FOCUS Alert!

August 31st, 2012

Welcome to the FOCUS Alert an occasional short publication spreading the news of our common work together. You are receiving this because you have shared your email address with us. You may unsubscribe at anytime (scroll to bottom for directions).

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Sept. 2 FOCUS Worship at Westminster Presbyterian Church Taking it to the Streets with Breakfast Express! Community Harvest Garden Update The School Supply Project Delivers! Snapshots from the Volunteer Picnic FOCUS - Opportunities in Advocacy Golf And/Or LunchTuesday, 9/11 Visit us on the Web

1. September 2ndFOCUS Worship at Westminster

Join us for Sunday worship 9/2 at 262 State Street, Albany. Westminster Presbyterian Church will be hosting FOCUS congregations at the 9:30 am service.

Why do we worship together?

We celebrate, as the FOCUS Churches, our common calling to be Gods servant people in a broken and hurting world. We honor the uniqueness of our member congregations with their diversity of gifts, separate histories, and God-given resources. We acknowledge that we need to learn from one another, to be enriched by one anothers vision of Christian faithfulness, and to join in those areas of Christian mission where we can work more effectively together than by ourselves. (from the 1968 covenant statement).

2. Taking it to the Streets with Breakfast Express

Volunteers and neighborhood guests abound at Breakfast Express!

Earlier in August Breakfast Express took place right outside on the sidewalk of Emmanuel Church on State Street. Guests enjoyed a cold breakfast featuring juice, coffee, eggs, muffins, fruit, and as always, a take-away lunch.

3. Community Harvest Garden Update

So far this year, the garden has yielded 400 lbs. of produce, including scrumptious Brandywine heirloom tomatoes and crunchy, fresh Bell peppers.

Whats the Community Harvest Garden?

The FOCUS Community Harvest garden is a 20 x 20 plot located at St. Pauls Episcopal Church that it utilized for community, production, and harvest. Operating from May-Oct., the garden provides volunteers with experience in preparing, planting, maintaining, and harvesting produce. 700 pounds of produce will be raised and transported to the FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry.

4. The School Supply Project Delivers!

This past week (Aug. 27-31), volunteers came together in one of FOCUSs biggest efforts to support local students as the 2012-2013 school year begins. Over 200 backpacks containing crayons, pencils, notebooks, folders (and more!) were assembled for Albany youth at FUUSA. 90+ packs were delivered to youth at the Schuyler Inn transitional shelter.

Thank you to all who made this project possible through your generous donations and hard work.

5. Snapshots from the volunteer picnic

The FOCUS Volunteer Picnic took place on August 11th. As promised, the picnic went on rain or shine and a great time was had! Thank you to all of the invaluable FOCUS volunteers involved in so many of our varied programs.

Enjoying food and good company.

Picnic Badminton!

6. Opportunities in Advocacy Action Alert

Congress is in recess, but now more than ever there is a need to voice your concern about policies that shape FOCUS programs and community, such as SNAP (the food stamp program). Call your Congressmember to oppose cuts to food stamps.

Hunger Action Network of New York State: Annual Membership Meeting

Monday, September 24th, 9:30-4pm Poughkeepsie, NY. The annual meeting will elect new members of our Board of Directors, help establish some priorities for the coming year, and offer some exciting workshops. The last half of each workshop will be devoted to developing a plan of action for Hunger Action Network on the workshop topic. Read more by clicking here.

7. Golf And/Or LunchTuesday 9/11

SPONSORS:

Tuesday, September 11th

Orchard Creek Golf Club For golfers at any skill level!
$120 for One | $440 for a 4-some
Fee includes green fees, cart, prizes, and food.

ALL money raised will be used to fund FOCUS emergency feeding programs.

For more info click here

Join us for lunch on the day of the golf event, Sept. 11th !

1-3 p.m.Lunch from Club Menu $20 per person

Orchard Creek Golf Club is the home to the Cider House Restaurant, a restaurant offering a large variety of food, wine and spirits to tantalize almost anyone's tastes. The menu showcase's a large variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and entrees.

Reservations & advance payment mail to: FOCUS,

275 State St., Albany NY 12210.

info@focuschurches.net

8. Visit FOCUS on the web

Did you know that FOCUS has a presence on the web on our website, Facebook, and Scribd? Find us online today!

www.focuschurches.net

Breakfast Express

Rev. Debra Jameson honored by NYS Senate Hunger Action Network honors antihunger advocates

School Supply Project

Food Pantry

Summer Worship

Farm Bill Updates

Community Harvest Garden

Gardening in a Bucket for Kids

Golf Outing September 11

FOCUS Advocates

Donate

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