• In the United States, Texas is the second state with the most food insecurities. Suffering from food insecurity simply means that you have such limited resources when it comes to obtaining food that your children and family are forced to eat a reduced quality of food. It is estimated that 17.1 percent of the population of Texas suffers from food insecurities.
• In the state of Texas, approximately 24.3 percent of the children population is living in poverty. This means that one in every four children in the state of Texas is suffering from food insecurities.
• Almost have of the families who suffer from food insecurities are forced to choose all the time between food and other basic needed items. Approximately 48 percent of these families have to choose between paying for their light bill, their heat bill, or food. Approximately 47 percent are being forced to choose between paying their rent or buying food. Approximately 39 percent are being forced to choose between buying gas for their vehicles or buying food.

In 2007, I decided to create the Louise Walker Memorial Fund in honor of my grandmother. In 2010, I changed  the mission of my fund to focus its energies on food allergy awareness programs and organizations.  Thanks to the assistance of Capital Area Food Bank, Natural Grocers and Cameron Road Church of Christ (among other local churches) I’ve also been able to create a food pantry that’s food allergy friendly.   It’s still growing and being developed, but it’s definitely making progress!  Stay tuned…by following this blog and following me on twitter!

Related articles

• Food Allergy Awareness Week is May 12-18th! (suninaustin.com)
• 2013-05-10 Fabulous Friday Food Allergy Awareness Week (survivingthefoodallergyapocalypse.wordpress.com)
• Food Allergy Awareness Week 2013 (ctworkingmoms.com)
• FARE Weighs In On Food Allergy Awareness Week (thefoodallergymom.wordpress.com)

Amen!

Connor

Judy

Judy (Left) and Melody (Right)

Bracelets like these will soon be available for purchase on Ebay, God willing. Stay tuned! They’re already available at the fundraisers

Available for those who donate $20 or more

Overcomers International Ministry

May 30th, we will be holding a food give-a-way.

Annessa…isn’t she amazing??

Annessa

James and Cindy Vanlandingham

Connor

Annessa

Britnee, Cindy, Connor

For those who have been following me (and I love and thank every single one of you!), you can see that the children are an addition. The Lord has sent us the most amazing woman I’ve ever met! She is the mother of (some of) the children featured: Annessa, Britnee and Connor. Jennifer is one of our new IT people. She breezed in following the interview and proceeded to  hook us up, installed programs we needed, figured out problems we were having. Amazing! Most important, she loves the Lord, too!  Always helpful when joining a Christian ministry. As for Judy, also a new face, she came in to get food and volunteered to stand at the fundraiser and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts!!

*******************************************************************************************************

It’s now May 20th, and the fundraisers of the past two weekends have come and gone. I want to give a special shout- out to  Jennifer  Pennington and her children Annessa, Britnee, Connor and Kaitlyn as well as her cousin Dave and his children Kristin, Victoria and Austen. In addition to all these, I want to thank Irene, Teena, Melody,  Debra, and, of course, our regulars, Cindy and James Vanlandingham.

Enjoy the pictures taken by Jenny!!

With our sincere thanks,

The Food Pantry Volunteers.

Poverty and hunger are two things that seem to go hand in hand. Almost every major city in the United States has some sort of problem with hunger. Erie, PA is no exception.

Hundreds if not thousands are possibly going hungry in the Erie area. A 2011 article in the Erie-Times News reported that nearly forty-three percent of Erie’s children live in poverty.

However, one organization located on French St. in the heart of the city has been giving people hope for 102 years.  

The Erie City Mission is located near Jerry Uht Park in the center of the city. The Mission’s goal is very simple; to assist those in need. The Mission has many programs which assist people with their everyday needs including groceries and a free nutritious lunch which is served each day.

The Mission was founded in 1911 after former Major League Baseball outfielder turned evangelist Billy Sunday visited Erie and sparked a Christian movement in the area. It was created as joint effort between all Christian churches in the city. Since then, the non-denominational Christian organization has helped thousands of people every single day with basic necessities in order to continue to live.

The Mission’s food pantry is located down the street from the main building. The first thing one may notice about the food pantry building is a sign that reads “The Edge” hanging over the sidewalk near the entrance to the building. The Mission acquired the building a few years ago after the nightclub that was in the location closed down.

Andy Kerr is the full-time chaplain for the Erie City Mission. Kerr, 41, first became involved with the Mission six years ago after being a pastor at McLean Church for thirteen years. He became the chaplain last August.

