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| If
you visit the shelter you will notice that we have refurbished the recreation
room—replacing the cushions in the recreation room sofas and new carpeting to
cover the worn tile floor. New office furniture was donated to us from Interfaith
Hospitality Network as they closed. We received a grant from the Statewide Nutrition
Program to purchase new preparation tables in the kitchen. Please keep our staff and residents in your prayers. Thank you for your commitment and partnership to this ministry to homeless women and children. May God bless you as you have blessed the lives of others. ~Karen Adkins |
| Iraqi
Refugee Update Several Christ Church members have donated clothing, furniture, and even a piano over the past few months. Others have volunteered as mentors or tutors. The after-school program began in April and finished with the end of the school year. The refugee children will participate along with community children in a police department sponsored activity program in a nearby park. There are opportunities for young people to earn community service hours by helping with this program. A very pressing issue now is that some refugees may become homeless. The amount of funding and time provided by the federal government is no longer adequate. Some refugees may be unable to pay for their housing. Some refugees have not found employment or may be laid off. An International Rescue Center (IRC) Board member has provided funding for a 1 to 1 matching grant. If you would like to contribute to this matching grant you may go to www.theirc.org/baltimore. To get more information on the program, matching grant, or to volunteer your time, contact our member Mary Smith at 410-235-8414. Thank you for your continued interest in this service to our neighbors in need! | |
| FAIR
TRADE 
Through the Lutheran World Relief (LWR) COFFEE PROJECT, Christ Church members
and friends can enjoy the delicious coffee, tea, and chocolates while helping
small-scale farmers in Latin America, Africa, and Asia as they build a better
future for themselves and their families. Through the project, farmers earn a
fair price for their products, have access to affordable credit, and gain a long-term
trading partner they can trust—a fair trade organization called Equal Exchange.
Equal Exchange is a worker-owned cooperative committed to the principles of fair
trade. By working together through a cooperative, farmers can sell their products
directly to international buyers without relying on the middleman. Equal Exchange
is LWR’s fair trade partner. With your support, the communities invest in education, health care and agricultural improvements. In addition, for each pound of coffee, tea, or chocolate purchased by Lutheran churches through the LWR Project, Equal Exchange makes a small contribution to the LWR "Small Farmer Fund" for projects supporting small farmers and their families. Last year that contribution was over $60,000. Everyday in 35 countries, Lutheran World Relief works to combat the causes of poverty and the dignity it robs from people's lives. Brighten your cup with Bright Day Brew—Equal Exchange's lightest roast. Created by the adventurous for the adventurous, Bright Day Brew is a blend of beans from the small farmer co-ops residing in the forests of Colombia and on the slopes of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Equal Exchange developed this blend in response to your requests for a medium roast packaged coffee! Balanced with a malty aroma and hints of citrus, it's the perfect cup. Give it a try! LWR's work in Columbia, focuses on advocating for policies that seek to relocate displaced persons, protect civilians, promote sustainable development, and reach peace agreements that include truth, justice, and reparations. In Tanzania, LWR works to improve the quality and scope of malaria prevention and treatment in rural health care facilities. Visit the Fair Trade table in the coffee hour room on July 5 and August 2 to purchase Fair Trade coffee, tea, and chocolates. Reading material is also available to learn more about Equal Exchange, Fair Trade, and Lutheran World Relief. | WORLD
HUNGER FOOD FOR TODAY, SEED FOR TOMORROW  ZIMBABWE
— Last year was a difficult year for Zimbabweans caught in a complex humanitarian
crisis resulting from a collapsed economy, an intimidating political atmosphere,
and severe droughts. Food security and health care jeopardized the stability of
local communities. An estimated 5.1 million people continue to struggle to feed
themselves; 30 percent of those who suffer most are children under five. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) organized a response to help the greater community of Zimbabwe to survive the instabilities of life in crisis. ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Response contributions enabled the ELCZ to provide immediate food supplies and seed for days ahead. Bongiwe Mabuwa greeted the coming of seed with joy and great eagerness to restore stability to her family. Her husband, a local school teacher, has not worked for some time since the collapse of the economy and social institutions. The family’s farm suffered, like many others, from recent droughts. Even amidst the suffering, Bongiwe has hope that her family will again prosper and her four children will have the nutrition they need to learn and grow. As the crowds gathered in song and dance to receive food and seed delivered by the ELCZ, Bongiwe stood proud with a smile on her face looking towards what may be. “When we are ready to harvest, I will save some seed for the next crop,” she said in explanation of her family’s future. When bags of seed were delivered, even the seeds that fell to the ground were gathered. Not one was left behind. Your gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response and ELCA World Hunger not only provide relief to those struggling in times of crisis, but they also bring hope of prosperous futures and empowered communities World
Hunger envelopes are available in the kiosk rack in the narthex. |
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701
South Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Church Office: 410-752-7179 Fax: 410-752-7881 |