Plenty

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“...when did we see thee hungry and fed thee? Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these...” Matthew 26:37/40

“When Did I See You Hungry?” Looking at Poverty in Ohio

The stats are clear! Of Ohio’s 11.4 million residents, the percentage of those with incomes at or below the federal poverty level has continued to climb dramatically in recent years:

Ohioans are suffering from losses of jobs, housing, health insurance, and subsistence incomes. A growing number of people in our state are not only poorer but, yes, increasingly often even hungry.

But isn’t that relatively small compared to “real” hunger witnessed in other parts of the planet? Don’t these figures pall in comparison to the 850 million people globally who are food deprived or the 30,000 people who die daily of hunger and malnutrition in third world countries?

Sure. Admittedly not as widespread, severe, or dramatic, yet hunger is real to those experiencing it wherever they live.

The real question is, “do we clearly see them and understand their depth of need?” Waiting in line for a monthly allotment of groceries, here are a few sample Ohioans who reveal the nature of hunger in our neighborhoods these days.

If it means being down to your last $5, there stands Rick Paine’s family. A construction job at $7.50 an hour provides barely enough to support himself and two children. Until the decaying car throws a belt or fragile frig dies, they squeak through each month by cleaning a church and getting hand outs.

What about Crystal Theobold? Observe this mother of two pre-schoolers, who with her live-in boyfriend Toby Peterson were doing O.K. until he lost his job recently. Now, held together with Toby’s $100 weekly unemployment check and $200 monthly food stamps, she is forced to dilute the milk for the baby as their household lives on the edge.

Or look into the life of Billy Jo Smith, who is struggling to get work to support her three kids after being divorced by her husband and having him abandon their family. What she receives in food stamps and welfare—as she trains to become a nurse—are not enough to feed the children. Fortunately their hunger pangs are relieved somewhat on weekdays whenever the kids are able to bring home part of their subsidized school lunches.

Need we search for further evidence? Like Marslan Clark, a nurse who was forced to stop work after delivering her first child? Then there’s David Close who after 33 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard, had a stroke and lost his memory, dignity, and most of his income all at the same time? Or Edna Squires who was suddenly laid off after 33 years working at the Goodyear factory?

Some of these may be accused of poor career choices, bad family planning, and shortsighted money management—even morally lacking through life style indiscretions. We might feel that we know people like them who have cars, TVs, are overweight, and waste their money. What about welfare fraud? We could conveniently counter any feelings of responsibility by claiming that they first need to be responsible—to do something for themselves.

Yet, even a few glances at what it means to be poor in Ohio might also reveal a rival truth: “there, for the grace of God, go you and I.” And we might also have our eyes--and hearts--opened further to the meaning of an ancient but ever contemporary question: “When did I see you hungry?"

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Plenty and Scarcity: A Second Look Updating 2006 Hunger and Public Policy Issues

After six months, the five hunger-related issues adopted by the Hunger Network for this year are already ripe for revisiting—and revision. “Plenty and Scarcity” discussion groups are encouraged to reconvene to update recent legislative decisions. Opinion Ballots are still being received and will be summarized, shared with legislators, and reported in the next newsletter.

1. Poverty as Morality: Ignoring the Faces of Poor
   
   This spring congress agreed upon future spending reductions which will likely increase poverty. Legislators were close to supporting a bi-partisan amendment to restore $7 billion in funding to the committees that have jurisdiction over education, nutrition, social services, energy assistance, Head Start, child care, Meals on Wheels, and many other vital services for vulnerable children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. However, once the rhetoric ceased, the votes were not there and the 2007 human service budget aspirations collapsed much like the New Orleans levy. The most promising possibility for changing the current mindset in congress will occur on November 7th at the polls.
   
2. Legislating or Regulating: To TEL the Truth
   
   Following the May primary election, promotion of two versions of a formula for reducing state spending, known as the Tax Expenditure Limitation (TEL) initiative, suddenly evaporated. Condemned by local governmental, library, school, police, fire and other municipal services officials led to another look at this petition for a constitutional amendment. Anticipating negative fallout for the dominant party and its candidate for governor, Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, legislators rapidly passed into law similar but compromised legislation. As with the proposed amendment, it places a 3.5% cap on state spending but, applies only to the state, thus, excluding local governments from the same restrictions. The best spin on this politically-expedient deal is that it will discipline future General Assemblies to reduce spending and taxes. The worst reading is that, with the failure of the state to meet federal match moneys to draw down otherwise available revenues, a variety of human services, programs will go underfunded. Another worry is that this arbitrary formula for regulating financial policies will force local governments ultimately to increase taxes to salvage their own essential programs. However, with only a simple majority needed to make exceptions and two-thirds to mutiny the entire bill, legislators have the option of doing whatever they want anyway.
   