“I first came into contact with the Mission after we had a church and bar event in Erie,” said Kerr. “It was at that event that I was truly made aware of the poverty and hunger in the city of Erie.”

The food pantry is operated every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. An average of 550 people come to the food pantry each week. One observing the food pantry notices that the line outside of the building before it opens.

“Many people will wait outside for hours, even in the cold winter months,” said Kerr. “Many will ask why they do that. I have noticed that the people who wait that long are the ones who really need it.”

Many of the food items are received from personal donations. However, most of the items are ordered from the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania. Stores like Giant Eagle also donate bread to the Food Pantry.

There is a variety of food available from the pantry. Items include canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, bread, and frozen meats. The Mission makes it a priority to provide healthy food to those who need it.

“We emphasize having healthy foods at the pantry,” said Kerr. “The lifestyles of some of the people who come in here do not allow them to afford healthy food. We make it our goal to provide that for them.”

There are rules for those going to the food pantry. Patrons are only allowed to go once per week. Everybody must take a number, which is written on an old compact disc, and wait for their number to be called before going through the pantry. Each person is allowed one food item from each section of the pantry. The people are kept track of by a computer system. Everybody requesting the Mission’s services must show some form of Identification whether it be a State ID, Social Security card, a visa, or a department of corrections ID.

The Mission itself has over 2000 volunteers on a yearly basis, some of whom travel from out of state, that help make sure the service is run smoothly and fairly. Race Shultze, is one of those volunteers. An Erie native, Shultze, 23, recently came back from a four year stint with the United States Marine Corps.

He feels that the food pantry is unique in its own way.

“This food pantry does stuff nobody else will do,” said Shultze. “The patience and understanding that the staff has for people is amazing.”

The Food Pantry is not the only food service that is offered by the Erie City Mission.

A free lunch is served each day in the dining hall of the main building. Each day, an average of 500 hungry men, women, and children are provided with a healthy meal.

There is no requirement for the free meal. Anybody can come in off the street and eat for free.

The Mission also provides a meal at the San Juan Methodist Church on Erie’s eastside. They also provide meals to the Women’s and Children’s Crisis Shelter downtown.

Kevin Stevenson is the kitchen’s director. He is ultimately responsible for making sure the kitchen puts out enough food for the traffic that comes in each day. He prides himself on the teamwork that the kitchen members have.

“Here it’s like a well oiled machine but we all have to play our part,” said Stevenson. “It’s like four people holding up chair with four legs. Nobody can bear the weight of the chair on their own. Everybody must do their equal part.”

One observing the food would say that it is very healthy. On the menu for this particular day were pork patties, corn, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, tossed salad, an assortment of fruits, and assorted deserts. The meal changes every day, depending on the amount of donations.

The Mission emphasizes healthy food choices because it realizes that those in need are not able to afford eating healthy. The low income that most people have does not allow for many healthy choices.

Who exactly staffs the kitchen? In addition to providing necessities to those in need, the Erie City Mission has a full-time live-in program for men who struggle with addiction. The New Life Program lasts from six months to two years and participants must meet all criteria before they graduate the program.

Ryan Faust of Harrisburg, PA has been in the New Life Program for around three months as of this writing. He and many of the other men in the program provide assistance in the kitchen. Their jobs include cooking, dishwashing, moping the floors, and heavy lifting.

Through being in the program, Faust understands the important of the Free Meal Ministry in the community.

“Just through the way I see the organization help people who are in need, the way people go out of their way and take time each day to help others, it’s inspiring,” said Faust. “Just doing something and knowing you’re helping others in the name of God truly lifts me up. The community as a whole is bettered with this place just being here.”

Without the Mission, it is hard to imagine how severe the hunger problem in Erie would be.

The YCAN Food Pantry is nondiscriminatory.

“War! What is it Good For?”

“I can remember they wanted to get at me,” recalled Amos. “These boys were southerners who claimed the civil war wasn’t over, and that if I wasn’t careful I wouldn’t make it back to land,” he asserted. “But to be fair I talked just as bad,” Amos said with resounding laughter.

Back then while in the war, during a time of racial tension in the 1940’s, my Grandfather Amos constantly had to defend himself against attacks by the unrefined and ignorant people of the day. As a Black male, his status in the Navy and the privileges it allotted him were looked at as undeserved in the presence of soldiers of a lighter hue, White sailors.

