FOCUS

Vol. 6, No. 2 May 2011

Using Our Voices To Safeguard

Looking Ahead ―The Least of These‖
by Rev. Deb Jameson, Director of Community Ministry
May 24
Community Harvest
Our Federal government, in its the moral, ethical, and spiritual princi-
Garden, pg. 3
wrestling to reduce national spending, ples of our faith. We serve, work, and
June-August most likely will settle by cutting pro- sometimes even shout and denounce,
School Supply grams and funding that will end up because of the intrinsic human dignity
Collection, pg. 7 harming the people Christ called ―the of those we represent, serve, and live
June 11 least of these." Things like food stamps, with in relationship――for God so loved
Gardening in a Bucket WIC, commodity supplemental food the world.‖
for Kids, pg. 3 programs, emergency food and shelter Are we prepared to commit our-
July 3 programs, section 811 housing vouch- selves to resist budget cuts that under-
FOCUS Worship ers, reauthorization of VAWA (pg. 5) - mine the lives, dignity, and rights of
First Presbyterian at this is just a sampling, the dust has not poor and vulnerable people? As Carlos
9:30 a.m. settled as yet. Malave, President of the National
August 7 Association for Ecumenical and Inter-
FOCUS Worship Let us protect the religious Staff (NAEIS) stated recently,
Trinity Methodist at programs that meet the ―Our work and ministry must demon-
9:30 a.m.
essential needs of hungry strate both the passion of God and the
plight of God's beloved.‖
August 29-31 and poor people at home
Packing school sup- As a person of Christian faith, I see
plies, pg. 7 and abroad. Christ in the face of the homeless man
coming to us for a hot breakfast and a
September 1–3 FOCUS and many organizations
Distributing school warm space. I see Christ in the immi-
are working in some degree or another grant family and his or her children. I
supplies, pg. 7
on these interconnected social issues. see Christ's face in the plight of the
September 4 Our commitment to justice means be- workers who challenge the systems
FOCUS Worship ing part of the solution, using our that often side with the powerful. I see
Emmanuel Baptist at hands and our voices.
9:30 a.m. (continued on page 5)
The FOCUS Board renewed this

F
September 13
FOCUS Golf Outing,
stance at its winter retreat—through Summer Worship
our feeding programs, our hands reach
pg. 2 9:30 a.m.
out with compassion, and our voices
FOCUS is the collabo-
ration of six covenanted
must speak loud and clear when it
comes to the abuse and mistreatment
O First Sunday of July,
August, and September

C
churches, joined by
of our fellow citizens, especially the
six other faith affili-
ates, united in a com- poor and most vulnerable. July 3 – First Presbyterian

U
mon calling to serve But we also recognize that our voice Aug. 7 – Trinity United
neighbors' needs in
Albany’s Capitol Hill
as FOCUS must always articulate the Methodist
essential reason behind our actions. Sept. 4 – Emmanuel Baptist
S
and beyond as God’s
servant people in a bro- Our organization (Doing Together What
ken and hurting world. We Cannot Do Alone) exists because of It’s the Cool Place to Be!
2

Leaders Fast to Protest

Cuts in Aid for the Poor
Fourteen women Members of Congress
went on a fast recently to protest and call
attention to severe Congressional 2011 and
2012 budget cuts that would disproportion-
ately burden the poor and hungry at a time
when so many are struggling economically.
A total of 28 Members of Congress joined
A sleepout on the beach is one of many of the outdoor
in the fast launched by Hungerfast, an effort adventures that make summer camps special.
started on March 28 by former Congressman
and Ambassador Tony Hall and three other
organizations. More than 35,000 Americans Camps Offer Quiet Time
also participated; all called on Congress not
to cut programs that target the vulnerable. To Be with God and Nature
The women Members of Congress who ―When I came to Pathfinder with no electronic
joined in the fast are: Representatives Karen
devices, I started to think of the theme (Listen Up! God’s
Bass (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Susan
Calling) more and more,‖ wrote one teenager of her
Davis (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Donna
experiences last summer at Pathfinder Lodge, the
Edwards (D-MD), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), Baptist camp on Otsego Lake. ―I also came to realize
Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-
that the best way to tune yourself into the intervention
TX), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Barbara Lee (D-
of God’s voice is to find distance from technology.
CA), Laura Richardson (D-CA), Jan Spending a week in God’s beautiful creation and
Schakowsky (D-IL), Terri Sewell (D-AL), and
learning to live simply and prayerfully has long been a
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). significant part of many people’s faith development. It
may be even more important to today’s young
FOCUS Churches people, who are surrounded by so many competing
messages from media and technology.‖

