Today in the Mission Yearbook - Creative approaches to addressing hunger and homelessness applauded

PHP Advisory Committee hears about ministries making a difference

August 18, 2022

The Pedal for Protein bike tour brings together cyclists to raise money for food banks. (Contributed photo)

During a recent virtual meeting, the Presbyterian Hunger Program Advisory Committee heard about a variety of approaches that are being used by faith communities to address poverty and homelessness, from taking a group bike ride to paying off medical debt.

Hunger Action Advocates (HAAs) from the Presbytery of the Redwoods, Presbytery of San Jose, Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, and Presbytery of the Pacific gave brief presentations on some of their work during a roundtable convened by PHP as part of a three-day slate of committee meetings.

Advisory Committee member Frank Dew and others, including PHP staff, praised the efforts of the HAAs, who serve presbyteries as educators, motivators and facilitators of hunger action. “I’m just blown away by the variety of ministries and how creative all of you have been,” said Dew, a pastor serving as volunteer Peace and Justice Coordinator for Salem Presbytery in North Carolina. “It is so inspiring to hear the work you’re doing.”

Hunger Action Advocates from various areas of the country spoke during a PHP Advisory Committee meeting April 21. (Screenshot)

HAAs assist congregations and other groups to become engaged with issues of direct hunger relief, hunger-related development assistance, public policy advocacy, education and interpretation about hunger and lifestyle issues, including environmental justice, said Jessica Maudlin, PHP Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns.

Corinne Quinn of the Presbytery of the Redwoods in northern California talked about the success of Pedal for Protein, a bike tour that raises money for food banks. In 2021, the longtime event generated more than $60,000, a record amount, Quinn said.

“We were blessed, even during the midst of the pandemic, to be able to garner support from our 47 churches in the Presbytery of the Redwoods and numerous people out in the community and some local businesses to raise that money, which then went on to eight food banks,” said Quinn, a ruling elder and deacon at First Presbyterian Church of Vallejo, California.

Project Empathy is a project of the church in the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley that raised money to eliminate medical debt that burdens the poor in Alabama. The presbytery worked with RIP Medical Debt, which buys debt with donations and forgives the debt.

She went on to explain the importance of helping to purchase protein. “As you all know, protein is very expensive to purchase and has gotten even more expensive during the last two or three years, and so the protein that the food banks are able to buy is just really a blessing for the food bank and lessens their burden,” she said. “It also is something that is so necessary and so vital for the diets of those who receive it.”

Quinn also mentioned an international project that involved partnering with PHP by making a donation in support of a grant to help a central African group doing food security work.

Next, Ralls Coston of the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley in Alabama highlighted two projects. The first was a Pentecost can campaign that set a record in 2021, he said. “Fifteen churches gave almost 33,000 cans of food.”

He also highlighted Project Empathy, which raised money to eliminate medical debt that burdens the poor in Alabama’s Black Belt.  The project was done in collaboration with RIP Medical Debt, which buys debts with donations and forgives the debts. More than $10 million worth of debt in nearly two dozen counties was eliminated as a result of Project Empathy.

Hunger Action Advocates (HAAs) serve presbyteries as educators, motivators, and facilitators of hunger action. (Courtesy of the Presbyterian Hunger Program)

The Rev. Ryan Althaus of the Presbytery of San Jose discussed a number of projects, including Common Roots Farm in Santa Cruz, California, where individuals with special needs live in community with one another. “The presbytery helped us set up a big 100-foot greenhouse for (vertical gardening) and hydroponics, which is great,” he said.

Althaus also mentioned a homeless garden project that enables homeless people to grow produce for the larger community; a sobriety house; a program in which recreational vehicles are parked on church lots to screen homeless people; and other endeavors, including his podcast, “The Kooky Side of Crazy,” which raises awareness about mental illness.

The Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble of the Presbytery of the Pacific gave the final presentation. She discussed various ways that churches are working to address root causes of hunger and homelessness, particularly the lack of affordable housing.

Success stories include raising $200,000 for a Habitat project in Culver City, despite initial resistance from the city council about putting affordable housing on the posh west side of Los Angeles.

Darla Carter, Communications Associate, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Let us join in prayer for:

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Let us pray

Loving God, we pray for all who are hungry and for our church, that our words and our actions may embody your joy and love in our hurting world. In Christ’s name. Amen.