“I remember an ongoing confrontation with this one big, massive sailor who kept threatening me,” said Amos with an unusually large grin. “He told me, everyday, he was going to whip me. And I decided enough was enough. So one day I got him in a choke. I must have scared him half to death because from then on I heard not one word.”

Today though, with the daunting times of war now over, Amos has carved himself out a cozy life in Queens alongside his family and friends.

Like every other man, Amos puts on his Levi jeans one leg at a time and slides into his brown loafers one foot at a time. But unlike those men, Amos puts on a blue cap with the insignia of the USS Franklin and a bold blazing bald eagle on the front; a remaining memento from his days in the South Pacific. His scrupulous nature is derived from his stint in the military from October 13 1943 until his eventual honorable discharge in May of 1946 during WWII.

Sixty years ago, on one unforgettable morning in the South Pacific, Amos like any other morning, was preparing the day’s meal for the ship’s crew. Then abruptly, sirens blared over the intercom. “My first thought was whether it was a drill or not,” Amos confessed. Over the ship’s intercom the Captain’s voice ordered everyone to their posts. “At that moment I knew it was real and not a test.” Because of that day and others like it, Amos has become desensitised to pressure.

Today, back in 2012, before Amos Shields leaves the house there is a meticulous nature to the way he goes about doing things. His mental checklist has been focused down to a science. Amos goes into the Kitchen and replenishes his 20 ounce plastic bottle with chilled Brita water, then places it on a tray table along with the rest of his essentials: paper towels, hand sanitizer, toothpicks, his desired reading of the day; two NY newspapers.

He then goes into his bedroom where he’s formatted everything within reaching distance of his bed. Amos sits down rather than stand because at 86 years old he needs a cane to balance his shrunken 5”2’ frame.

His driver’s license still depicts a description more closely related to his virile days in the military: 5 foot 8 with black hair and brown eyes. While showing me his license, he shares another story about his youthful diet and his steak devouring 220 pound frame. “When I was on the ship I ate what I wanted,” he chuckled. “I ate steak all the time.”

Because of the racist regulations of the 40’s Amos was relegated to only a Steward’s Mate albeit 1st Class. “I wanted the Marines but they picked the Navy,” he said with an inflection of disappointment “And because I was Black they made me a cook. Looking back on it now, being placed in the Navy probably saved my life,” recalling the millions who perished while storming Normandy.

But regardless of the less than equal roles for each volunteer and draftee, they all had to train under the same arduous war conditions. “I still had to go to gunnery school, and learn all the basic requirements,” he remembered. “Yet they only allowed me the title of Steward.”

Immediately following his Captains orders over the intercom, the ship’s crew scrambled to their positions. My Grandfather was temporarily trapped in the ships food pantry. “It seemed as if wherever I went, all I saw was fire. I tried my damndest to make it to the north of the ship.”

As ammunition went off and planes exploded due to the extreme heat from the all consuming flames, Amos’ shipmates were clamoring for hoses to put out fires, while others attempted to put up some resemblance of a counter offensive against the Japanese. “I was ordered to go to my battle stations, but after I couldn’t reach my station I tried to help as much as I could. The problem was we had to duck to avoid explosions, fire and our own ammunition.”

The safest place for each sailor to be was topside of the ship. Mainly because of the open spaces and absence of live ammunition, but ironically that was where the initial assault from the Japanese suicide bombers occurred.

But back in the present, Amos’ children, because of their concern for his feeble body to handle the rigors of driving, want nothing more than for his drivers license to become a novelty trinket. Inside his head he’s still a spry military soldier, but to his children he’s an 86 year old who’s fallen several times over the past year and has been checked into the hospital, most recently for shortness of breath and dizziness.

During my interview with him, Amos continued to lament on stories from his past. In the midst of a seemingly endless Japanese bombardment, Amos recalls the after effects of war. He ingested the worst smells imaginable: blood and burning flesh. “It smelled of death. It was so bad; I hate to even think about it.”

The sounds of war are tragic. “The yells were deafening,” said Amos. “In between the continuous bombings and gun shots, screams echoed throughout the ship.”

While still beneath the ship, Amos continued to trudge forth. “I was below deck loading 44mm rounds into my ship’s guns,” he affirmed ”These rounds are big. They’re 12 inches long and 6 inches wide, travel through the ship and are capable of knocking down flyers zipping through the sky.”