Annual Golf Outing Three of the FOCUS member denominations

offer summer camps for children and youth of all
ages. They combine outdoor activities with Bible
Sav study and interactions with adults who are
Join us Tuesday, Da
e th
e modeling a Christian lifestyle.
te!! For more information, look online!
September 13, 2011 Baptist Pathfinder Lodge: www.abc-nys.org
at Orchard Creek Golf Course Methodist Skye Farm: www.skyefarmcamp.com
Reformed Church Camp Fowler:
in Altamont, NY www.campfowler.org/about

Start spreading the

Visit FOCUS on the web!
word and form your Learn more about FOCUS and subscribe to
our email news list on our website:
foursome now! www.focuschurches.net
Visit FOCUS on Facebook to see our
updates, articles we are reading, and more:
www.facebook.com/focuschurches
Proceeds support For more information, visit
www.focuschurches.net On Scribd, you can read the FOCUS
FOCUS Emergency
newsletter and alerts in full color with
Feeding Programs or call 518-443-0460 clickable links:
www.scribd.com/focuschurches

Gardening in a Bucket
Is Back!
If it’s spring, it must be time for Gar-
dening in a Bucket! This project makes it
possible for people who don’t have garden
space to grow their own vegetables. Vegeta-
bles are an important part of a nutritious
diet, but they can be expensive and quickly
go bad. Gardening in a Bucket solves these
problems by providing pantry guests with
an alternative means of acquiring fresh
vegetables.
The program supplies gardeners with
large buckets, soil, seedlings, and packets of
seed, as well as advice from experienced
gardeners on how to successfully grow
tomatoes, beans, peppers, radishes, and
other vegetables. Our goal this year is to
outfit 100 families with the equipment and
knowledge they need to successfully grow
their own food.
And So Is Gardening in a Bucket
for Kids!
Calling All Kids! Come to the FOCUS Pan-
try on Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to Noon.
You will learn about how
plants grow and how to
take care of them. You will
also decorate your own
flower pot and plant your
own cherry tomato seed-
lings to take home. Mem-
bers of the Albany Presby-
tery will help with this pro-
ject on June 11.
Share Your Garden Bounty with Your Neighbors in Need
Providing fresh produce
to FOCUS Interfaith Food
Pantry offers a number of
benefits to both the recipi-
ent and the community.
Not only is fresh produce
healthier than canned
goods―no excess salt or
sugar in the diet―but also
Gardeners who grow an extra row help to feed many people in need.
Please consider donating some of your fresh produce to our Pantry.
3
FOCUS Community
Harvest Garden
Planting Party
May 24, 2011, at 5 p.m.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
21 Hackett Blvd. Albany
We will be doing some minimal weeding, turning
over the garden, and planting seeds and seedlings.
We hope that you will join us
in the second season of the garden!
RSVP to Kaitlyn by Monday, May 23
Call 518-443-0460 or
Email kaitlync@focuschurches.net
Volunteers Spruce Up Pantry Locale
On a sunny Saturday this spring, the Pantry wel-
comed 17 employees from Empire Blue Cross Blue
Shield as they participated in a national volunteer day
in various service sites around
the country. Many eager hands
spent hours scrubbing, sanding,
planting flowers, moving inven-
tory, sweeping and assembling
shelves. Thanks to Valerie
Houk (sister to our pantry man-
