Change.org Petition: Congress can stop food waste - Stop food waste and fight food insecurity by amending the Emerson Act

It’s no secret that the amount of food wasted in the US could single handedly eliminate food insecurity in the country, if not a large portion of the world. In fact, 35% of all food in the US — more than $400 billion a year — is wasted simply because of mismanagement. Fortunately, the US House and Senate are both considering the Food Donation Improvement Act. Passing it would save lives and money almost immediately. Sign WW’s petition to help them convince Congress to act now! Stop food waste and fight food insecurity by amending the Emerson Act 43,825 have signed Amend the Emerson Act by WW’s petition. Let’s get to 50,000!

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In 2020, over 17 million more Americans experienced food insecurity than in 2019. And in 2021, that number is estimated to rise even further—to 42 million people. Meanwhile, $408 billion is spent processing, transporting, storing, and disposing of food that never gets eaten each year. That’s millions of pounds of fresh food—35% of all food in the U.S.—going to waste, instead of going to those who need it. This barrier to improving food security is not always caused by a lack of food: It’s often caused by a mismanagement of food.  But there’s good news: There are solutions in plain sight, and we need your help to take action.  Meet the 1996 Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, a piece of legislation designed to encourage companies to donate their surplus food and grocery products to nonprofits by providing civil and criminal liability protection for food donation. So if you donated fresh lettuce, following all applicable laws and food safety protocols, and someone got sick after eating it, you couldn’t be held liable. Sounds good, right?  Well, many provisions of the Emerson Act are still unclear, so donors remain afraid of legal liability. In fact, food manufacturers, retailers, farmers, and restaurants still often cite fear of liability as the main reason they don’t donate food, which results in perfectly viable food being wasted—instead of given to those in need.  Organizations, corporations, nonprofits, and food rescue advocates are calling on Congress to expand and clarify existing liability protections for food donation, which can help provide immediate relief to the millions of people across America experiencing food insecurity. The protections should accomplish the following:  1. Direct USDA to clarify key terms and conditions within the Emerson Act to raise awareness and reduce fear of retribution. 2. Broaden protections to include more types of food donations, including items sold at low cost and donations offered from food businesses directly to end recipients. 3. Expand the federal enhanced tax deduction for food donation. We need you and your voice to help us spread the word. We need you and your voice to help us spread the word. Let’s call on our representatives from Congress to fight food insecurity, and make senseless food waste a thing of the past Update: Thanks in huge part to this petition, members of Congress have introduced a bill in both the House and Senate! The Food Donation Improvement Act of 2021 address two of our three major asks of Congress (numbers 1 and 2 above.) Now, we just need to get it passed!  Your mission: Use this call tool to contact your Congresspeople (it just takes two clicks!) and urge them to cosponsor/support the legislation. They want see that their constituents care about this bill—so let’s get loud!

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Change.org Petition: NFL Remove Brett Favre from the HOF

Mississippi is the poorest state in the US. Struggling families in the state desperately need welfare money to survive, but Brett Favre has stolen this money from them. Favre, a Mississippi Hall of Fame football player, has been linked to a group of 38 others who have been accused of using 8 million dollars of state welfare money. Reginald started his petition because he knows Brett Favre should no longer be honored in the Hall of Fame. He wants to see Favre held accountable for his actions and removed from the HoF. If you agree with Reginald, sign the petition now. NFL Remove Brett Favre from the HOF 1,429 have signed Reginald Jackson’s petition. Let’s get to 1,500!

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Brett Favre committed welfare fraud, defrauding the poorest state in the nation. This crime goes quietly unmentioned as the National football league and other media outlets want to avoid covering one of their own. $32 dollars worth of crab legs by Jamis Winston was front page news and ran the media circuit for weeks. Michael Vick is involved in dog fighting and the media circus was truly three rings, but 5 million dollars of welfare fraud defrauding many in need to build a volleyball stadium for his daughters former college. Please keep in mind Brett made over 100 million dollars in his playing career, but felt the need to steal 5 million dollars from the poorest state in the nation. NFL, and ESPN you should be ashamed of your bias coverage of this scandal. I create this petition as a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan, but at this moment the residents of the state of Mississippi are more important than one man and his daughters legacy with a volleyball stadium.

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At Change.org, we believe in the voice of everyday people. Is there something that you want to change? Start a petition today

Updates from the 11th District on Hurricane Ian: Resilience, Recovery, Renewal, and Revival

Updates from the 11th District on Hurricane Ian: Resilience, Recovery, Renewal, and Revival Biblical Foundations: Isaiah 43: 1b-3a: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior… Matthew 16: 18-19: …on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. On behalf of the AME Churches and the people/communities that make up the 11th Episcopal District, we want to say thank you. Thank you for covering the Bahamas and the state of Florida with your prayers as Hurricane Ian came through to steal, kill and destroy. Because of your prayers, we are still standing on the promises of God. The storm has not finished with us yet. Once Ian leaves Florida it is a good possibility that it will head to parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and maybe even North Carolina. Please keep us all in your prayers. Because of the effective and efficient 11th District Disaster Relief Committee our churches were equipped and knew how to prepare for the coming storm. Before Ian hit, our churches and people helped cities with their evacuation plans. I want to thank Bishop and Supervisor Richardson for leaving a strong Disaster Relief Ministry that has aided many AME Episcopal Districts that have experienced disasters in the past. In the places hit hardest by Ian, the churches have not yet been able to safely get out to evaluate any damages and what will be needed to survive and thrive in its aftermath. We are working closely with FEMA, the Red Cross, and VOAD to make sure that we are on the frontline of encouraging, equipping, and empowering broken people/families, broken churches, and broken communities to “rise up and rebuild.” Finally, over the next few days, when it is safe for our Pastors and people to get out and survey the damage and what is needed, we will join with our Sister Episcopal Districts in asking for your help. Because the AME Church has a “mind to work”, and because God has given us the keys to the kingdom of God victory for African Methodism starts here. In Solidarity and Strength! Frank Madison Reid, III Presiding Bishop Eleventh Episcopal District African Methodist Episcopal Church

