Taking Root

1. Taking Root Hunger Causes Hunger Hopes

2. Recognizing Hunger Day One—Monday

3. Matthew 25: 31-45 • The “sheep” are the righteous and the “goats” are not • The sheep feed, clothed, hydrated, and visited the sick and the goats did not • “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink.?...”

4. In the “global village” of 100 people…

5. Food • 50 out of 100 people are hungry some or all of the time • 16 out of 100 people are undernourished • 34 out of 100 people have enough to eat

6. Clean Water • 83 out of 100 people have clean water at their home or nearby • 17 out of 100 people spend most of their day finding clean water

7. Schooling and Literacy • 36 out of 100 people are ages 5-24; 30 of them are in school • 72 people are over age 15; 59 can read at least a little, but 13 can’t read at all

8. Long term development strategies • You can get loans to buy goats and other animals • The animals can have babies and make milk • Sell the babies and milk for money • Build concrete structures that controls some of the river water • Farmers can direct some of the water to irrigate the crops

9. The percentage of Americans that go hungry • In 2010 14.5% of American households were food insecure • In Maryland 12.5% of households were food insecure http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx

10. Poverty • In 2009 14.3% of Americans were in poverty • In 2009 20.7% of children were in poverty http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/hunger-and-poverty-statistics.aspx

11. Caring for Neighbors Day Two--Tuesday

12. Luke 10:29-37The Parable of the Good Samaritan • There was a man who was beaten almost to death, and thrown on the street • A priest and Levite pass and don’t help the man • A Samaritan passes by, and helps the man, he takes him to an inn and feeds him and cleans him up, and pays the innkeeper to take care him • Lesson: Jesus says, “Help your neighbor”

13. Ways that People can Help Their Neighbors • Give money • Donate food • Clean up the community park • Have a can food drive • You can listen to your neighbor • Provide useful technology, e.g. a tractor for farmers, or putting lights in people’s houses who don’t have them • Buy fair trade goods

14. ELCA World Hunger and Development Aid • Giving money to the ELCA World Hunger and Development Aid provides emergency aid and long term development • They work with partners all over the world to get the funds to local communities

15. Turning Right Side Up Day Three—Wednesday

16. Luke 1:46-55 • Mary’s song of praise • Mary was singing a song about God’s power • You should help others in need • “…He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things…”

17. Food • 35 million people in the U.S. reported not having enough food in 2005 • Healthy food in grocery stores tends to be expensive, while unhealthy food is cheap • Some grocery stores don’t have a big selection of fresh, healthy food; that makes it a lot harder for poor people to eat a good diet Bread for the World, Working Harder for Working Families (Washington, D.C.: Bread for the World Institute, 2008), p. 43.

18. Health Care • People with a lower income tends to have worse illness than others • 90% of people without health insurance are poor, one third of those people also live below the poverty line • Illness and disability can make workers unable to find or keep a job, which reduces their income Bread for the World, Working Harder for Working Families (Washington, D.C.: Bread for the World Institute, 2008), p. 46.

19. Housing • In 2006 the average hourly wage a person needed to afford a 2 bedroom house was $16.31 • The federal minimum wage in 2009 increased to $7.25 • The main factor for homelessness among veterans and others, is a lack of affordable housing National Low-Income Housing Coalition, ( www.nlihc.org). National Alliance to End Homelessness, Vital Mission: Ending Homelessness Among Veterans (November 2007).

20. Employment • Other factors to consider when talking about an affordable “living wage”… • If childcare was $25 per day, a person making the federal minimum wage would pay $125 per week • Many homeless adults that are employed still have to sleep in a shelter due the high cost of housing

21. Education Disparities • There is a direct link between higher levels of education and a higher salary • The U.S. Census Bureau found that each additional year of being in school, a person makes >10% more money • A person not being able to pay for higher education keeps the cycle of poverty going and prevents workers from being able to advance themselves to a “living wage” salary Bread for the World, Working Harder for Working Families (Washington, D.C.: Bread for the World Institute, 2008), p.95.

22. Racial Disparity • In the U.S., many minority populations especially African Americans & Hispanics have disproportionately experience higher rates of hunger & poverty • They encounter great illness, disease, unintentional injuries, and lack access to education, health care, housing, and job opportunities. • These will increase the chance that these communities stay in the cycle of poverty & hunger U.S. Census Report, “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States” (2006), www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/p60-233.pdf. “Healthy People 2010,”www.healthypeople.gov/document/HTML/Volume2/15injury.htm.

23. Local Agencies that Help • Assistance Center of Towson—gives food, emergency assistance, payment for prescriptions • BGE—gives relief from utility bills for low income customers • Maryland Food Bank—distributes food donations to organizations that feed the hungry • Social Services—help low-income families and children in crisis

24. How We (Ascension) Can Help! • Collect food and give it to the local food bank • Support our local charities such as ACTC, Maryland Food Bank, and Lutheran World Relief

25. Learning to Seed Day Four--Thursday

26. Matthew 13:31-32 • “…It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of the shrubs…” • No matter how small your faith is, God still loves you • Even if you are really small, you can still accomplish GREAT things with God’s help

27. Video clip • http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-World-Hunger/Resources/For-Congregations/Generational-Materials/Taking-Root/Student-Activities/Youth-Videos.aspx

28. Changing a Church into Homeless Shelter

29. A lasting impact • “seeds” or small actions and ideas by a few people, one person, or a small group of people can make a difference • What is your idea?

30. “Seeds” or Actions We Can Do! • Donate food to local food pantries, ACTC • Donate to God’s Global Barn to have animals given to communities • Donate to Christmas Shoebox Project • Can pick up trash, clean up parks • Go serve people at a soup kitchen • Go on a Mission Trip!

31. Potatoes for Food Pantries in PA

32. Teaching Children about Nutritious Eating

33. We will remember what we learned this week by… • Making a picture that reminds us we are more fortunate and should give to the poor and serve our neighbor • The bowl we made to remind us of those who don’t have a lot of food • “Giving is better than receiving”: When we go & serve people who are living in poverty, we won’t expect to get gifts back besides the experience we are given

34. Presentation by the Middle School Class Rachel Hall, Kyle Langenfelder, Katie Gavazzi, Sandy Tober, Kate Sullivan, and Wesley Walker Leaders: Courtney Adamo, Jenny Anderson, and Anna Johnson

35. Ascension Lutheran Church VBS June 25-28, 2012