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| February 2012 |
 Mission of the Month Newsletter:
Poverty Affects Us All
RISK-TAKING MISSION AND JUSTICE WORK SUGGESTIONS from United Methodist Ministries---Missouri River District
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"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
-Galatians 5:14
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Friends,
Issues of poverty are all around us as increasing numbers of Americans struggle to meet ends meet. New U.S. census numbers report that 1 in 6 Americans is living below the poverty line. In Nebraska, a number of issues affecting low-income families are up for debate in our legislature during this session. As people of faith, we believe that we can all come together to make a difference. The opportunities to help are abundant: learn about the issues, send a postcard, sign a petition, hold a food drive, collect cleaning buckets. We hope you will take the time to take action. You can make a difference. |
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Poverty Issues Up for Debate in Nebraska Legislature
 During this legislative session, there are several issues up for debate that affect low-income families. Please educate yourself and your friends, then take further action. These issues require immediate action.
LB 599: PRENATAL CARE FOR UNBORN CHILDREN
Prenatal care can mean the difference between life and death. It is well known that proper prenatal care helps to ensure healthy babies at birth and beyond. It is also well known that failing to provide appropriate prenatal care can result in premature births, low birth weights, and ongoing medical problems once the child is born. LB 599 would allow Nebraska to offer prenatal services to unborn children of all low-income women.Click here to easily contact your state senator regarding this issue.Child Welfare Bills |
In your church
Hold a Food Drive Challenge Leading into Lent this year, the youth of one local church have challenged the youth of several other churches to see who can collect the most food for Together, Inc.'s pantry. When the challenge ends, the groups will gather at Together, Inc. to deliver and organize the food and get to know each other. Why not consider doing something similar at your church? Items that pantries often need most include: - flip-top cans of soup
- pasta
- fruits and vegetables
- peanut butter and jelly
 - shelf-stable milk
- apple sauce
- fruit cups
- fruit juice
- dry cereal
- Cup O' Noodles
- canned meats
- diapers
- toilet paper
- laundry soap
- toiletries
- instant oatmeal
- crackers
- granola bars
- dried fruits
- trailmix
Check with your local pantry to see what items they need most.
For up-to-date information about increased hunger concerns facing lower-income families and individuals see the following websites:
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Mission in Action
Chocolate Advocacy 
Join United Methodist Ministries, The United Methodist Church, and United Methodist Women in the fight for justice and labor rights. Cocoa and its productions are one of the areas where labor abuse and exploitation most blatantly occur. Hershey's use of cocoa gleaned through injustices committed against our brothers and sisters cannot be supported. Tell Hershey's, "No more!"
Click here for a downloadable postcard.
Click here for more information.
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Advance Projects of the United Methodist Church
World Hunger & Poverty
Help those affected by poverty in the horn of Africa food crisis and throughout the world by giving to the World Hunger & Poverty Advance project. Urge your church to take up a collection, as well. One hundred percent of all gifts given through UMCOR's Advance go directly to the designated project.
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2012 Poverty Quiz
During this highly-charged political year, it's easy to lose sight of important issues facing real people. Regardless of our individual party affiliations, we can all agree that poverty and its side-effects are of grave concern. With statistics drawn from reliable sources, the quiz below is a startling reminder of poverty issues facing our nation and our world. Use it in your church groups.
Here's a sample question:
How much must the typical U.S. worker earn per hour to rent a two-bedroom apartment if that worker dedicates thirty percent of his income, as HUD suggests, to rent and utilities?
$9.39? $14.63? $18.46?
Click here for the answer and to further test your knowledge of current poverty statistics in America. |
Global Youth Service Day Global Youth Service Day is a day of service for youth teams and youth leaders to engage in local service projects in the metro-Omaha area. The cost to participate is $15 which includes lunch, transportation to and from service sites, and commemorative t-shirt. Registration deadline is April 9th. We hope you'll join us for this exciting day of service! Call Jaimee at 402.898.9862 to register.
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Official Poverty Report
The U.S. Census Bureau issued its 2010 poverty report, and the results are not good. Key findings are shown below. But rather than being disheartened, let's take action.
- The official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 percent - up from 14.3 percent in 2009. This was the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate.
- In 2010, 46.2 million people were in poverty, up from 43.6 million in 2009-the fourth consecutive annual increase in the number of people in poverty.
- Between 2009 and 2010, the poverty rate increased for non-Hispanic Whites (from 9.4 percent to 9.9 percent), for Blacks (from 25.8 percent to 27.4 percent), and for Hispanics (from 25.3 percent to 26.6 percent).
- The poverty rate in 2010 (15.1 percent) was the highest poverty rate since 1993 but was 7.3 percentage points lower than the poverty rate in 1959, the first year for which poverty estimates are available.
- The number of people in poverty in 2010 (46.2 million) is the largest number in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published.
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 Help the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) prepare for spring storms by assembling and sending cleaning buckets. These kits provide the basic items families need to clean their home after a flood or other disaster. Each year UMCOR sends thousands of cleaning buckets to communities in need.
Learn how to assemble and send these helpful kits.
No time to assemble kits? You can also send a gift to Material Resource Ministry, UMCOR Advance #901440. Supplies for each bucket costs approximately $55.
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The United Methodist Church has a fun new way to connect youth to issues of pov erty. This new tool, called B1, is a 24-hour fasting event for youth which raises money to empower the poor and disempower unjust systems sustaining poverty in our world. This is a project that youth can do any time of the year, but seems especially appropriate during Lent. Each youth receives a pledge sheet and an information booklet. Posters, t-shirts, water bottles, and other promotional materials are also available.
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