3. Income Injustice: Half Step toward Fairer Wages
   
   This spring, the General Assembly passed an increase in the state minimum wage law to the federal minimum of $5.15. Set back in 1990, the former Ohio minimum of $4.25 had been contested by the Ohioans for a Fair Minimum Wage. This coalition of non-profit, community, faith-based, civil rights and labor organizations had begun to collect petition for placing as a referendum on the November ballot raising the state minimum wage to $6.85 (with future adjustments for inflation). The legislators’ relatively slight increase seemed mainly to sidestep that larger need for fair wages in the state and defuse the Campaign to raise it significantly. However, working in concert with a larger national initiative known as the Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign, Ohio advocates are undeterred. They are moving forward, dependent largely upon congregations across the state both to endorse their efforts and circulated petitions for getting the referendum on the ballot. They may be reached through Katy Heins, project director at 513.314.0074 or letjusticeroll@yahoo.com.  
   
4. Farewell to Welfare: Money under the “Mattress”
   
   In early May Governor Taft released nearly $200 million in welfare funding for child care, help with home energy payments, supplemental low income assistant to working families, and support for food banks. Moneys were removed form a large surplus in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds that had been building up for several years. The state had been receiving $728 million in TANF annually from the federal government and, including a “maintenance of effort” requirement of state and local matches, had funding totals of over $1 billion a year. Because TANF comes with federal restrictions, some counties often returned large sums unspent. However, the more recent trend has been toward county Departments of Job and Family Services figuring out other less regulated ways to disburse their funds. If this pattern continues, policymakers anticipate TANF surpluses will be smaller in the future. Shifting TANF at this time in Ohio becomes even more important after the failure in both houses of congress in early February to recognize the program’s growing demands for additional funding. The lack of congressional commitment seems bound to catch up with them and, because of increasing poverty, slow progress in moving more families from the “dole” to self-sufficiency.
   
5. Making $ense of Tax Cuts: The “Haves” Have More
   
   As of early May, congress continued to be governed by the principles of “trickledown” economics. Denying both essential programs to combat poverty and a ballooning federal deficit, legislators agreed to renew earlier tax relief legislation by returning $70 billion in tax cuts. It handed out an average of $42,000 in tax breaks for each millionaire household. The bill also exempts millions of middle class American from a “creeping minimum” tax. However, the middle fifth of taxpayers with incomes averaging just under $36,000 will gain only $20 and just $47 for families with incomes between $40,000 and $50,000. These tax cuts will squander revenues and deprive the treasury of essential funding for human service programs. Next will be an attempt to repeal the estate tax. The loss of these revenues will reward the wealthiest and condemn the poorest Americans while increasing the indebtedness of our country for years to come.

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Putting in Your Two Cents Worth!

The “lifeblood” of the Hunger Network in Ohio is a program known historically as “2 Cents-A-Meal” and more recently also “Prayers, Pennies, and Public Policies.” Although largely responsible for funding the overall program, 2CAM is much more than a technique for raising money. Rather, it is a mustard seed idea for engaging congregations in a common mission of ending hunger in Ohio.

PRAYERS A Spiritual Discipline

We begin with encouragement to center our lives around personal devotion, Bible reading, reflection, and prayer. Whether privately, with our family at dinner, or within our faith community, we open ourselves to the essential meaning of life, nature of our existence, and relationship to each other. We look at ourselves inside/out--from the view of our common humanity. Aided by biblical references, memorized quotes, and/or spontaneous prayers, we bond together, celebrate the goodness in our lives, and acknowledge our responsibility to others with less. Resonating the prophet Micah whenever we come together, we ask ourselves, “What does the Lord require of ME?” We examine our own lifestyles—what to affirm, what to share, what to change. We create rituals for helping ourselves to explore together what more should we be doing to prevent economic injustice and unfair access to limited resources. We, in effect, expand our dinner tables and recognize the faces of others and needs beyond our own.

PENNIES Regular, Modest Self-Sacrifice.

The budget of the HNO is largely underwritten by contributions of pennies. Churches throughout Ohio have taken responsibility for gathering coins from either families or at church meals. We suggest a 50-50 formula: Of every 2 cents collected, one penny is directed toward local, direct services, and/or denomination hunger-related program projects. These are often food pantries, soup kitchens, or short-term remedies for persons with desperate financial needs. The second penny is dedicated through the HNO to broader systematic solutions. This balanced approach to designated-giving enables churches to apply first aid to emergency needs while addressing root causes of hunger. Thereby, 2CAM becomes an integrated approach aimed at resolving the problem of hunger and the condition of poverty.

PUBLIC POLICIES. Advocates Training to Fight Hunger

We believe that each of us as persons, as people of faith, and as citizens are endowed with the right, privilege, and responsibility to shape the world around us through our choices of leadership and public policies. Although the HNO avoids partisan politics, it encourages political action. The HNO is a ministry of advocacy through flagging hunger-related issues, taking takes clear positions rooted in our faith-based values, and sharing our convictions with public officials. Our major witness occurs through identifying, recruiting, educating, and supporting a network of advocates largely from congregations to work with federal, state, and local officials to end hunger in Ohio. So ultimately, 2CAM challenges church people to act politically on behalf of those who Jesus called “the least of these my brothers”...and sisters.