Today I can tell Amos has a natural urge to ease the burden of whomever he loves. I’m assuming that nature drove him to lie about his age in order to obtain entry into the armed forces. “I had to lie about my age to convince them to accept me into the military; I put down I was born in ‘25,” he admitted. “I had to protect my mom and six sisters.”

Eventually, after the attacks to the USS Franklin became too powerful to defend and the damage too overwhelming, the ship’s captain signaled for his crew to evacuate. . “After an hour, finally we were given the S2 signal to abandon ship.” Once he was able to reach topside, Amos leaped off the ship onto a retreating cruiser. “I was told to go to the hospital but I refused. I sat on that cruiser cold wrapped in a blanket 57 miles off the coast of Japan.”

While others were regrettably entering into the military after getting drafted or fleeing in order to escape the drafts menacing grip, Amos welcomed wars grizzly fate. “I entered because I wanted to fight. I wanted to enter the war to end all wars.”

Volunteer Opportunities Monday, May 13-Wednesday, May 15

The Annual National Association of Letter Carrier’s Food Drive is taking place tomorrow, Saturday, May 11. Please remember to leave a bag of non-perishable food, such as canned vegetables, pasta, cereal, and other items that do not require refrigeration by your mailbox for your letter carrier to collect.

We are still in need of support to weigh, sort, and pack this food at our collection site so it can be transported to local pantries and other feeding programs. The following volunteer opportunities are available next week (Mon-Wed)

SORTING/PACKING- Groups are welcome! Note that, for safety reasons, the minimum age for volunteering is 12. Groups with minors under 18 must bring adequate adult supervision (minimum of 1 adult for every 5 children).

HEAVY LIFTING- You must be comfortable operating a pallet jack and moving between 200 and 1,000 pounds of food. The minimum age for volunteering in this capacity is 18. Training is required and will be conducted on-site on the day of the event.

SHIFTS AVAILABLE

Mon, 5/13 and Tues, 5/14
• 8-11am
• 10:30-1pm (for heavy lifting/moving)
• 12:30-3pm
• 2:30-6pm
• 5:30-9pm
• 8:30-10:30pm

Wednesday 5/15
• 8-11am
• 10:30-1pm
• 12:30-3pm
• 2:30-6pm

To learn more and to register, please visit:  Stamp Out Hunger LI

Joan Flynn
Volunteer & Community Relations Manager
Tel: 516.294.8528 x121; fax 516.747.6843
joan@islandharvest.org

199 Second Street, Mineola, NY 11501
40 Marcus Blvd. Hauppauge NY 11788| www.islandharvest.org

The Franciscan Center announced recently that they were opening a thrift store to “turn Rollerblades into food”.  The store will sell donated clothing, toys, old sporting equipment, household goods, and other items.  The money generated will help to fund the programs that serve thousands of men, women, and children on the south side of our city every year.  Like most nonprofit organizations in today’s economy, The Franciscan Center needs new revenue streams.  Over the last five years there has been a decline in foundation grants and donations, but a large spike in the need for services.  This is a trend that is common in today’s world and something that challenges the existence of many nonprofit organizations.  Alternatives sources of funding are desperately needed and this new store could be the answer.

The store will be located in an old Goodwill location in the Coliseum Corners Plaza in Fort Wayne.  There is a lot of work to be done to get the sales floor set, racks in place, and the mound of donations sorted before the store opens on June 1st.  That is how we helped this week.  We put together some donated racking, performed some minor cleaning, and received a few donations at the back door. We enjoyed engaging with Franciscan Center staff and the other volunteers who were helping.  We were only able to give a few hours, but the time was very rewarding.

Fort Wayne friends, I need you to listen to this call to action.  The Franciscan Center needs your help.  They need volunteers to help get the store open and donations sorted.  The Goodwill store moved out, but the donations continue to pile up in the stockroom.  I was shocked to see how many bags of donated items they have accumulated in just 4 weeks. They need hands to go through these bags, sort items, and get them onto the sales floor.  This is a job you, your friends, and your family could do with ease.  Even if you can only give a few hours, it would be greatly appreciated.  Visit the organization’s website to learn how you can get involved.  I also want to encourage you to visit the store after it opens. Buy an item or two and support a great cause and a great organization.  That is all it takes to lend a hand through a new store.

Immediate Openings — HOT Volunteer Needs

• Overnight Shelter Volunteers
• After School Program Volunteers
• Food Pantry Data Entry Volunteers
• LUM Camp Volunteer Counselors

Please scroll down and read more details about all of these incredible opportunities to serve LUM and your community.