ager Lorraine) from Empire for
organizing a fun and successful
makeover.
it tastes a lot better, has a much
smaller carbon footprint, and has
eye appeal, too. Children who eat
fresh vegetables tend to eat a
healthier diet when they grow older.
To donate to the FOCUS Interfaith
Food Pantry, call Pantry Manager
Lorraine at 443-0460 or email:
lorraineh@focuschurches.net.
4
FOCUS Members Participa
by
Edith Leet
and
Rev. Deb
Jameson
―I thought things were going well for women’s
rights and that we had come a long way,‖ said Becca
Leet of Emmanuel Baptist, Albany. ―It was eye-
opening to learn otherwise.‖ Roseline Takor, from
First Presbyterian Albany, added ―I came to realize
this was not just talk like many other conferences,
there was real action. We came together and became
part of the solution.‖
The women made these remarks after attending
Ecumenical Advocacy Days, March 25-28, in Wash-
ington, DC. They, along with Rev. Deb Jameson of
FOCUS Churches of Albany, Felicia Gambles and
Fatmata Hilton of Westminster Presbyterian
Church, and Edith Leet of
Emmanuel Baptist were able
to attend the conference in
part with scholarships from
FOCUS.
They were among more
than 700 people from 40 states
and several countries who
gathered to examine the
theme of the conference: De-
velopment, Security, and Eco-
nomic Justice, What’s Gender
Got to Do with It?
For three days, they gathered to learn the facts
and stories of women’s issues at home and around
the world. On the fourth day, following the example
of Jesus, who gathered his disciples to teach and
prepare them and then sent them out to proclaim
the good news, the delegates were sent out to their
representatives on Capitol Hill to advocate for legis-
lation that would address the obvious needs.
Felicia Gambles noted, ―I was stunned at the ex-
tent of economic injustice towards women in the
USA. The USA being the world's greatest civilized
nation and leader, has not led by example. Instead,
the legislators continue to introduce and pass laws
that adversely affect the most vulnerable (women) in
this country, and around the world.‖
Many of the facts and stories were both eye-
opening and heart-rending. For example,
In Pakistan, a young girl was repeatedly raped
because her brother had offended the village el-
ders. She was then sent home to do the cultural-
ly appropriate thing: commit suicide to cleanse
her family from the shame she had brought upon
them by being raped. Fortunately, her parents
stopped her, and she has now become an advo-
cate for women’s rights in Pakistan.
Two chambermaids who worked at a sister hotel
to the one where the conference was held told of
their success in forming a union for the employ-
ees of both hotels. Both ladies are Hispanic and
spoke through an inter-
preter. They described
how before the union
they paid $300 a month
for health insurance.
They also were asked to
work overtime and felt
that they could not re-
fuse to do it. Now that
they have a union, they
pay $20 a month for
health care and work
overtime only when they
want to. One of the la-
dies said that the extra time and money have
made a tremendous difference in her life and her
ability to care for her two small children.
Discriminatory practices and violence at home
and in the workplace disproportionately affect
women and girls and significantly reduce the
likelihood of their success in work and at school.
Internationally, experts estimate that up to one

