuschurches.net Seedlings are provided to pantry guests to plant in their own take-home container.

4. Planting the Harvest Garden

5. Advocacy Updates: SNAP

No time to cut food stamps. Published 5/15, the New York Times Editorial Board shares their view of why Congress must stop cuts to SNAP. Read it online.

Farm Bill News

This week the Senate Agriculture Committee approved a farm bill that was nearly identical to the legislation passed last year, cutting the food stamp program by about $4.1 billion. Senator Gillibrand voted no, due to the proposed cuts to the food stamp program. Senator Gillibrand offered an amendment that would have taken money from the crop insurance program to make up for the cuts to the food stamp program, but withdrew it. She said she would take up the measure when the bill moved to the full Senate. The House began work on its version of the farm bill this week. Read responses from the faith communityclick here.

6. The CROP Walk

The FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry was one of the stops along the CROP Walk on Sunday, May 5.

FOCUS volunteer Stephen Winters & FOCUS staff Becca Leet.

7. Golf Outing 2013

A great way to chip in and help out FOCUS feeding programs is to play or sponsor the FOCUS Churches 2013 Golf Outing!

Sponsorship Form

Event Brochure

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www.focuschurches.net

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