CHUM Congregational News

working on the basics: food, shelter, employment, community, dignity

Congregational News April 2010

Practicing Justice, Living Faith:Connecting Spiritual Life with Social Action

Thursday, May 20th 7pm

Teatro Zuccone 222 E Superior St.

A panel discussion of young activists on the topic of faith-based social justice from multiple religious perspectives.

All ages are welcome to attend.

CHUM CHURCH SOCIAL & POTLUCK

Please join us!
SATURDAY, APRIL 17 4-6pm

Peace Church

Bring a food dish meal ~

Music provided by Lynn Szarke

Questions? call Meg at 724-8383

CUT OUT HUNGER

A Hair Style show sponsored by Duo Tones Hair Salon, will be held on April 15 at 7 PM at Carmody's Pub in support of the CHUM FOOD SHELF. Tickets are $7.00 and can be purchased at the door.

Duluth Task Force for Improved Community Police Accountability

Consultant Eileen Luna-Firebaugh will initiate an assessment for developing an effective civilian review process for the Duluth Police Department. The entire community is invited to share perspectives on community-police relations in Duluth. You can contact Prof. Luna-Firebaugh at (520) 907-4741 or EileenMLuna@aol.com to share your perspective or to request a survey.

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Greetings!

A budget is a moral document. It provides, stripped of rhetoric and posturing, concrete expression of our deepest values and commitments.

For the past two months Minnesotans have had the opportunity to explore the moral geography of our current administration as mapped out in its budget proposals now before the state legislature. Here are three that are particularly revealing and that require immediate public response.

1) The Governor is proposing to eliminate General Assistance (GA) to very low income adults who are seriously ill or disabled and unable to work. This $203/month support is often a bridge of survival while people qualify for supplemental security income (SSI) and will affect nearly 33,000 Minnesotans a year.

2) The Governor is proposing to eliminate welfare-to-work assistance for families with disabled parents and children who receive social security disability insurance. These special needs families will be forced into extreme poverty, often resulting in long-term homelessness.

3) The Governor un-allotted Emergency General Assistance used by counties to help with emergency payments that keep very low-income adults from joining the ranks of the homeless.

These measures, along with others proposed to the legislature, are targeting our poorest and most vulnerable neighbors to bear the brunt of Minnesota's budget crisis. What makes them so onerous is that for those they impact they go far beyond belt tightening. If these proposals are adopted, they will inevitably lead to homelessness and it is likely they will threaten the physical survival of some.

A disproportionately high percentage of those receiving assistance from these programs are mentally ill. Thirty years ago many would have been institutionalized. When these facilities were closed, for both humanitarian and budgetary reasons, local networks were put in place to provide support and stability to those displaced. Never adequately funded, these supports are now being dismantled.

In these difficult times we are all called upon to tighten our belts. However, the Governor's proposals place this burden on those least able to bear it while largely sparing those with political clout. Attempting to shield those with greater wealth and power from these hardships, and the costs necessary to resolve them, may make political sense but it is in sharp contrast to the ethical traditions that have characterized our state.

A budget is a moral document. In it we see reflected the people we are. We ask that you contact your legislators and voice your opposition to funding cuts to these three programs. Please tell them that the security and wellbeing of all of us can be assured only if all bear some of the pain and cost of our current crisis. We cannot delegate that responsibility to those among us who are least able to bear it or have the least power to object. As a community we are better than that.

Patti Martenson

CHUM Board President

2010 Rhubarb Festival

The 6^th Annual CHUM Rhubarb Festival will be held on Saturday, June 26, 2010.

Now is the time to start planning how you and/or your congregation will be involved. Volunteer opportunities abound. Here a few opportunities for folks willing to be involved now!

Rhubarb Harvesting and Chopping Coordinator: Organize a "men's harvest and chopping day" for June 12^th; organize other volunteers willing to harvest rhubarb starting when the rhubarb is ripe through June 26^th.

Rhubarb Festival Public Relations& Advertising Coordinator: Work with area media to do Rhubarb Festival Stories, announce the event, placement of public service announcements, etc. Set up and maintain a Twitter and Facebook site about the festival. Create information for the Rhubarb Festival page of the CHUM website. Work with poster and t-shirt designer, distribute posters, or any other PR you can think of!

Rhubarb Jams: Make rhubarb jams to sell at the Festival; a great project for a group!

Do you have unused canning jars to donate? We need canning jars, ½ pint, pint, quart jars, and rims and lids.

Harvest and Chop your own Rhubarb or that of your neighbors and friends.

Contact CHUM at 218-720-6521 if you are interested in being involved!

If you wish to sign up to volunteer the week of or the day of the Festival

contact Elizabeth at 218-740-2496.

Get Involved

The CHUM Center needs electric washers and dryers. Contact Steve at 726-0153.

Family Shelter can use electric alarm clocks, feminine hygiene products, body lotion, gentle bar soap, deodorant, size 3 and 4 diapers, baby care products, soap, shampoo, child sized table and chairs, kids play kitchen, workbench, and gently used baby dolls.

Street Case Management;Umbrellas and sleeping bags.

CHUM Church is looking for lanyards for permanent Name Tags for CHUM Church members. Contact Meg at 727-2391 if you can assist.

Supported Employment Program needs wind up alarm clocks and men's wallets.