ate in Washington, D.C. Advocacy Days
in three women will be beaten, coerced into sex, or
otherwise abused in their lifetimes, with rates up
to 70% in some countries. Nearly 50% of all sexual
assaults worldwide are against girls aged 15 years
or younger.
Women are generally
more vulnerable than
men when it comes to
poverty. Since the
recession began, U.S.
women – especially
those who are single
heads of households –
have faced unique
challenges. Of 984,000
new jobs created in
2010, less than 1 of
every 20 went to wom-
en. Women and chil-
dren are thus dispro-
portionately affected by cuts to programs serving
those in poverty. The spending plan passed by the
House of Representatives, H.R. 1, would cut 61 bil-
lion dollars from such programs. In New York
State, the impact would be that:
More than 24,880 children would lose Head
Start and child care, depriving them of ear-
ly learning support and their parents of the
child care assistance they need to work.
584,000 New York students, most of them
women, could lose part of their Pell grants,
making college less affordable.
184,300 New York workers―women, men,
and young people―could lose job training
opportunities.
Funding would be cut for maternal and
child health programs, community health
centers, housing and energy assistance,
food safety inspections, clean water, and
medical research, among others.
Conference delegates are now asking their rep-
resentatives to take the following specific actions:
5
1. Reauthorize and fully fund the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA). The VAWA
acknowledges domestic violence and sexual as-
sault as crimes. It provides federal funding for
community-coordinated re-
sponses to violence against
women.
2. Cosponsor the Internation-
al Violence Against Women
Act (IVAWA) when it is rein-
troduced this summer. The
IVAWA would make stopping
violence against women and
girls a priority in United
States diplomacy and foreign
aid.
3. Fully fund programs at or
above FY2010 levels that
serve women and families, es-
pecially those struggling to overcome poverty do-
mestically and around the world.
Gambles reflected on the conference after making
her way back to Albany, ―I learned that
advocacy is a woman’s reality. Given the necessary
tools and knowledge, our voices can be heard.‖
Further information about these issues is available
at www.advocacydays.org. Please join Felicia Collins,
Fatmata Hilton, Edith Leet, and Rev. Jameson for fur-
ther discussion on June 5 at 11:15 a.m. at Westmin-
ster Presbyterian.
Using Our Voices...
(continued from page 1)
Christ in the face of the woman who comes asking for
rent assistance so she can keep her long-time resi-
dence.
FOCUS continues to seek ways to help these sis-
ters and brothers be heard, to join with others to in-
sist that programs that serve the most vulnerable in
our nation and around the world are protected. A
new FOCUS advocacy plan is in the works—look for
more on this at our website. Our voices are needed in
the public arena of our cities, counties, and states.
6

Breakfast Volunteers Celebrate Season and Honorees

The harsh, interminable winter did not stop On a separate occasion, FO-
more than 55 volunteers from braving the ele- CUS friends dedicated a
ments each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday plaque to the memory of
to open the FOCUS Breakfast doors and offer hos- breakfast volunteer Bill
pitality and a hot meal to people in need. Green and placed it on a park
Many of our neighbors from around the city bench in Bill’s favorite sitting
showed up at 7 a.m. in the morning hungry for spot in Washington Park.
food and fellowship. From November through mid- Bill’s friendly nature and
April, the program served more than 14,000 meals faithful dishwashing for 7
to an average of 130 guests each morning. years touched many a volunteer and guest alike.
On April 26, volunteers and staff gathered to Although federal fund-
celebrate a successful season and to salute the ing for the Breakfast Program
outstanding contributions of: will be decreasing significant-
Siena College’s Souper ly, we plan to open for our
Sandwich Club and Din- 29th season on November 1,
ing Services for generously 2011. To donate or to volunteer, please contact
providing food for bagged us at info@focuschurches.net.
lunches. FOCUS VISTA Kaitlyn Calaluca pro-
duced a video explaining the connection.
Check it out online here!
CROP Walkers Raise $100,000
Westminster Presbyterian To Combat Hunger & Poverty
Church for 28 years of hosting the Four hundred
FOCUS Winter Breakfast Program Walkers, bright
and lovingly providing space, exud- sunshine, and a
ing hospitality, and putting faith beautiful spring
into action. Sunday made the
Rezsin Adams 2011 CROP Walk
for her unfalter- (right) a joyous
ing, resolute, and determined event. The benefits
commitment to pre- paring of the Walk will
sandwiches at 6 a.m., three extend through the
days a week, every winter, for year, as about
all of these years! $100,000 is expected to be raised when all the
Anthony Askew for starting pledges have been returned. One-quarter of that
the bacon at 5 a.m. on Wednes- amount will stay in Albany to support our local
days, flipping pancakes, and food pantries.
making us all smile – for 10 FOCUS sponsored the final rest stop at Em-
seasons! manuel Baptist on the route. Grateful Walkers
(even the dogs,
Congratulations to All! below), refreshed
themselves with
IN FOCUS is a publication of the FOCUS Churches of Albany, Inc. cold water, snack
Rev. Debra Jameson, Editor. Graphic design and production by EHL
Editorial Services, Albany NY. The FOCUS Churches of Albany, Inc.
bars, and ba-
is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization covenanting with Delmar Re- nanas.
formed, Emmanuel Baptist, First Presbyterian, First Israel AME, Trini-
ty United Methodist, and Westminster Presbyterian. Affiliates of the
FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry Program are Congregation Beth Emeth,
First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, New Covenant Presby- Lorraine Houk,
terian, and St. Andrew’s Episcopal. Manager of the
The FOCUS office is located at 275 State St., Albany NY 12210.
FOCUS Interfaith
Phone: 518-443-0460 FAX: 518-443-0461
Email: info@focuschurches.net Food Pantry, keeps
Walkers supplied with
www.focuschurches.net drinks and snacks.
 7

