Church Community Services’ Post

Just Because You Have A Good Job Doesn't Mean You Have Enough For Everything As with most government funding, food aid from traditional food banks is calculated based upon the Federal poverty calculation, meaning a family of four with two parents working full-time can still be food insecure. By working diligently and earning a raise, that food-insecure family will not longer qualify for traditional food pantry support, as well as other government programs they relied on such as rental assistance, utility assistance, education assistance, or child care. People are working hard to support their families, but now they are put into a worse financial situation. It’s a dilemma, affecting nearly half of the food-insecure population in Washington County, but Food Helpers provides the solution. By breaking away from government-funded distributions, we are free to serve every household that needs help. Food Helpers believe that we can end hunger by creating sustainable communities through equitable access to aid, education, and resources.

Hey friends, new and old 👋, At Ridiculous Engineering the company I co-founded, we’re not just a software engineering consultancy—we’re a company that cares about the world around us. 🌍 As many of you know, September is Hunger Action Month. Hunger is a serious issue that impacts millions, and while our passion is solving business problems with technology, we also believe in taking action to support meaningful causes. I’d love for you to check out how Ridiculous Engineering is spreading the word in the fight against hunger this month. Together, we can make a lasting impact. #HungerActionMonth #EndHunger #SocialImpact #RidiculousEngineering

It is unconscionable that a country as rich as the US will have no answer to homelessness and hunger. People in the US will see images of people in other countries who are going without food and will give their money to help feed these hunger people and yet when it comes to hunger in their own country, it is ignored. If the government created an effective program to address homelessness and hunger in the US, Republicans and their supporters would rise up in anger that their tax money would be used in such a way. I think they call it socialism. Hunger and homelessness has been a problem no matter which party was in office. This is a multi-decade problem that needs to be addressed. https://lnkd.in/eTh7xAMs

United States: The hidden faces of hunger in America. Heather Thomas can count out the tragedies that pulled her family of eight into poverty. She and her husband lost their jobs and home, their small business folded, multiple relatives died and health crises pushed them into medical debt. "It just went from a drip to a flood very quickly. And we just lost it all," Thomas recalled. "Food was really, really, really tight. My husband's health, because of his conditions, there were times we just couldn't eat right. And one of his health conditions ended up getting a lot worse. We were rationing diapers... It was really bad." They're among the more than 1.2 million people who struggled to put food on the table at some point last year in the Washington, D.C. region. That's a third of the population living in and around the capital of one of the richest nations on Earth. Nationwide, more than 33 million people, including five million children, are food insecure, according to the USDA. No community is spared, with rural areas, families with children and communities of color disproportionately affected. "Systemic racism, lack of access to education, lack of mentorship, lack of access to banks, financial instruments, wealth building tools, lack of access to affordable housing — all of these things are at the root of food insecurity. And it's important, therefore, not just to address things at the surface and some of the symptoms, but also to address these root causes."

September is Hunger Action Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about hunger in America and inspire action. How much do you know about child food insecurity and the importance of school meals in feeding hungry children? A new national survey by GENYOUth reveals Americans’ views on one of the most critical & defining issues of our time: 🍎 Americans do not understand the extent of child #hunger, with 64% not aware that 1 in 5 kids lives in #FoodInsecurity. 🍎 But child food insecurity awareness is growing, with most Americans believing it should be a national priority, and 65% supporting more state & federal resources to help #EndStudentHunger. 🍎 3 in 5 Americans agree that most children get their healthiest meals at school, and 65% believe more states need to offer free #SchoolMeals to all kids. Make everyday count this month. Visit, https://lnkd.in/gfyGmTW to see daily steps you can make to take action against the hunger crisis. #HungerActionMonth #MakeADifference #Rayze

How does YOUR gift tackle hunger and poverty from all angles? With your support, agency partner Acorn Family Place helps Winnipeggers facing barriers to finding work through Food Connections—a pre-employment program where folks gain culinary skills in a supportive and caring environment, creating a beautiful ripple effect throughout our community. How? ❤️ The income Winnipeggers earn means they can feed their children, pay rent, and move from survival to self-sufficiency. ❤️ Meanwhile, the hot meals they prepare are delivered by our agency partner North End Women’s Centre to encampments, nourishing Winnipeggers experiencing homelessness. (Folks are also given warm winter wear, menstrual and hygiene supplies, harm reduction supplies, and more.) ❤️ Meals made with love help meet a real need for Winnipeggers facing hunger, while making them feel seen and valued. AND it’s a meaningful way for North End Women’s Centre to build relationships with unsheltered Winnipeggers, connecting folks to community resources and life-changing help. That’s the ordinary magic of our community’s network of support—and the power of giving united! #WeAreAllWpg

320 days. Over 87% of a year. Some things in life can't be undone --- the damage from lack of access to emergency youth sheltering services can never be undone. We will never know the true numbers or circumstances, but wonder... How many youth lives lost? How many suffered without access to help and resources? How many preventable tragedies? We can not change these truths. But, TOGETHER, we can say NO MORE. If we wanted to... we could end youth homelessness and horrors that accompany it. We could save lives, change lives, and allow people to become the best versions of themselves.

Homelessness and children without food represent two deeply concerning facets of societal inequality and neglect. The stark reality of children going hungry amidst abundance is a poignant reflection of systemic failures. Each night, thousands of children go to sleep without a stable roof over their heads or enough food to sustain them. This crisis not only robs them of their childhood but also jeopardizes their health, education, and future prospects. Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach, encompassing not only immediate relief efforts but also long-term strategies aimed at tackling poverty, improving access to affordable housing, and ensuring food security for all. Only through collective action and compassion can we hope to create a world where every child has a safe place to call home and enough nourishment to thrive.

OUR VISION: No one hungry and homeless. OUR MISSION: To inspire everyone to make one personally-delivered, fresh & nutritious meal and deliver directly to their neighbors currently experiencing homelessness with dignity on the streets in their communities. OUR CORE VALUES: • “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” The problem of homelessness is overwhelming, but anyone can make a sandwich for someone in need, and everyone should. • The best of the best to those with the least. People experiencing homelessness don’t just need feeding. They should have the dignity of a good meal. • We know that food is medicine and everyone deserves the highest quality ingredients. Fresh, homemade, organic, and sustainable food. • Loving-kindness in action – not in a soup line, but one personally delivered, fresh & nutritious boxed lunch at a time.