Please SHARE this post with Others.

Overnight Shelter Volunteers

Shelter Volunteers are needed 365 nights a year from 8:30 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Duties include assist coordinator in checking in guests and serving meals, stay on site all evening, and take a shift on “awake” duty. Must be able to maintain confidentiality and interact with a variety of people.

Overnight Shelter Volunteer Training Session is NEXT Thursday, May 16th at 6:30 p.m. at the LUM Ray Ewry Youth Center/Shelter Building at 525 N. 4th Street, Downtown Lafayette. No need to register to attend a session. Volunteers must attend a Shelter Training Session which are offered twice a month. Click HERE for more information on the position and for the complete schedule of upcoming Training Sessions. For more information, please email or call Joyce Fasani (jfasani@lumserve.org | 765.423.2691).

After School Program Volunteers

The ASP Volunteer must enjoy working with children and have experience helping them achieve. Duties include set up for daily program needs; help children, ages approximately 5-11 years old with their homework; and supervise and play with children. Hours are 2:00-6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, when Lafayette School Corporation is in session. Email or call Cindy Haley if you’re interested (chaley@lumserve.org | 765.423-2691).

Food Pantry Data Entry

The St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry Data Entry volunteer welcomes clients to the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry, verifies their household information on LUM’s client database, and determines if they qualify for assistance. Clients are then served by the counter volunteers. The St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry is located in St. John’s Episcopal Church at 6th and Ferry Streets. The pantry is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday mornings from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. The Data Entry volunteer must be knowledgeable of basic computer operation and database concepts. As special training is required, a long term commitment is desired.

Interested persons should email or call Ron Smith (rsmith@lumserve.org | 765-423-2691).

LUM Camp Volunteer Counselors

LUM Camp is a week-long camp from July 29 through August 2. Volunteer camp counselors must be 18 years old, enjoy working with children and be able to spend the entire week at LUM Camp from 11 a.m. on Monday, July 29 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug 2. Committed volunteer camp counselors are at the heart of a successful LUM Camp and play an important role with our LUM campers.

A comfy bunk in an air conditioned cabin awaits you! For more information, call Joe Micon at 765.423.2691 or click HERE.

Volunteering with LUM

LUM could not provide its many programs and services without the hundreds of volunteers who generously contribute their time and talents. Most volunteers find their work to be interesting, fulfilling, and rewarding.

There are many different opportunities for volunteering, from working one-on-one with a child in the afternoon After School Program to helping run the 42-bed homeless shelter overnight. Also, there are opportunities to fit every schedule, from regular long-term commitments such as being an advocate once a week in the morning Emergency Assistance Program or at data entry at the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry, to one time work with an event like LUM Camp, Thanksgiving Celebration, or Jubilee Christmas.

Some volunteer positions require training while others require only a willing heart and a helping hand. Email lum@lumserve.org for more information.

Join LUM online and help us serve children and families even better.

The shelves had accumulated quite a bit more stuff since then,  so this picture doesn’t really do it justice.  It now looks like this…

I clearly still need to paint in here.  Next I organized under the sink…

I think everything needs a bin, I got these at Target in the dollar section.  I packed the first one with rags that I use for cleaning and dusting.  The second has cleaning products that I do not use as often, the next has garbage bags and magic erasers. The last has cleaning products I use more often, like Lysol wipes, dawn dish soap, pinesol etc. and right in front of that one is febreze duster, Lysol multipurpose cleaner and Windex, things I use on a more daily basis.  In the basket on the left-hand side there there are dishwashing tabs.  Above that is a hanging basket with sink plugs, a scrub brush and unused sponge. Did I mention I’m crazy? Here’s a closer look…

and

I then worked on the pantry, which is jam-packed.  It was pretty organized to begin with I just moved some things around.

The basket on the top has extra napkins and paper plates.  The urban outfitters bag has grocery bags that we use to pick up dog poop, oh ya! The two bins on the bottom are dog food, one for each dog.  Charlie eats an expensive low ingredient food because he has allergies, Zack can eat anything so we don’t buy him the real expensive stuff.  I then worked on the hall closets.