FOCUS Celebrates Easter Sunrise in the Park

Photos by David Gillette, member of Trinity United Methodist

Worshippers gathered in W. Capital Park to celebrate East-

er with good news from Rev. Kathy Donley (left) and joyful
music from Beth Malone (below) and Diane Bossung (right).

Annual School Collection Needs Supplies and Volunteers

Now in its 10th year, FOCUS and partner faith communities are again collecting school supplies
throughout the summer for children who use our FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry. Our aim is to provide
children with the basic supplies they need to begin school in September. They will be prepared to
participate fully in class, and boxes of extra supplies will go to each of Albany’s public schools.
AFTER August 1, please bring collected supplies to the Food Pantry (275 State
Street), weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Pantry door is located on State Street
at the southwest corner of Emmanuel Baptist Church.
We need VOLUNTEERS in August from 10 a.m. to Noon on the following dates:
AUG. 29 - SORTING SUPPLIES
AUG. 30 & 31 - PACKING SUPPLIES
SEPT. 1, 2, 3 - DISTRIBUTING SUPPLIES TO FAMILIES
Please Sign Up Early!
Call the FOCUS office at 443-0460 or e-mail info@focuschurches.net.

We are collecting the following supplies. Gifts to FOCUS...

(Please stick to items on the list.)
(continued from page 8)
#2 pencils Spiral notebooks - We are also
Emmanuel Baptist, Frankfort High
Pencil sharpeners wide or college collecting money School, Frank and Helen Benoit, and
Pens - blue or black ruled to buy items not James and Carol Ackerman.
3-ring binders donated so that
Pink erasers
1‖, 1½‖, or 2‖ each child receives Organizational Gifts
Pencil pouches a full set of Vanguard Charitable, Westminster
Pencil boxes Notebook paper - Presbyterian, First Presbyterian,
supplies. Please
wide or college Journey UCC, iGive, HPNAP OSP,
Crayons - box of 24 mail monetary
ruled Emmanuel Baptist, New Covenant
Colored markers donations to:
Pocket folders Presbyterian, Advanced Physical
Colored pencils FOCUS Therapy, Stewart's Foundation, First
3-hole-punched
Yellow highlighters Unitarian Universalist Society of Al-
pocket folders 275 State Street
bany (FUUSA), SEFA, Albany Area
Glue sticks 3‖ Post-it notes Albany, NY 12210 Housing Opportunities, St. Andrew’s
Glue bottles 12-inch rulers Episcopal, GE Foundation, Adiron-
and earmark them
School scissors Combination locks dack Beverages, and Center Square
“School Supplies.” Neighborhood Association.
Marble Notebooks Backpacks
8

We Need Your Help

The FOCUS Interfaith Food Pantry is now providing a 7-day
supply of groceries to an average of 314 families each month.
The FOCUS Breakfast Program served more than 14,000 meals in
the 2010-2011 Season.
Your contributions help feed hungry families in Albany. Please help us
by giving:
___ $ amount
___ $ amount — In honor of/in memory of (circle one) _____________________
___ Please send me information about volunteering in FOCUS programs.