So, “putting in your two cents worth” means all three—addressing hunger through our personal devotion (prayer), sharing our resources (pennies), and advocating for justice (public policies)

2CAM startup packets--available through the HNO office--contain information about hunger in Ohio, two children’s church school lesson plans on hunger awareness, daily scripture verses on hunger printed on a wrapper for attaching can to collect pennies (enclosed), and a report form for congregations to divide and forward donations.

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Dear Friends,

The Hunger Network in Ohio has always operated with a modest budget. This year we have encountered unexpected shortfalls in revenue that have jeopardized the ability of the Network to continue with its work.

The Board has committed to an intensive effort to stabilize our organization. We have undertaken to seek $10,000 in emergency funding this summer. To this end we are applying for mission fund and foundation grants. And we are making this midyear appeal to you for personal contributions.

We have committed to work in our denominations and congregations to promote and organize 2-Cents-a-Meal. Please read the article in this newsletter entitled “Putting in Your 2 Cents Worth”. And please consider introducing 2-Cents-a-Meal in your church if you are not already doing it.

We have reluctantly accepted our Executive Director, Bob Erickson’s offer to go on unpaid sabbatical for the months of June – August. Bob will volunteer four hours per week and Board members and volunteers will pick up the remaining operations.

We have set the goal to increase 2 Cents-a-Meal support and volunteer commitment sufficiently by December 31 to be able to project a minimum of $40,000 income for 2007 with the potential of reasonable future growth. If we are unable to do this, we must consider merging our network with another existing group or terminating our work altogether.

These have been very difficult decisions. Bob Erickson has called this “kairos moment” for the Network, a time of very great risk and a time of very great opportunity.

As the lead article in this issue of “Plenty” shows, there is hunger in Ohio and we are challenged do something about it.

Again, we invite you to make a special effort to keep this important work alive. Please consider making a midyear contribution to the Hunger Network in Ohio. And also please consider other ways you are willing to be helpful including encouraging the practice of 2-Cents-a-Meal in your local church.

If you have any questions or need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me or any other Board member. We are grateful for your partnership in this important ministry.

The Rev. James S. Miner, II, 
Board Chair 
276 North Ardmore Road 
Columbus, OH 43209 
(614) 258-9783 
jsminer@juno.com. 

I want to share in this ministry!

____I will contribute financially. Enclosed is my personal gift of $________.

____I will recruit my congregation to implement the “Prayers, Pennies, and Public Policies (“2 Cents-a-Meal”) program. Please send me additional information and a “start-up” packet.

____I want to volunteer. Contact me about how I can help.

____I recommend that you contact these friends (include names, email address and/or phone number on the other side of this “U-Do-It” envelope along with information getting in touch with you)

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Hunger Awareness

National Hunger Awareness Day, this its 5th year on June 6, is a grassroots movement to raise public consciousness about the solvable problem of hunger in America. It provides a platform for domestic hunger-relief organizations like America’s Second Harvest Foodbanks to discuss the severity and extent of poverty in this country.

In response to this emphasis, faith-based groups are increasingly customizing their own Hunger Awareness observances, often choosing a Sunday during the month of June or at another convenient time during the year. The Hunger Network in Ohio, through the inserts in this edition of “Plenty” and the availability of other hunger-related resources, encourages congregations to participate. Included are a variety of ways to highlight the conditions of hungry people and invite greater support of year-round efforts that make a difference in changing conditions that cause poverty:

Worship Folder Insert

“HUNGER!!!” with the flipside “HUNGER NETWORK IN OHIO: A Ministry for Making a Long-term Difference” may be photocopied on both sides and, cut down to a half page form, inserted into Sunday worship folders. It emphasizes becoming part of this ministry through developing an ongoing program of “2 Cents-A-Meal.” A further explanation is offered in the enclosed article “Putting in Your 2 Cents Worth” and additional information is available through the Network website & office.

2 Cents-A-Meal Can Wrapper

Included on the back of that same page is a resource for families to use at home accompanying “grace” before meals. This can wrapper with scriptural references may be duplicated and given out within the congregation as a way of encouraging greater consciousness of, commitment to, and involvement in reducing hunger.

Hunger Awareness Contact

To keep in touch with the Hunger Network and assist in sharing information about hunger relief opportunities, congregations are encouraged to recruit at least one member to serve as their Hunger Awareness Contact Person. They will be placed on a postal and email address list to receive regular information for disseminating within the church. As others become interested, they may form an ongoing hunger action group.

Spreading Awareness and becoming Advocates

The Network keeps in close touch with any interest persons and potential advocates who have internet access through an email public policy network known as HungerNetOhio. Those willing to come together to discuss particular hunger-related legislation may use an annual discussion booklet, “Plenty and Scarcity: Hunger and Public Policy.” Individuals with special compassion and willingness to work together with other advocates are invited to serve a Legislative Liaison within their own state district. In this position they become a chief link to their legislator, spokesperson for the Network, and coordinator for hunger relief initiatives within that district. They are encouraged to bring together other advocates in developing strategies for approaching their legislator.

These are a few of the countless ideas for increasing hunger awareness—and acting to end hunger in Ohio.