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The Christian Recorder is the official newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the oldest continuously produced publication by persons of African descent.   Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr., Chair of the General Board Commission on Publications Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, President/Publisher of the AME Sunday School Union Mr. John Thomas III, Editor of The Christian Recorder Copyright ©  2022 The Christian Recorder, All rights reserved.

SojoMail - 5 ways to resist midterm despair

Midterms Got You Down? 5 Ways People of Faith Can Take Action Adam Russell Taylor In the Bible, a span of 40 days means something significant is happening: When God floods the earth in Genesis, it rains for 40 days and 40 nights (7:12). When the Israelites spy on the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:25), they do so for 40 days — and later, when they grumble against God, they’re forced to wander 40 years before they enter the Promised Land. Before Jesus begins his public ministry, the devil tempts him for 40 days in the desert (Matthew 4:1-2). With the midterm election day just 40 days away, we’re about to confront our own set of temptations. For many of us, these temptations may include moments of cynicism, despair, or even apathy, especially when we remember all we’re up against: Over the past 60 years, only about 40 percent of eligible voters go to the polls in midterm elections compared to 50-60 percent in presidential elections. On top of that, since the 2020 election, 18 states have passed new laws that will make it harder for people to vote and these laws will disproportionately affect people of color. And 60 percent of Americans will have at least one candidate on their ballot who supports former president Donald Trump’s false claims that he won the 2020 election. With these formidable challenges, it’s easy to wonder: Where do we even begin? [...] While there's no magic solution, now is the perfect time to make sure every eligible voter nationwide has everything theyneed to cast their vote, which increasingly means posessing knowledge, motivation, and determination. Here are five concrete and actionable ways that each of us can help empower and inspire every eligible voter this November.  READ THE FULL ARTICLE Forward Share

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Our Latest Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò Reconsiders ‘Centering the Marginalized’ (by Josiah R. Daniels) The approach is admirable, Táíwò says, but when we focus on individual morality, we can stymie the goal of changing unjust systems. Mad About Student Debt Forgiveness? The Bible Goes Harder (by Braxton Brewington) In both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, the Bible is squarely on the side of debtors. A Hymn for Those Devastated by Hurricanes and Violent Storms (by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette) “We pray for people struggling — who need your help and grace / on every flooded island and in each flooded place.” DeSantis Sent Migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, Churches Welcomed Them (by Sarah Einselen) “We rallied and did what any decent human being would do if strangers showed up,” Rev. Charlotte Wright told Sojourners.

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From the Magazine Seeking God’s Wisdom Through ‘Visio Divina’ (by Sarah James) The contemplative practice that renews our capacity to see.

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Equity-Minded Compensation & HR Specialist for global non-profit MCC seeks a full-time Compensation Specialist & West Coast HR Coordinator, based in California. This person communicates and carries out compensation information and strategy staff. They are the front-line HR contact for local employees, assisting HR tasks, and redirecting to specialist colleagues as appropriate. Apply by October 6. 100 sermons on sexual and domestic violence Scripture is not silent on abuse, but these stories are often missing in our Sunday morning teachings. You can change this! Visit our 100 Sermons on Sexual and Domestic Violence collection and be equipped to tackle these biblical accounts and speak out on sexual and domestic violence.

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Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Hurricane Ian

 

Within the last few days, PDA has reached out to presbyteries in Ian's path in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina as well as to partners in Cuba, where Ian made landfall early Tuesday as a Category 3 hurricane. The hurricane plunged the island into darkness, partially due to power being turned off ahead of the storm to prevent electrocutions and fires. 

We join together to lift our prayers for those who have already been impacted by Ian and those about to be impacted. As people of faith, we stand ready to partner with presbyteries, congregations and communities to meet the immediate and long-term needs.

An excerpt from a prayer by PDA Director, Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus (read the full prayer here):

Hurricane Ian Emergency Cleanup Buckets and Kits needed ASAP

Church World Service Cleanup Buckets/Kits

The Church World Service depot at Plumcreek Church is collecting emergency cleanup buckets and kits. Donna Rankin will be available to receive them through October 9th. To prearrange a drop-off time please call Donna at 724-397-2540 or 724-762-5517 or email her at rotc1974@gmail.com. “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” – Song of Solomon 8:7 (NRSV) In the wake of Hurricane Ian, congregations across the United States are answering the call to assemble CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets and Hygiene Kits, both of which are urgently needed. We are so grateful for every congregation who is letting their generosity overflow into this ministry of compassion. Below are resources to help you promote and celebrate this channel through which you are sharing your love. CWS Website CWS Resources  How to Assemble Kits How to Ship Kits