CHUM Congregational News

March is Minnesota FoodShare Month, a time when congregations, civic groups, schools businesses, families and individuals work together to collect and contribute money and food to the CHUM Food Shelf. Last year local congregations alone gave 9,748 pounds of food and $24,022. An amazing effort!

Financial gifts are especially important as the Food Shelf can stretch those dollars to purchase food at $.20 per pound. Please encourage your congregation, school, civic group, business, family and neighbors to get involved!

For ideas on how to get involved contact Meg Kearns, Director of Distributive Services at 727-2391.

There is much to be done but together, in community, we will move forward.

Mary Schmitz
Development Director

2009 Annual Report

CHUM's 2009 Annual Report was printed and mailed recently. Due to an overwhelming response to our request for contributions, it has taken us a while to finalize the list of donors. Anyone not listed in the initial report will be included in a 2009 Annual Report Supplement to be mailed soon. Your continued generosity allows CHUM to help our marginalized neighbors work toward stability. Thank you!

~Community Organizing of Tenants~

On January 14th over 60 Duluthians attended the Renter's Summit hosted by the Lincoln Park Renters Association. Tenants from Central and East Hillsides joined the Lincoln Park Renters its President Char Klund brought the meeting to order.

Guest speaker Michael Dahl, Public Policy Director for HOME line/ Minnesota Tenants Alliance, a tenants rights organization based in Minneapolis listed to the concerns of Duluth tenants.
Char Klund and Michael Dahl listen to renters issues.
Photo by Michael K. Anderson

Dahl steered the conversation towards reversing Minnesota's un-allotment of the renters rebate and how to move the "Tenants Bill of Rights" into law. Fighting to retain the renter's credit is the main priority of this legislative session for Duluth renters' associations. Dahl indicated that stories and relationships can have a crucial effect in any legislative struggle. With this in mind, one of the strategies is to create videos of how lower-income people use their renter's rebate and present them to elected officials.

The Minnesota Tenants Bill of Rights will also go to the legislature this year. "Winning the Tenants Bill of Rights promises to be a multi-year effort", Dahl stated. The Tenants Bill of Rights includes; the right to a receipt for rent paid, the right to correct a problem before a proprietor files for eviction, and the right to a warm home. Renters from across Duluth made commitments to do their part as the Bill of Rights works its way through the legislative process.

Going forward, look for Renters Associations to emerge in West Duluth and Morgan Park as the Lincoln Park and Hillside groups continue to grow. Perhaps the biggest take-home message from the Renter's Summit was "you're not alone".

To follow Michael Dahl's blog go to http://homelinemn.org/blog/

March is Minnesota Food Share Month

During the month of March CHUM's Emergency Food Shelf is requesting that you help raise money and food to be proportionally matched by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.

Your church, civic club, school or even you and your neighbors and friends can join together to make a difference to our neighbors who are food insecure!

For more information on how you can help bring more food dollars to our community contact Meg Kearns at 727-2391.

JRLC Day On the Hill

Thursday,

March 25, 2010

Theme; Justice We Pursue! (Deut. 16:18-20). This text brings direct inspiration and guidance to our work on poverty, health care, judicial fairness, housing, and taxation. Keynote Speaker will be Rabbi Harold J. Kravitz, a beloved spiritual leader and an active voice for social justice and interfaith and civic affairs. For more information or to register go to

http://www.jrlc.org/day-on-the-hill/register-for-day-on-the-hill

CHUM will be assisting with car pools so if you plan to attend, whether you are driving and can take someone or if you need a ride, contact Elizabeth Olson at 720-6521.

SAVE GAMC

On February 4^th, 700 people filled the Capitol rotunda, a turnout which exceeded all expectations and made a huge impression on the legislators. Let's keep the momentum going!

The week of February 8^th, both the Senate Health and Human Services Budget Division committee and the House Health Finance committee met with GAMC on their agendas.

You can now follow the GAMC bill: SF 2168 and HF 2680.

Keep calling and writing to say we strongly support this proposal as a temporary, real solution to the pending elimination of GAMC. Contact the Governor's office to encourage him to "SIGN THE BILL"!

Thank you for your cards, letters, email and prayers, which have

brought us to this point in resolving the GAMC issue!

Get Involved

The food Shelf is accepting plastic grocery bags.

© The East Food Shelf is looking for a volunteer to pack food orders on Wednesdays between 10:00 and 2:00 PM. You can come weekly or monthly, for all or part of the 4-hour shift. Contact Meg Kearns at 727-2391.

Family Shelter Needs; electric alarm clocks, bar soap, body lotion, deodorant , women's personal hygiene products (including pads), kids hygiene products like, shampoo and body wash, size 3 and 4 diapers and kitchen items.

Rhubarb Festival needs ½-pint canning jars and lids for making jams, jellies and syrup. Jars and lids can be delivered to the CHUM office.

Thank You Payless Shoe Source

Payless Shoe Source contributed gift certificates to CHUM. Forty children living in CHUM's Emergency Shelter, Permanent Supportive Housing and Transitional Family Housing received new shoes or boots in December!

It's Tax Time

AARP volunteers are available at CHUM on Tuesdays and Thursdays to assist with taxes. Please call CHUM at 720-6521 to set an appointment.