I began by removing everything and washing it all.  From the move things just seemed kind of dirty to me, so I wanted to start fresh.  I then folded everything and put sheet sets inside one of the alike pillow cases to keep the whole set together.  So when you need a new set you just grab the pillow case and everything is inside, no need to search for a missing sheet.  I put everything in alike piles, sheets with sheets, blankets with blankets, etc.

Then I started putting everything back in.  Big blankets on top with a couple misc pillows.  Next beach towels and a basket, then guest towels the next shelf down.  After that a large down comforter, then sheet sets and small throw blankets.  And on bottom extra bath mats and more sheet sets. On to the next closet which is pretty simple..

On top beach mats and a basket filled with photo albums. Then coats, they don’t get used too much here in FL.

On the bottom, just the good old dyson.  As I previously mentioned my parents, sister and brother in-law are coming to visit very soon! Woot woot! So next I worked on the guest bath.  I am trying to make it a little more convenient for guests to use.

Under the sink is, you guessed it dog bathing supplies haha.  The other side…

A basket with extra TP, extra klenex box, jar with tampons(there are girls visiting, you never know) and a jar with extra razors.

On the counter top I added a glass with new toothbrushes and toothpaste, you never know who’s going to forget their toothbrush!  Some lotion, handsoap and a jar with Q-tips.

A basket on the back of the toilet with some more TP and air freshener.  This bathroom is so far from done,  I just need to give it a little love so my family has everything they may or may not need.

Time to get your walking shoes on!! Our walking group will be starting up again. Last year we walked at Onota Lake. The scenery is great…so peaceful. We logged over 160 miles collectively! Please call Linda Murphy/499-0278 or Pat Brien/442-6381 to sign up. GET HEALTHY ~ ONE STEP AT A TIME!!!

]]> http://passitalongblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/nutrition-month-and-the-needy/ Wed, 20 Mar 2013 19:21:31 +0000 passitalongblog http://passitalongblog.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/nutrition-month-and-the-needy/ It’s that time again: March. No, I am not going to be talking about NCAA March Madness basketball or the first days of springtime, but rather another, lesser-known but still wonderful attribute of this month. It is National Nutrition Month in the United States.

With all the work that Pass it Along does to help those who are hungry, it struck me as the right time to talk about the topic. I attended my first “Cooking for a Promise” event this past week, and I can say that I left touched by all the good things that the program accomplishes, but also more cognizant of the nutritional challenges faced by families that may be homeless or enrolled in supplemental nutrition programs.

The USDA figures suggest that today, one out of every nine people in this country are enrolled in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps. As financial stability issues in the U.S. and abroad continue concerning economists and financial markets, the economy stays in a seemingly unending state of flux. With the abundant uncertainties, the labor market is slow to add jobs, and the effect on the millions of people laid off during the recession is amplified as the long-term unemployed give up seeking work, and those newly without jobs use up their savings and eat (literally) into their assets. Both of those scenarios increase reliance on programs like SNAP.

However, the Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research recently looked at biometric data from food stamp recipients, and their conclusions were surprising. The study found that on average, female participants studied who were enrolled in the U.S. Food Stamp Program had a body mass index number at least 1 point higher than other people in similar socioeconomic brackets who did not receive food stamps. A BMI increase of 1 point meant that a woman of average height would be heavier than the control group by 5.8 pounds.

Additionally, food pantry programs, which may be utilized in conjunction or separately from federal nutrition assistance, are great supplemental resources for those who are experiencing hunger or are at risk of food insecurity. However, like many other non-profit sectors, donations to pantries suffer during times of economic hardship. Also, due to storage and food safety concerns, many pantries do not offer fresh produce, considered to be the cornerstone of a healthy diet. Frequently only canned, processed, and other shelf-stable varieties can be accepted as donations, and the balance of donations frequently tips toward the highly-processed and carbohydrate heavy, due to the stability of these foods, as well as their relative inexpensiveness.

So, while individuals and families may be receiving an adequate number of calories per meal thanks to these various forms of assistance, it is quite possible that they could still be undernourished. In fact, while it seems incongruous, is totally possible to be statistically overweight, yet still under- or malnourished.

The struggle to increase awareness about the risks of being overweight (increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, among other things), as well as the nutrition struggles facing families in need, is ongoing. Do your part to increase your awareness and the awareness of others around you. Volunteer at a hunger relief program. Donate no salt added, minimally processed foods, fruits and vegetables in their own juices instead of in heavy syrups, and lean proteins like canned tuna or chicken to help round out the assistance provided by your local food pantries. And finally, check out http://www.eatright.org for more information on National Nutrition Month.  It might even inspire you to create something like the “Nutrition Week” held last week at Hardyston Middle School, hosted in conjunction with the Pass It Along chapter there!

