Mission: 1 Unites United Church of Christ for Food Justice
11.1.11–11.11.11
· 1,111,111 food items collected for local food banks
· $111,111 for Neighbors in Need
· $111,111 for East Africa famine relief
· 11,111 letters to Congress supporting Bread for the World and food justice around the world
Full schedule of Mission: 1 events below...
Check out the Mission: 1 video...
Mission: 1 unites the entire United Church of Christ in a campaign to feed the hungry and confront food-related injustice. It will take place in the first eleven days of November: 11.1.11–11.11.11.
United Church of Christ congregations, colleges, seminaries, and health and human service agencies, will join together in a collective mission campaign to collect more than 1 million food items for local food banks, raise $111,111 in online donations for Neighbors in Need and $111,111 for East Africa famine relief, and write 11,111 letters to Congress (in support of Bread for the World’s 2011 Offering of Letters campaign) asking that U.S. foreign assistance be reformed to more effectively serve the world’s poorest people.
The staggering facts compel us to act with compassion and to be voices for justice. 925 million people still suffer from chronic hunger worldwide, nearly 90 million higher than in 2000. In the United States alone, 50.2 million people (up from 35.5 million in 2006), including 17.2 million children, are food insecure. They don’t have the money or assistance to provide food for themselves and their families. We can be God’s instruments of change.
The Ministry of Outreach, Ministry and Service has set some goals for FCCB: to collect 1,111 food items during the fifth Sunday offering on Oct. 30 and to mobilize 111 volunteers during the 11 days of the inititive in support of various food-related causes. Opportunities for financial contributions and letter-writing will also be offered.
Collecting Food for Mission: 1
As part of Mission: 1, the UCC-wide initiative to address hunger in the world, we will be collecting food items for local food banks beginning with October’s Fifth Sunday offering. Bring your food items to either service on Sunday, October 30, which is also Pledge Sunday, to kick off this campaign.
We will continue to gather food through the 11 days of the Mission: 1 campaign (from 11.1.11 to 11.11.11) and then celebrate and dedicate what we have gathered on Sunday, November 13. We can also invite our neighbors and friends to participate and a food collection barrel will sit near the church office throughout the Mission: 1 campaign.
Items most needed by food banks: canned fruit & vegetables, canned meats and fish, peanut butter, pasta, beans, rice, canned soup (low-salt), low-sugar cereal and oatmeal, tomato sauce, powdered milk. Download this shopping list with additional tips from Mary Fujii.
Volunteer Opportunities
First Church is hoping to get 111 people to volunteer at agencies that provide food for those who don’t have enough to eat.
On November 5, you are invited to sort fresh produce at the Alameda County Community Food Bank, from 1–4 pm, at their new volunteer center. 30 people will be needed that day and First Church youth groups will be taking several of those slots.
Berkeley Food & Housing has opportunities to serve meals at the Women’s Shelter at 2140 Dwight Way. Three 3-person teams are needed to serve lunch from 11:45 am to 2 pm on Tuesday & Wednesday, November 8 & 9 and from 5:45 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, November 10.
On November 12, you can help prepare Thanksgiving food boxes at the Alameda Food Bank from 9 am to 1 pm. 30 people are also needed on that day as well. First Church member Hank Leeper is the Director there.
The Berkeley Food Pantry, which has been a long-standing beneficiary of the FCCB Farmer’s Market donations, needs help packing Thanksgiving bags. Adults and youth over the age of 12 accompanied by an adult are invited to join in on three Sundays at 1 pm on October 30 and November 6 & 13.
Sign ups will be taken on Sunday mornings, October 16, 23 & 30.
In addition, members and friends are encouraged to find agencies in their areas where they might volunteer during the fall as part of this larger campaign to raise awareness about hunger issues.
Learning Hours on Sunday Mornings
Two special Learning Hour programs will be presented in October in preparation for the Mission: 1 campaign. On October 23, a special intergenerational event will celebrate the food customs of a wide variety of people. Those from the youngest to the eldest are invited to attend to celebrate, connect and learn. On October 30, FCCB members Mary Fujii and Hank Leeper will present a program about food issues in the Bay Area.
There is something you can do to combat hunger in our community! You’ll learn what are healthy foods which fit into the bags given out at local food charities. Bring in healthy foods to demonstrate your commitment to our neighbors in need. Roll up your sleeves and volunteer to get food out to those who stand in line for free food. Write a letter to our legislators to urge food justice through our foreign aid policies. There are many ways to stand up for hunger relief.
Mary Fujii is a retired public health nutritionist. During her 23 years in Contra Costa County, she worked closely with the county food bank, soup kitchens and pantries to improve the nutrition and food safety of the food they offered. Hank Leeper is the director of the Alameda Food Bank.
Learning Hours take place at 10 am in the Large Assembly between the two worship services.
Full Schedule of Mission: 1 Events
Food Donation List
Download this list with additional tips from Mary Fujii...