Name ____________________________________ Phone _________________________________

Address ___________________________________ E-mail ________________________________

Please return to: FOCUS, 275 State Street, Albany NY 12210

Gifts to FOCUS February—May 15th

Individuals
Rezsin Adams, Jane and George Allen, Rita Austin,
Bien Baez, Donna Baker, Laurie Beberwyck, Lefty
Bedrosian, Elizabeth Berberian, Mary Bitel, Leah
Bojnowski, Wesley and Barbara Bradley, Mark and
Pamela Brody, Martha Brown, Patricia Burch,
Kathryn Eastman, Alice Carpenter, Lois Caulfield,
Priscilla Crago, Lynn Czerw, Gerard Deighan, Arden
and Marilyn Dockter, Lisa and Tim Dodman, Kevin
Dulin, Susan Easton, Jasime Eldridge-Fleisher, Linda
English, Debbie and Eric Fagans, Cheryl Foy, Barry
and Karen Greene, Judith Hale, David and Margaret
Hannay, Rich and Judy Hansen, Judith Hanson,
Katherine Harris, Lois Griffen, Randy Hartz, Lee
Helsby, Josephine Hennessy, Paula Hennessy, Kath-
leen Hodges, Bob and Pat Hunziker, Richard and Car-
ol Keith, A. Kent, Jacqueline King, George Klein-
berger, Christopher and Lauren Liberati-Conant,
Marilyn and Tony Malone, Barbara and Chuck Man-
ning, Sandra and Tom Marston, Laura Moody, Esther
Moore, Musser, Pam and Jim O'Bryan, Nancy
Pierson, Frances Rosenau, Randy Rosette, Peter and
Nancy Schiff, Alice Schrade, Fred Schroeder, James
Southgate, Mary and Keith Scott, Robert and Pamela
Selover, Sandra Shapard, Bob and Jeanette Sharp,
Linda and Bob Stevens, Sybil Stock, B. Ellen
Sweeney, Dianne Symansky, Joanne Thompson, Lois
T h o m s o n , G l e n n a n d E i l e e n
Van Oort, Ray and Barbara Warner, Christine Strebel,
Bob and Leslie Westphal, Margery Whiteman, Lois Wil-
son, Gloria and David Wood, Sheila Wrede, and Marga-
ret Zettle.
In Honor of
Isaac Rosen on his 1st Bar Mitzvah anniversary by
Kathy Moser and David Aston.
In Memory of
Linda Spoor Kwong by Elaine and Walter Spoor;
Carol Hageman by Rev. Glenn and Eileen Van Oort;
Donald A. Jameson by Dorothy Belous and Judith
Smiley, Janet Cornell, Tom and Karol Eggers & Family,
Janet and Fran Gelzheiser, Lois and Glenn Hedman,
Kitt Jackson, Bob and Fran Kamp, Annette and John
Lavalle, Kathy and Bob Linhardt, Roseann Lohrey,
Mary and Albert Lubbe, Julianne Mader, Shirley Mar-
tin, Misha Marvel, Jeff Matthews, Delores McEn-aney,
Linda Miller, Joan and Earnest Myer, Greg and Ellen
Neilly, Pam and Jim O'Bryan, Karen and Kenneth Pass,
Bob and Lee Pettie, Mary and Keith Scott, Alan and Pat
Simmons, Mary Jean and Alan Tedrow, Sally and Roy
Thomson, Ruth Traversey and Family, Glenn and Eileen
Van Oort, Lois Wilson, Beverly York, Glenfield PTO...
(continued on page 7)

IN FOCUS
275 State Street
Albany, NY 12210