(Sources:  Ohio State University data culled from “Does the U.S. Food Stamp Program contribute to adult weight gain?” study published in the July 2009 edition of Economics and Human Biology; additional info from “Do food stamps lead to obesity?” blog from Lynne Peeples,  published by Scientific American.)

-Written by Maren Morsch, AmeriCorps Program Associate

Overcomers International Ministry was started in 2006 by Apostle Iva Bowers. Following her overcoming of breast cancer, she was blessed with the ability to heal others and was given this ministry.

Overcomers International Ministry is a non-profit organization dedicated to the filling of spiritual and physical needs. In order to fill both needs, two addresses are important to know:

First, there’s the church. The address to the church is 607 Bryce Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80910. You are most welcome to visit and we’d love to have you!

Second, there’s the office which is located at 2210 La Salle Rd, Ste 206, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. The office consists of two offices, outfitted for multiple volunteers and a food pantry, recently blessed with donations, which is how the ministry runs.

Because OIM is a non-profit, periodically, fundraisers are required for collecting donations to fill the pantry, so hungry families can be fed. With the blessings brought in, careful study is done on the Internet for the best prices and places to shop for supplies. Printable coupons are used on a regular basis.

Following, is a list of the future fundraisers:

Palmer Park Walmart:

• May 17 & 18
• July 19-21
• August 16-18
• October 11-12

Platte Walmart:

• April 12
• May 10-11

We welcome all in who want and need to be blessed.  Assistance. Understanding. Compassion. Guidance.

May God bless you!

“Don’t you start, now, Kayla Anne,” Grandmom said.  “We were lucky to get this Bishop’s order for your school clothes.  You know how he can be.  After this we have to stop at the food pantry.”

“Not the Bishop’s warehouse?” asked Kayla Anne.

“He said no to a food order,” said Grandmom.

Grandmom was going through the racks picking out pants and shirts and sweaters without asking Kayla Anne if she liked them or not.

“Grandmom, that’s ugly,” she said about a pair of black pants.

“We have to see what will fit you first,” said Grandmom with a sigh.  “Hopefully, the things that fit won’t be too ugly.”

“Jeanine gets to pick out her own clothes,” said Kayla Anne.

“Jeanine has a momma and daddy who work and can afford to take her to the mall for her clothes,” said Grandmom.  “You have me and we shop at the DI and I have to get you things that will fit.”

Kayla Anne could tell that Grandmom was starting to lose her temper.  She was quiet while Grandmom finished picking out all the clothes and didn’t say a word as she tried them all on.  Grandmom was particular as to fit.  Kayla Anne ended up with five pairs of pants (including the ugly black ones), five shirts (one of which was cute), five pairs of new underpants and new socks, and three new sweaters.  She tried to think about the one cute shirt, but most of the clothes were so ugly that she just wanted to cry.

They didn’t have to pay at the checkout because of the Bishop’s order and people pretended not to stare at them.  A manager had to sign off on the order which took even more time.  A whole crowd had gathered by the time they were ready to leave.  Kayla Anne was red to her ears, but Grandmom didn’t seem to care.

They packed Kayla Anne’s new school clothes into the back of the old Subaru and headed across town to the food bank.  Grandmom had brought her own bags and brought back the old egg cartons, too.  There wasn’t much of a line, so Grandmom signed her name and put her address down on the paper and started sorting through the boxes for food.  Each box was labeled:  take 1 or take 5 or take 10.  Sometimes there was a worker to help you.

Kayla Anne was glad to see that they had chocolate milk in single serving bottles and beef bologna.  Grandmom was glad to see they had a 5 gallon jug of milk she could have.  There were three bags worth of canned foods and Kayla Anne hopped up and down to see that there was grape soda.  There were six loaves of bread and six breads like bagels and hamburger buns and then at the end the treats.

Kayla Anne couldn’t believe how fancy the cakes were.  Then she really couldn’t believe that Grandmom was picking one out!

“We’ll have this for your birthday next week,” said Grandmom and Kayla Anne felt suddenly happy and like crying at the same time.  “What do you say?”

“Thank you,” they both said to the man handing out the treats.

“You’re welcome,” he said with a smile.  “You all have a great day.”

Kayla Anne knew she would.